Activity #2: Musical Time

Last night, I watched Holy Trinity Diocesan's high school production of "Big Fish" (the one that was linked in the assignment booklet). Overall, I'm really glad I took the time to watch a production of the same musical that our school is going to be putting on in just a few short months. Watching this production really gave me a sense of what the musical actually should and could look like live, but also gave me the opportunity to reflect on their particular interpretation of it (What things did they do that I enjoyed and that captivated the message/story line effectively? What things do I think they could've done differently and that I want to pursue for our production?) At some points, I felt like this musical lacked in energy, just in how the choreography was simpler than I expected, and the scenery was plainer than I expected. Nevertheless, I felt as though this group put on a great show with the resources that they had available. As you can tell from the video, they did not have very much stage space to work with. I think how they utilized onstage props intertwined with the background scenery that they played off the projector screen was an effective use of the space they had (a stage littered with props certainly doesn't look professional, and could even become a safety hazard for the performers). One thing that was neat was how all their soundtracks were played live. Imagine how much concentration and practice that took between the band, conductor, musical director, and of course the actors, to nail those cues! What a great way to emphasize the team effort and community that musical theatre really is. All in all, even though I feel that their production could've had more energy at times, I appreciate how even with their limited space, they managed to pull off an original, unique version of "Big Fish" that really captured the meaning of the story well.

Firstly, I want to talk a little bit about which scenes stood out to me while watching this production. The first scene that I want to talk about is the scene in which Edward performs the "Alabama Stomp" (Act I, scene II). The reason this scene piqued my interest was because of the choreography Edward was performing. Not only was it in sync with the music perfectly, I thought it was an intricate combination of steps which fit Edward's quirky, charismatic character quite perfectly. Also, I loved how this scene quickly becomes a scene in which many members of the production are on stage. I loved seeing that sense of tight-knit community that Ashton was, and I love again how it emphasized and related to the fact that just like the small town of Ashton, musical theatre is a tight-knit community in which everyone has an important role to play, and everybody is of equal importance, no matter what part you play. In addition, Sandra's "I Don't Need a Roof" really stood out to me due to the powerful emotion that she sang it with. It actually brought a tear to my eye, hearing her state that she doesn't need a roof to know she's home, or to hold her heart- the only thing she needs is the love from her husband Edward that she's always recieved. Also, when Will sings "Stranger". This scene stood out to me because I never really realized how touching this song actually is. When Will sings about how much he already loves his unborn son, and the deep connection he already feels to a child that's still a "stranger", it reminds me of when Will goes to Ashton later in the story line to talk to Jenny Hill. She tells him how much Edward really loves, and has always loved Will, even though he wasn't always there, and even though he tells such crazy stories. To me, it seems like this is the point in the story line where Will decides he is like his dad in some ways, and that he wants his child to know who the famous Edward Bloom was. Overall, the scenes that stood out to me the most in this production were the ones that either had a lot of different characters involved, or the ones that were brought forth with the true emotion that the songs and lines of "Big Fish" hold within them.

Secondly, I want to touch base on what I learned from watching this musical. I may have mentioned some of these things in my introduction, but the main things that I learned were that not every production of a musical has to be the same. Otherwise, how would any of them be original? Just because their choreography, their actions, and their costumes might not be the same as ours will be, doesn't mean that they're bad, or that one is right and one is wrong. Each production has to be different and show the uniqueness of that particular cast, in order to put on a show that will captivate the audiences' attention and imaginations. Also, I learned that certain aspects of a production can be up to interpretation by the director and cast members. For example, when I think about Sandra's "Two Men in My Life", I always thought about it being a song that she sings from the bottom of her heart, when in reality, she sang it will being distracted folding laundry in this particular production. I learned that each group that does "Big Fish" will have the opportunity to make the musical their own, and in doing that, each version will be different, and each version won't be exactly what I'm anticipating it to be in my head.

Thirdly, understanding the story line helps me to get into character because it helps me understand who my character really is, thus I know how to portray her through my acting. Sandra is a sweet woman with a tender heart, whose priority is her husband Edward and her son Will. Almost everything she does is for their sake, and she doesn't need to be recognized for that. It seems as though all she wants is for them to get along. ("And I never want to choose between the two"- Two Men in my Life) She's their peacemaker, resolving arguments and tension between Will and Edward, taking care of their needs, and still being by Edward's side until the day he dies. Knowing these things, I will know how to play her part- to be calm, loving, and gentle. Sandra doesn't really have a harsh personality- I don't need to be crazy or change myself dramatically just to be like her. Underneath her cool demeanor, Sandra is a sensitive woman who fears losing her husband but keeps it together for his sake. She is strong yet empathetic, and puts the needs of her loved ones before her own. 

Lastly, the metaphor of the "Big Fish". What does it mean, and what does it symbolize? In my opinion, the metaphor of the Big Fish symbolizes leaving a legend to your name, and living bigger than life. In Edward's case, he told Will these crazy stories just so that he would leave a legend behind his name- something for Will to tell his son about him that wasn't just an old boring life story. He quotes in How it Ends:" But when you tell my story, and I hope somebody does, remember me as as something bigger than I was." Also, I think it has a correlation with the saying "big fish in a small pond". Edward was a big fish in the small town of Ashton. He had many successes, such as saving the entire town. He was the town hero, in a town that hadn't previously known many other heroes. I think the message that Edward continuously tried to get across, and what the audience takes away from the musical, is that life is too short to underestimate yourself. Edward lived a short life before he died, but during his time on earth, he never failed to make someone laugh, help out someone in need, or do something big such as saving the town. Edward wants Will to dream big, take risks, and never give up. If you do these things, you will become a better person from the inside out. You will make a name for yourself, and people will remember you long after you're gone. 

-Stephanie