(Courtesy of Keegan Theatre)
“Remember me as something bigger than I was,” implores the dream-chasing Edward Bloom to his loved ones on his death bed. At least one man is sure to get his dying wish.
The ceaselessly enchanting Big Fish began as a book by Daniel Wallace. Tim Burton adapted it for the big screen in 2003, then the material was given the Broadway musical treatment in 2013, and it is now being staged at Keegan Theatre.
The show is a winning testament to the impact one man from a tiny town can have on the people who loved him—or even just crossed paths with him for a moment. Even as his son Will (Ricky Drummond, appealing and appropriately stodgy) grows increasingly frustrated with his father’s seemingly tall tales and unwilling tendency to play anything but the hero, the audience gets swept up in Bloom’s impossibly epic version of his own story.
Sweeping us along is Dan Van Why as Edward, in a star-making performance fueled by an easy confidence and swagger — it’s hard to doubt for even a second how this man is able to charm the pants off anyone he encounters, whether that be a moping, introverted giant (Grant Saunders, showing impeccable comic timing) or the woman he instantly falls in love with, Sandra (the pristine-voiced Eleanor Todd). Edward’s impending death is no spoiler—it’s foretold early on by a witch he encounters as an adolescent (the witch, Katie McManus, stands out as a vocal force in a show stuffed with terrific singers). The audience, though, becomes personally invested in seeing whether Will and Edward can come to any sort of understanding before that final day.
On Broadway, Big Fish made headlines for its lavish sets and scenery, almost to distraction. Keegan is working with a small-theater budget and scope, and finds a way to make a delightful impact with the resources they have. Black, fan-like costumes help guide an eerie choreographic introduction to the witch’s entrance; traditional scenery and a multi-media backscreen work together to produce fantastical images of mythical beasts and mermaids. Andrew Lippa’s score moves through numbers sweet (the romantic ballad “Time Stops”) and fantastical (“Fight the Dragons”).
Big Fish would have been a tighter play had it ended on its most stirring musical number, “What’s Next,” which shows father and son racing through Edward’s life highlights together as a team. But it’s easy to see why the show goes for a more upbeat conclusion rather than simply a cathartic one — there’s a comfort in that final glimpse demonstrating that some men will truly never be forgotten.
Big Fish runs through Sept. 9 at Keegan Theatre. $45-$55, Buy tickets here.
