For the most part I am perfectly content with my modicum of influence and success. I’m not dying to go viral or gain a lot of attention. The only time I wish I had more of a draw is when I see really quality stuff whether film or theatre and I wish I could do more to get people to see those things I love. What an incredible thing it must be to be the Mr Beasts of the world with such an audience? Anyways I only mention this because I really wish I could get more people out to support the good folks at Ideal Playhouse and their wonderful production of Big Fish. I know going to Heber can be a challenge for many but it is worth your time (plus it’s a charming town. Make a day out of it!)

If you are new to the world of Big Fish it is a musical based on the 2003 film from director Tim Burton, which is based on the novel by Daniel Wallace. It tells the story of a young man named Will who is about to get married and have his own son to start off the musical. Will always wished he was closer to his father Edward, but he is frustrated by his father’s whimsical nature. His father loves telling tall tales about his many adventures and Will wants to know what is true and an exaggeration. The musical then takes us through many of Edward’s stories and we, along with Will, decide what is true and what kind of legacy a man can live.

I must say it was particularly nice to see this musical because I was mentally drained from losing my youtube channel but I had also seen 2 shows with mixed to negative portrayals of men in John Proctor is the Villain and Dear Evan Hansen. It was nice to go to Ideal and see a musical about 2 good men trying their best with Big Fish. Not that either men are perfect but they are both trying to make the world a better place in their own ways and I needed that on Saturday.

One of the hardest parts about Big Fish is because it is about a storyteller it has so many setting changes. It goes from a college campus, to a circus, to town getting flooded with a mermaid present and much more. At the Ideal directors Julie Dowd and Steve Anderson overcome this challenge by having layers to the stage and using projections in interesting ways. I especially love how they project images and colors out into the theater. They also have several layers of forest that make the stage feel bigger than it actually is (set design Steve and Micah Anderson.)

The cast at Ideal helps bring this endearing story to life. Edward is played by Todd Christensen and he reminds me of a young Jeff Bridges- very sweet and sincere. Will is played by James Longhurst who has a lovely voice along with Jenn Iverson who plays Sandra Bloom. The rest of the cast of 13 are kept busing wearing so many different hats (literally) as they bring all of Edward’s stories to life.

I’d say the songs of Big Fish are on the forgettable side but they aren’t bad. It’s a perfectly pleasant group of songs even if you probably won’t be singing them on the way home in your car. “Be the Hero” is the most well known but my personal favorite is “Time Stops.”

It’s nice to have a musical one can take the family to and have a good conversation after. It would make a great family home evening and talking about fathers and sons, parents and children of all kinds and how do we make a difference to the world around us. Also how honest should we be or is it ok to tell some stories to inspire and entertain? Either way I really enjoyed this production of Big Fish. It brightened my day which is what I needed on a lousy weekend. It’s a wonderful night of community theatre. It is playing at Ideal Playhouse until Sept 26th and tickets can be purchased here.

Big Fish is a musical with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa with a book by John August. It is based on the 2003 film directed by Tim Burton with a script by John August. That film is based on a novel by Daniel Wallace called Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions. It first appeared on Broadway in 2013

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