“BIG FISH,” through June 20, Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem (801-226-8600 or haletheater.org)
Every father wants to be a hero to his son, but Edward Bloom has a penchant for embellishing his life. His son, Will, resents Edward's tall tales of epic adventures but wants to reconcile with his father before Edward dies and Will’s own son is born.
“Big Fish” is an enchanting musical staged by Hale Center Theater Orem that celebrates family love and is unapologetically sentimental. And this production is as charming as the fantastical stories of Edward's encounters with a mermaid, a giant, a witch and a werewolf.
The father-son attachment is at the story’s core, but “Big Fish” is also a delightful love story between Edward and Sandra Templeton, a girl he decides he will marry after catching only a glimpse of her.
Director Christopher Clark guides the affecting performances from the lead cast members, who bring a sense of genuine humanity to their roles. Justin Bills skillfully directs the music with notable work in the choral numbers, and choreographer Jennifer Hill-Barlow treats the audience to one knockout dance number after another.
Ben Henderson shows a splendid emotional connection to his role as the traveling-salesman-absentee-father, Edward. He seamlessly shows his character at various ages throughout his life, and he makes the show’s signature song, “Fight the Dragons,” about a lesson passed from father to son, deeply affecting. And Edward’s marriage proposal during the Act 1 closer, “Daffodils,” is joyful.
Amanda Crabb (double cast with Jenny Latimer) is warm and appealing as Sandra. She displays strong vocal ability in her “Two Men in My Life” and “I Don’t Need a Roof” solos, along with a serene graciousness in her role as peacekeeper between Edward and Will.
The tremendously talented Jacob Theo Squire (double cast with Jack David Shapiro) is splendid as the resentful Will. “Stranger” outlines the distance between father and son, and Squire adeptly relays the character’s yearnings.
The choreographer’s son, Dash Barlow (double cast with his brother, Hudson), is appealing as Will in his youth.
Weaker performances in a few secondary characters are distracting and keep the production from reaching the depth it could have achieved.
The production design — including costumes by MaryAnn Hill, projection art by Cody Hale and lighting design by Cody Swenson — is storybook vibrant.
It’s rare a show so nicely dovetails with this locale’s affinity for families, and HCTO’s “Big Fish” will pleasantly hook audiences.