Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"Still, the audience around me was clearly moved; I was struck by how many people clearly had forgotten the film now (time moves on) and, of course, “Big Fish” is a show about familial love and its capacity to make our exits less painful. That will always have power in the theater, even if I’m still waiting for “Big Fish” to get the production it long has deserved."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...Directed by Henry Godinez, "Big Fish" has moments that gleam, primarily due to the cast's uniformly engaging vocals. Andrew Lippa's score is bland and innocuous, but this ensemble sings the heck out of it. That said, the sense of the over-the-top fantastical that should define the show's core aesthetic is more shrugging than spectacular. The witches and giants and werewolves, et al, are more mundane than magical."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Edward Bloom, the endearing fabulist around whom the musical "Big Fish" centers, offers that advice to his young son during the show's opening moments. Would that we all receive such encouragement. But for those who do not, Marriott Theatre's intimate, affecting revival of this tuner by composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa and writer John August may be just the inspiration we need to live as large as we are able."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...It doesn’t help that the two most important actors in the show, Alexander Gemignani (Edward Bloom, the father) and Michael Kurowski (Will Bloom, the son)—don’t fully inhabit their parts. Gemignani never for a moment convinces as the fascinating, big-talking, dream chaser at the center of it all. Nor does Kurowski. Playing a son who has spent his life feeling neglected by his dad, Kurowski never seems more than mildly peeved at all of his father’s nonsense (which may even include having a long-term mistress). The lack of chemistry between these two takes all the fire out of the show. Heidi Kettenring, in contrast, turns in a stellar performance as Edward’s long-suffering wife. If only Gemignani and Kurowski had matched her energy and commitment, this show might have been magic."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Over the years, I have been witness to several productions of John August's "Big Fish" with music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the film version written by August, this is a story about a man and his son. The title refers to what is known as "Fish Tales" or tall stories. Our hero in this story is Edward Bloom. The role is played to perfection by Alexander Gemignani, a newcomer to Chicago area theater with a very impressive background. This is a name to remember, as I am sure if he opts to work here, he will find plenty of roles to play. It is almost as if this part was written with him in mind. Edward is a salesman who spends a great deal of time on the road."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"..."Big Fish" isn't the big, splashy, super colossal kind of musical we've come to expect from the Marriott Theatre. It's a show filled with heartwarming, affectionate characters and a serious story that, despite its fictional flashbacks, is rooted in sincere relationships and loving, personal memories. It's about a man who deeply cares for his wife and son, as well as for everyone he's ever known. Edward Bloom is a real life Good Samaritan and lives only to help others. His only fault is that he's a bewitching storyteller and weaver of dreams who sometimes believes his own tales. Edward Bloom is, like all of us, The Hero of His Own Story."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Recommended
"...Yet it may just be its underwhelmingness that makes Big Fish a big deal in the hearts of those lucky enough to take it in. If by believing that human beings have control over their endings and this understanding allows them to live more mindful, meaningful middles, well, can a theatregoer really ask for more than that?"
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"... In the hands of Director Henry Godinez, (Goodman Theatre’s Resident Artistic Associate), backed by a talented cast, Bloom’s seemingly fantastical journey through life is delightful. His character is likely to have audiences relating to dad jokes and dad’s experience stories."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Big Fish has never been the flashiest of musicals. It had its origin in a slim volume of stories by Daniel Wallace, all of which center on the larger-than-life character of Edward Bloom, the “big fish” of the title, whose self-professed exploits far exceed the limits of the small Alabama town he calls home. And that, the musical tells us, is the problem: Bloom’s life has played out through entertaining anecdotes that always cast him as the hero of his story, and that has led his now-adult son Will (who for some reason has not inherited his father’s penchant for tall tales) to believe that he doesn’t really know the man at all. The musical is set up as a conflict between a fabulist father and a straightlaced, literal-minded son who is desperate to know what is behind his father’s lies, especially as the older man is now dying of cancer."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
"...“Big Fish,” the musical based on Daniel Wallace’s novel about an alluring travelling salesman and his larger-than-life experiences that also spawned the 2003 Tim Burton directed film, had its 2013 pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago. With music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by John August, Edward Bloom’s exploits, were expanded and enlarged to epic proportions by director/choreographer Susan Stroman. The show had too much happening, for so long, that it was hard to believe it would be able to survive its fall opening in New York. The script was considerably reworked over the summer, however, the show did not see the new year."
Life and Times - Highly Recommended
"...There are musicals that are beautifully written; there are productions that are beautifully directed, and there are productions of musicals that are beautifully performed. The current mounting of the Broadway musical Big Fish at Marriott Theatre is an example of all three."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...For those looking for a heartfelt musical about family in an intimate setting, this would be a good fit for you."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...Conductor Kevin Reeks and his skilled orchestra play the evocative score magnificently. I now understand why Lippa’s music won an Academy Award. Jesse Klug’s lighting design mirrors the magic of this production. While Amander Vander Byl’s eclectic brilliant costume design adds to this fun fantastical musical. Collete Pollard’s scenic designs are colorful, imaginative, and whimsical. The audience from the very first scene laughed out loud and gave the cast, orchestra, and crew a rousing well-deserved standing ovation at the finale."
BroadwayWorld - Recommended
"...Collette Pollard's set design and lighting by Jesse King bring each tale to life. Amanda Vander Byl's imaginative costumes are colorful and compliment each character. The orchestra under the direction of Kevin Reeks is a treat to the ears. The story of Edward and his tales is ultimately about love, family and friends. This production will make you laugh, cry several times but in the end, will make you think of those people in your life you hold dear. That's what good art does."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...Elements of magical realism elevate "Big Fish" from a rote story of father-son tension into a grand adventure. Edward tells magnificent stories to infuse a little magic into his past and reality, not dismiss it. He is the author of his own story, and he takes joy in being the main character. And really, is there anything wrong with looking back at moments in our lives with a bit of wonder?"
