Fabulous

[eslgr8]

Fabulous#0

Posted: 1/30/06 at 11:26am

The Big Voice: God or Merman, is what Brokeback Mountain would have been had Ennis and Jack lived their 20 year relationship openly...and been theater queens instead of cowboys!

I was fortunate yesterday to see the last of the three final return engagement peformances of Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin's hilarious and moving "Duo Performance" The Big Voice: God or Merman, which won the 2005 Ovation Award for Best Musical (Intimate Theater). The show is heading for New York with already three (count'em 3) theaters vying for it. After seeing this extraordinary two man show, I can see why it's become such a hit and will continue to attract Big Voice fanatics on the East Coast.

Jim and Steve tell the story of the ups and downs of their 20 year relationship, beginning with their very different childhoods (Jim a New York City Catholic dreaming of being Pope and Steve a Southern Baptist dreaming of becoming a song writer). Obviously, only one achieved his childhood goal. They meet cute on board ship, fall in love, move in together, and then Steve gets "it," which any gay man living in the 80s or 90s will understand without "it" being spelled out. How Steve's battle with "it" affects their relationship and their careers is the heart of the extraordinary second act.

There are countless laughs and almost as many tears in The Big Voice. The songs are alternately funny and gorgeous, and the only thing missing is an OCR, which hopefully will be coming soon.

The Avery Schreiber theater was filled yesterday with fans and well wishers (including myself and BWW's loridunn and friend Elaine) who gave The Big Voice a deserved and lengthy standing ovation.

Since so many of you are on the East Coast, you will be the lucky ones to experience The Big Voice: God or Merman in the coming months.

Lucky you!!!

The Big Voice Website Updated On: 1/30/06 at 11:26 AM