Norbert Leo Butz (Edward Bloom) is the very definition of a leading man in Big Fish. His voice, his stage presence, and chemistry with the rest of his cast has a depth beyond imagination. Bobby Steggert (Will Bloom) delights the eye and the ear with his pitch perfect voice and handsome good looks. Kate Baldwin displays the dynamic range of her acting from teenager to wife and never failed to delight with her tunes and her "auburn" hair. This ensemble was perfectly cast and the proof is in the proverbial pudding.
The plot follows the movie I'm told. (I didn't see it). It flows smoothly like the video river cleverly placed on the front skirt of the stage - back and forth from Will's childhood to present day. There are plenty of rousing Broadway numbers (Book and Music by Andrew Lippa)- including a Rockette style kick-line! You can really can tell these actors enjoy performing this show. Who wouldn't? It's fantasy and bigger than life.
For all these reasons, Big Fish, a movie-cum-musical, is bound to be a resounding success this season on Broadway. Add in the video technology to complement the sets and smart directing choices by Susan Stroman and an upbeat, tightly constructed score and you've got a smash hit. The out-of-town tryout in Chicago clearly served the show well. Mere days after its first preview, the show is hitting all the marks and running cleanly and crisply - a feat not often achieved by a show this big and technologically packed.
Big Fish is already a big hit and it's only going to get bigger! Run. Don't walk - to get your ticket to see this delightfully entertaining new show on Broadway at the Neal Simon Theatre now!