JK's TheatreScene: Big Fish

Showing posts with label Big Fish. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

CD REVIEW: Big Fish

Big Fish the Original Cast Recording is pretty much like Big Fish the musical. And that's not necessarily a good thing. At least everyone involved can be proud of their consistency. But it says a lot about both the recording and the show itself, that the very best song on the CD is the Bonus Track, "The River Between Us," a song cut from the show before opening night. It is pretty much the only song that even comes close to real depth, nuance or even plain old variety.

Grade: D+/C-

Title: Big Fish

Artist: The Original Broadway Cast

Label: Broadway Records

Number: BR-CD01314

Format: Single CD

Case: Single Jewel Case

Booklet: Full color, 26 pages. Complete lyrics. CD package design and layout by Van Dean. Production photos by Paul Kolnik. Liner notes by John August and Daniel Wallace. Album produced by Andrew Lippa and Michael Croiter. Executive producer Van Dean.
Bonus: "This River Between Us" sung by Bobby Steggert and Norbert Leo Butz

First, let me again compliment Broadway Records on their continued commitment to preserving contemporary Broadway musicals that aren't necessarily guaranteed big sellers. Clearly, this company recognizes the long-term value of doing so. And whether the show was a hit or a miss, they give every show they record the full-on star treatment. The booklet is a real souvenir of the show - the presentation is more program than CD book. And the quality of the recording is superb.

Sometimes, a cast recording adds to the experience of the show, revealing more depth than can possibly be gleaned from one cold viewing. Sometimes, a cast recording confirms one's initial response to a show and its performers. Always, it is a chance to study the results of what is often years of work. In the case of this cast recording, I don't feel that it added to my experience, it confirmed it, and actually exposed some things that were less apparent when seeing the show.

More of this would have been nice...

There is no doubt that Andrew Lippa can write a big, show-stopping "Broadway" number. The problem is that, in this case, it seems that he can write only big production numbers. Because even when he slows it down it seems totally overblown. This so much the case, that - I kid you not - when I was playing the CD at my desk at work, when it finally got to a different paced song, my cubicle mate turned to me and said, "that was one lonnnng song!" It was somewhere around track 5. Seeing the show, it took a little longer for that sense of monotony to hit me, hidden by all the flash of staging and scenery. And, as we found out from the show, too much of a good thing isn't good at all. And sense of nuance, nostalgia and sincerity was washed away by all the flash. This recording changes none of that. In fact, there is one thing that this recording revealed to me that shocked me.

...and less of this would have been nicer.

Even with all of my misgivings about the show (my review HERE), I was still pretty sure I was in that "Norbert Leo Butz will be Tony nominated. He carried the show" camp. Well, now, I'm not so sure. I know this will make me unpopular with some of you, but he chews the scenery so hard that I almost expected him to come gnawing through the speakers. He of all people, I thought, understood that being loud and over-the-top all of the time reads like white noise, not emphasis. This was much less noticeable when seeing him perform live, perhaps because some of his bombast was smothered by the over-production around him. Disappointing.

The best work is from Kate Baldwin and Bobby Steggert

I pray to the musical theater gods that Kate Baldwin will at last be attached to a project worthy of her considerable talents. Big Fish ain't it. And yet she still manages to rise above it all, turning in a lovely performance that is a wonderful counterpoint to all of the noise around her. Perhaps, it will be her, not Butz, that the Tonys will recognize. We shall see. ("Daffodils" remains underwhelming.) Another nice surprise is how nicely Bobby Steggert comes across here. Not a small thing, when one considers that he is the antagonist, saddled with some of the more unpleasant material in the whole show. But he acts the songs as well as he sings them. And as I mentioned at the top, I'm grateful that the song "This River Between Us" was captured. It includes Steggert's best work, and, believe it or not, Butz's best, too. Would that he had showed some of this restraint a little more.

Fans of the show, I'm sure, will relish this recording. I'm afraid this is one that will go on my shelf never to be heard from again.

Jeff

5.130

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

The Musicals of the 2013 - 2014 Season By Type

As the season heats up, I thought I'd take a look a where all the new musicals come from. What are their sources? Will this season be different than others, or will it just be more of the same? Previously, I looked at the Tony nominees for Best Musical over the past decade (HERE). So I thought I'd look at the whole season of announced new shows and their sources, and then, later in the season, dissect them as I did in the other blog.

Here are the "types" and the shows from this season that fit them:

Completely Original: A new idea, not based directly on anyone or anything.

First Date
If/Then
Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Based on the Book: A musical based on a novel or other literary source.

Big Fish
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
The Bridges of Madison County
Les Miserables
Cabaret

Based on the Film: A "new" musical based on a movie.

Big Fish
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
The Bridges of Madison County
Aladdin
Rocky: The Musical
Bullets Over Broadway

It's My Life: A musical based on the life of someone famous.

Soul Doctor
A Night with Janis Joplin
Beautiful

The Jukebox: A musical that uses the canon of songs of an artist or artists, not written for the stage specifically.

