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BIG FISH at Musical Theater West

Posted by: bicoastal 04:14 pm EST 11/14/14

We went in with reasonably high expectations but were terribly disappointed in this show. I can't understand why everyone thought this was a good idea for the stage. Or maybe I can understand initial excitement, but this realization is deadly dull. Andrew Lippa's music is so bland and uninteresting with only one or two songs really working to either illuminate or further the story. Most times everything stops for a song (which almost always disappoints). The cast worked hard but there was no one who stood out or gave a particularly charismatic performance. Sets and costumes, from the Broadway production, were lovely but seemed rather overwhelmed by the size of the Carpenter Center stage. Aside from a few funny lines of dialogue and a couple strong songs, this show overall was deadly dull. I certainly appreciate MTW doing it because I was very curious about it, and I put most of the blame here on the show itself over this particular production.


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re: BIG FISH at Musical Theater West

Posted by: showtunetrivia 07:53 pm EST 11/15/14
In reply to: BIG FISH at Musical Theater West - bicoastal 04:14 pm EST 11/14/14

I'm sorry to hear that. There are a few numbers I really like on the album, and I'd kind of been kicking myself that I was going to miss this production.

Laura


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re: BIG FISH at Musical Theater West

Posted by: bicoastal 04:42 pm EST 11/17/14
In reply to: re: BIG FISH at Musical Theater West - showtunetrivia 07:53 pm EST 11/15/14

I did not know the score going in, and I confess I am not much of an Andrew Lippa fan. I did find several numbers were catchy and quite possibly in isolation the numbers are stronger than back-to-back. The cast sounded great but were not very interesting as actors and the direction was not inspiring. That's not to say that there weren't a few laughs and creative moments, but the biggest setpiece of a chase set among a big chorus number fell very flat. I won't say you dodged a bullet but I don't think you missed much.


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another chance to see it

Posted by: BillEadie 10:13 am EST 11/16/14
In reply to: re: BIG FISH at Musical Theater West - showtunetrivia 07:53 pm EST 11/15/14

Moonlight Stage, in northern San Diego County, has Big Fish on the schedule for next summer's outdoor season. The company has new leadership, and this past summer'so productions were among its best in quite a while. Big Fish is something of a gamble for this company, but they have the capacity to pull it off.

Bill, in San Diego


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re: another chance to see it

Posted by: bicoastal 04:44 pm EST 11/17/14
In reply to: another chance to see it - BillEadie 10:13 am EST 11/16/14

I wonder what would make this show really interesting. Perhaps a great cast? The score is not very good IMHO so I wish them luck! Paul Garman, head of Musical Theater Guild, said he saw the show both in Chicago and New York and loved it and wanted to bring it to his audience. I applaud his passion, but can't applaud the actual show much. I look forward to hearing about Moonlight Stage's production, they seem to be a pretty creative group.


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