Big- Page 2

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:45pm

Actually, our director hated the revised "duet Fun" (as he called it with the original version using the whole cast. Afterall: we had a stage full of people in a toy store with a giant piano. Why should only two guys be singing and enjoying it all?

[justme2]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 5:53pm

I read that book, Morosco...you are right, it opens your eyes to just how difficult a process putting on a Broadway show is.

...Which is why I tend to get miffed now when I see the negativity on this board toward new productions in previews. After reading the book, (and others like it about other shows), you'll think twice before ripping on a show in previews.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:16pm

I hated the duet: fun, too. It isn't "fun" at all, but rather slow and boring. Ugh. And "Say good morning to mom" might be good with an actual adult, but in our young adult theatre, it was screechy and mumbled, so I can't say. I was one of Susan's friends too. That scene is much funnier on the CD: better lyrics.

And maybe it's a good idea to give the executives a number, but not if the lyrics go like this "
Toys. We Make Toys.
Cute little toys."

And that was about it.

[dano]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:33am

I had the lead role a few years ago in a community theatre production. I had always loved the OBC and was thrilled to be cast in a role I had been longing to do.

True, the songs in the version that is available now are not as much fun as the songs in the OBC, but it was fun nonetheless (no pun intended).

I read Isenberg's book while we were rehearsing the show. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the process of creating a Broadway show.

Big should be revived. Like Chicago, I think it was a show that, in it's original run, didn't get the acclaim or the audience it deserved. Chicago had to compete with Chorus Line, Big had Rent. People complained that Big was "too Big", and over-produced. It's such a beautiful story. I think it might work better in a smaller house, maybe off-Broadway.

One thing they never did get right, though, is the opening number for Susan. On Broadway, it was "Here We Go Again", replaced for the tour by the even worse "My Secretary's In Love". I read (either in Isenberg or a Showmusic article) that they wrote something like 20 different opening numbers for Susan. I'd love to hear some of the others. They have to be better than the two mentioned above!

We cut her number "Little Susan Laurence" (I think that was the name of it). Very cuttable.

But most of the numbers are amazing. "Coffee, Black" and "Cross the Line" are pure joy. "Stars", "Do you Want to Play Games?" and "I Want to Know" were really fun to perform. The new version of "Fun" isn't as "fun" as the Broadway version, but still good. And of course, "Stop, Time". That's Maltby & Shire at their best. We didn't do "I Want to Go Home". It's "optional". At the time I thought it was a good idea for us not to do it, but in retrospect, I wish we'd done it. I did it for auditions.

I wish Maltby & Shire would do another show. I also love Baby (in which I played Nick) and Closer Than Ever (haven't done yet).
Has anyone heard anything about them? I hope the failure of Big hasn't soured them from returning to Broadway.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 10:37am

I did get to sing two of the best songs...Stop time is amazing. AND Say good morning to mom was soo much fun!

sorry, gonna brag some more...even though that was like 3 years ago! lol

[once a month]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 11:06am

I saw the original cast, and have to admit to being incredibly disappointed. I had great seats, too! I thought the Stro's dances went on far too long....they built to be anti-climatic. Other than boredom, and disdain for the 'show'bizzy' kids...the only thing I recall about it was a real long 'commercial' for FAO Schwartz. I also thought that the talents of Jenkins and Walsh were wasted.

That's more or less 2 for 3 for Susan Stroman...BIG and Thou Shalt Not on one hand, and then there's Showboat, Contact and Producers.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 12:22pm

When I saw the original production in previews I really enjoyed it. I listened to the OBC a lot when it first came out, but I haven't touched it in years. I've seen a handful of productions since then, and I don't think the revisions made a bit of difference. The source material was enchanting and magical, partly because Tom Hanks was so exceptional in the role. The musical overstates the obvious on many occasions and makes Josh and the other kids obnoxious for most of the evening.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 12:37pm

Here's a wierd thing - listen to Daniel Jenkins on the OBC recording, and you'll find yourself thinking "I know Tom Hanks doesn't sing - but if he did, this is probably what he'd sound like!"

I found the original production absolutely awful. What the hell was that amusement park ride with the dummies riding around in it?

I did love the Forbidden Broadway parody. "Hey - Susan Stroman choreography -- AWESOME!!!"
Updated On: 3/7/06 at 12:37 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 3:41pm

Forbidden BroadwaY!!!
"Big. We got T-shirts and Tanks.
Big. You want a ticket? No thanks."

It's a fun show to do, but if you objectively remove yourself from it, you'll see it isn't very good. It's good. But not great. Just okay. Could've been better with work, but it seemed to get worse with work, so who knows.

Little Susan Lawrence has the worst set of lyrics ever.

"The girl I was
With a boy named Buzz.
The very first
Love of mt life."

Awful

[justagirl2]

Posted: 3/7/06 at 4:39pm

I saw a community theatre production of Big a year ago, that a number of my friends were in. I remember thinking it was a bit too long, but I did enjoy it...I absolutely LOVE "Dancing All the Time." It's a fantastic story based off a fantastic movie, and with a little nip/tuck here and there, it could be a success.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:22pm

I liked it a lot. The NYT reviewer really, REALLY liked it when he reviewed the show. David Shire writes some of the best music you'll ever hear on Broadway, and I think this is one of his best, considering he wrote like 170 songs for it.

And by the way, I cannot decipher a lyric in the song "The Real Thing", I bet all y'all know it, I'm not too sure.

"That's right! We're Susan's friends!
We have lived through jerks...{something something that sounds like PHD's}
We looooooooove Susan, and you'd BETTER LOVE HER...TOO!!"

Crista Moore has a beautiful voice as Susan in BIG. I don't know why I haven't seen or heard her lately...

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:39pm

That's right
We're Susan's friends
We have lived through...
Jerks
Oddballs
Slimeballs
Ph.D's
We love Susan
And you'd better love her too

I actually liked the tour version of "The Real thing" better than the OBC. Longer and funnier.

[And maybe it's a good idea to give the executives a number, but not if the lyrics go like this "
Toys. We Make Toys.
Cute little toys."]

I admit that that song was a little dumb, but our director made it pretty funny. Had only had the three executives (Barrett, Birnbaum, Lipton) sing it (our Lipton was a girl so the voices balanced better). Our choreography was mainly us with forced smiles displaying the various toys we designed and trying to look like we're having fun, but obviously wishing we were somewhere else. For the "cute lil' toys" line, we sort of snapped it out like it pained us to say that and the whole thing was very sarcastic. At the end when we all threatened Josh, we each picked up an action figure, walked to the edge of the stage, and tore off their heads on the last beat of the song. The audience loved it.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:00pm

Thank you SweeneyPhanatic.
That was so helpful.

My favorite song in "Big" is "Can't Wait".
It gets the show off to a good start, and then it only gets better (well, to me).