Today is Sunday, October 6, marking the official opening night of BIG FISH on Broadway! Starring Norbert Leo Butz, Kate Baldwi, and Bobby Steggert, the show includes a book by John August and original score by Andrew Lippa. Direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. BIG FISH plays the Neil Simon Theatre.
I'd say mixed-to-positive from Chicago Tribune. Loves Norbert and the emotional core of the story. Says a lot was fixed from Chicago, but he makes a lot of apologies for the rest. Review: Chicago Tribune 'Big Fish' Broadway
Mixed from TimeOut - 3 stars out of 5. Adam Feldman felt it should've been great but instead it's "the one that got away." He pretty much blames Andrew Lippa's score, saying that everyone else did a good job.
I would agree that the production is even worse than the score, but that's about the only favorable comparison I can put the music and especially lyrics in.
I said the score was merely "okay". During intermission, I mentioned to my companion that I would have loved to hear what Jerry Herman could have come up with if he did the score. Not only did my companion agree, but so did several people who overheard the conversation.
yep. should be the general reviews for everyone. mixed-to-positive(3 stars out of 5).
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Most of the reviews seem to echo my final thoughts about it; for such a fantastical show, the book and score are surprisingly uninspired and ordinary. Updated On: 10/6/13 at 09:04 PM
Variety is mostly positive, although I have no idea what show she saw, judging by this quote: "Resisting the usual Broadway tendency toward over-production, this show is perfectly scaled to the modest level of Edward's boyish daydreams. Invention, not excess, seems to be the dominant house rule[...]"
according to brantley's (rather handy) site his review is Negative. The thumb has spoken
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
DidHeLikeIt.com is owned by producer Ken Davenport. It has absolutely no affiliation with Ben Brantley nor the NY Times. (Why would the NY Times, nor any other review publication, link to OTHER reviews?)
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
I saw this show in the second week of previews and I was astounded that the people around me were so into it while I was unmoved. Brantley summed up my thoughts about this show almost exactly. NLB, among many other talented people in this cast, deserve much better work from the creative team than what they were given with this show.
Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?