BIG FISH Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 2:26pm

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.

Please, post reviews here as they roll in!

Best to all involved!

- M :)

[ClaraJohnson]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 5:46pm

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

[ClaraJohnson]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 5:51pm

Negative - two stars. Didn't go for any of it.




Review: amNY 'Big Fish' Broadway Updated On: 10/6/13 at 05:51 PM

[ClaraJohnson]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:24pm

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.

Review: TimeOut 'Big Fish' Broadway

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:40pm

Lippa's score is okay. It's the overblown production that does this one in.

Updated On: 10/6/13 at 07:40 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:46pm

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.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 7:50pm

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.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 8:10pm

3 stars is a pretty fair assessment of it.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 8:20pm

yep. should be the general reviews for everyone. mixed-to-positive(3 stars out of 5).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 8:31pm

Entertainment Weekly gives it a B+ : http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20742471,00.html

Bloomberg gives it four out of five stars: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-07/-big-fish-is-a-gorgeous-charming-dream-musical-review.html

NBC is mixed: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/big-fish-review-226654751.html

Talkin' Broadway is mixed: http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/BigFish2013.html

AP is mixed to positive: http://www.rr.com/articles/2013/10/06/r/review-hyperkinetic-big-fish-emerges-with-heart

Newsday is mixed: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/big-fish-review-ambitious-musical-not-exciting-1.6198496 Updated On: 10/6/13 at 08:31 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 9:04pm

NY Post is mixed, with 2 1/2 out of 4 stars: http://nypost.com/2013/10/06/hack-score-undermines-broadway-version-of-big-fish/

Hollywood Reporter is mixed: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/big-fish-theater-review-644026

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

[indytallguy]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 9:06pm

"hack score" from the Post. Ouch.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 9:43pm

Saw it and, for me, Lippa's score is the main problem. I had no problem with the book. And it is beautiful to look at.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 9:45pm

Had Jerry Herman been linked to this in past?

[indytallguy]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 9:49pm

So much in Mark Kennedy's AP review is just ridiculous.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:07pm

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[...]"

http://variety.com/2013/legit/reviews/broadway-review-big-fish-1200700284/

NY Times (Brantley) is mixed to negative: http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/10/07/theater/reviews/susan-stroman-directs-big-fish-on-broadway.html

USA Today is mixed, with 2 1/2 out of 4 stars: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2013/10/06/broadway-review-big-fish/2920353/ Updated On: 10/6/13 at 10:07 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:16pm

Variety says a Norman Leo Butz is the lead actor in the show. That's news to me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:16pm

TDF here we come

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:20pm

brantley is negative. Lets be honest.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:22pm

He has some commendable things to say about the visual aspects of the show, as well as the cast.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:34pm

according to brantley's (rather handy) site his review is Negative. The thumb has spoken

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:35pm

exactly. Its negative. "the sets are pretty and Bobby steggert is a cutie". is essentially what he said.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:38pm

Changed it to mixed/negative.

But for the record, DidHeLikeIt.com is not directly affiliated with Brantley in any way. Nor is it affiliated with The NY Times. It's not "his" site.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 10:48pm

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?)

[Neverandy]

Posted: 10/6/13 at 11:48pm

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.