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The lights dim and the audience chatter dies down. The chairs squeak as people adjust in their seats, the curtain parts, and the musical begins. Young Josh Baskin (Colby Deason), makes a wish to be big and wakes up the next day 30 years old. He then realizes that being an adult isn’t as great as he thought it would be and it’s not easy. From his adult adventures, Josh learns that everyone has to grow up at his or her own pace.
Big: The Musical, based on the 1988 film Big, was performed at the Von Braun Center Playhouse last weekend, and the show did not disappoint. Performed by Lyrique Music Productions, many of the actors were from either Madison or Huntsville. Some of these actors, such as Anna Lee, Leah Boyd, and Suzi Day, were even from Bob Jones.
Josh Baskin (Tate Butler) may look 30, but he still has a child’s personality. This created many humorous situations between the actors. Most of these occasions were funny for all ages, but some of the humor was for adults, and that really got a chuckle from the audience.
When asked about the experience, Leah Boyd, an actress in the Women’s Ensemble, said, “Big: The Musical was tons of fun to be a part of! I really enjoyed the songs, dances, and the cast was like a giant family!”
The actors performed so well in fact, I felt like I was in the musical with them. The playhouse wasn’t extremely large, so I was able to see everything the actors did from the twitch of an eye to the dancing and singing during the musical numbers. Their facial expressions were very vivid and their microphones usually helped project their voice. I say usually because the mics would occasionally drop out or become very muffled. These incidents were what brought me from the surreal world of the play back to reality.
The actors weren’t the only ones who had an excellent performance. In between scenes, the props were brought out quickly and silently. It seemed very professional and smooth, which really kept me feeling like I was in the musical. I don’t even think the orchestra off stage ever missed a beat. The music they played matched the scenes perfectly.
All in all, I believe that Big: the musical was a well-rehearsed, excellently performed adaptation of the 1988 Tom Hanks film. It was an enjoyable three hours of singing, dancing, and laughing, if you exclude the fact that the Von Braun Center Playhouse was nearly 60°! I had goosebumps the entire time, and it wasn’t just from the musical!