Let It Be
Forever Tango
A Night with Janis Joplin
After Midnight
Beautiful
Bullets Over Broadway

As you can see, there are several shows that fit more than one category. As has been the trend for the last several years, the majority of "new" shows are based on films or are jukebox musicals. But within those categories, there is something interesting to note. Three of the six "Based on the Film" shows are based on movies that are based on books. And two of the six "Jukebox" shows - After Midnight, and Bullets Over Broadway - use those canons of songs completely out of their original contexts. Is this an improvement in the sub-genre? So far, given the raves for After Midnight, it looks like a definite possibility. I mean, look at Mamma Mia!

Jeff
5.045

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Broadway on TV: Big Fish

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN ROUND 6 OF HOT OR NOT:
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER EDITION!

CLICK THE SHOW LOGO TO YOUR LEFT AND CAST YOUR BALLOT!

THIS POLL WILL CLOSE AT 6PM ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD!

You are the producer of a big, expensive Broadway show. Considering the level of talent both on stage and off, you are sure you have a blockbuster on your hands. Then the show opens to very mixed reviews, and there is almost no buzz being generated. People are talking, but it is mostly trying to guess when your show will close. The producers of Big Fish are in just that position. How do they save this show?

Step one: Grab TV viewers with an ad that highlights the more traditional aspects of a Broadway musical. In this case, pay close attention to dance numbers, cross-cutting steps with the elements of fantasy - a giant, whirling witches, dancing elephant asses - that are a large part of this performance. Make those scenes a rapid fire feast of visual wonders - leggy lines of all-American chorus girls, sexy chorus cowboys, tons of scenery.

Step two: Make those viewers believe it is a critical success - after all, how many of them read theatre reviews? Say them aloud as they flash on the screen.

Step three: Add a clever tag line - something about living life in "full bloom" - as you see a stage erupt in golden daffodil blossoms, as man and woman - obviously the heroes of the story - embrace and look adoringly into each others' eyes. If you know the show or the book or the movie, you might get the joke outright. But what fun for people who buy tickets, see the show and then get it, right?

Grade: C+

I have to admit I was surprised that they didn't invoke the ghosts of shows past. You know, something along the lines of "from the Tony-winning director of The Producers" or "starring two-time Tony-winner Norbert Leo Butz." But then I thought about it... the vast majority of theatre-goers are casual theatre-goers. Why waste any of your 31 seconds on a director no one knows by name or an actor that isn't a TV or film star? If you are reading this, you know who Ms. Stroman and Mr. Butz are, and how great they are. But to reach the widest possible pool of ticket buyers, you don't waste time name-dropping. A wise choice.

Despite that, I can't help but feel that the ad is just like the show. Much ado about almost nothing.

Jeff
5.039

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Broadway Ladies: Ms. October 2013: Big Fish's Angie Schworer

Ms. October 2013

Angie Schworer

Nothing Like a Dame Concert

WHY SHE'S MS. BROADWAY: This month's honoree represents the reason I started this part of my blog. She's a real Broadway baby, with a career spanning more than two decades and with no signs of stopping. She's not a household name, though she should be. But true Broadway fans know who she is. She started her career working for no less than Tommy Tune in The Will Rogers Follies, and has worked with many major stars, including Jason Alexander, Martin Short, Betty Buckley, Tony winners all. Now, she's back at the Neil Simon with two-time Tony-winner Norbert Leo Butz for the second time! Tall, leggy and blonde with a dazzling smile and triple-threat skills, she's exactly what you picture as a Broadway showgirl and a Broadway leading lady. And she's done both - in the ensembles of such shows as Catch Me If You Can, Crazy for You, and Sunset Boulevard, and as leading lady Ulla in The Producers. Last week, on the afternoon of the opening of her latest show, Big Fish, she was the honored recipient of the Gypsy Robe, public and professional recognition of an esteemed career. No wonder Angie Schworer is October 2013's Ms. Broadway.

FUN FACTS:

She's done four shows with Susan Stroman: Crazy for You, The Producers, Young Frankenstein and Big Fish.

She also has a Broadway choreographic credit as Assistant Choreographer of Rocky Horror Show in 2000.

She is married to a guy named Rich.

She once worked at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

She is a die-hard supporter of Broadway Cares, including Broadway Bares.

IN PHOTOS: Candids and Head Shots

with her husband, Rich

REGIONAL: Chicago (Roxie Hart - top 3), Minsky's (below, with Beth Leavel)

ON VIDEO: About her Broadway debut

CHARITY WORK: Broadway Cares/Broadway Bares

ON BROADWAY: The Producers, Catch Me If You Can and Big Fish - including the Gypsy Robe Ceremony

Jeff

5.029

Thursday, October 10, 2013

It's Deja Vu All Over Again...

I am always slightly amused when people complain that shows are "derivative," especially when they talk about movies-turned-musicals. Aren't they by their very nature "derivative"? But how about when you see a show and get an overwhelming sense of deja vu?

I'm not talking about replica revivals. I mean those moments when you see one show and recall seeing nearly the same thing in a different one! Such is the case with the staging of Big Fish. Several times, the action, costumes and scenery gave me that creepy little feeling...

The rustic scenery... the projections on the rustic scenery...