Big - The Musical

The Fife Premiere of this show alerted me to how good this show is for a company with a range of ages and a good number of youngsters. It is a lengthy show though, compounded by some snagging problems on this opening night which hopefully would be ironed out for the succeeding performances. The cast performed well throughout, drilled in song and movement. The opening was busy with nicely phased chorus entrances and catchy music. This held good for all the company numbers especially so for ‘Coffee Black’ and ‘Cross The Line’. The dancers had good timing and lots of energy. The storyline and role of a 12 year old boy being magically transformed to an adult body is a difficult part. However Scott Hunter is to be congratulated on playing the adult Big Josh in a convincing way: making us see how the child within, with his enthusiasms for creativity, became aware of his limitations as an adult.  Meeting his adult girl’s friends and the Nightmare scene were game changers and well portrayed. He was ably assisted by Ann-Marie Miller who as Susan fell in love with this whizz kid/adult and showed her hurt at his rejection. Both succeeded in maintaining their credibility. Their solos and duets revealed fine singing too. Wee Josh was confidently played by Adam Scott showing his mettle in the duet ‘I Want to Know’ while Theo Hart showed real talent as Billy Kopecki in a key role as the only one who knew what had happened to Josh. Other principal roles were well handled: Heather Henderson as the caring and concerned mother, singing her solos with heart, especially ‘Stop Time’; Stuart McLean as MacMillan capturing his role as a boss frustrated by the lack of ideas in his staff; Cameron Kruger as Paul who recognised through his resentment that there was something odd about the upstart Josh; Sinead Black making the role of Ms Watson come alive; and Paul Graham investing the Zoltar with an otherworldliness. The set worked well with the split level accommodations and costumes were all 80’s era appropriate. The evening though belonged to the cast. Well done.

Elizabeth Donald Noda Reg. Rep. for District no. 3

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