The 1988 movie is recreated as a musical three decades after the film

“What did you want to play with when you were 13?”
Susan

Jay McGuiness as Josh and Kimberley Walsh as Susan - Photo: Alastair Muir
Jay McGuiness as Josh and Kimberley Walsh as Susan - Photo: Alastair Muir

Big was a high grossing film in 1988. There were several about that time where young and old did body swaps with consequential confusion. In 1996, the Broadway musical ran for just under 200 performances. In 2016, Strictly Come Dancing winner Jay McGuinesss starred in the British version for a week in Plymouth and a month in Ireland with talk of a West End transfer which materialised this year; “much anticipated” as the marketing department puts it!

It is difficult as a theatre reviewer brought into the industry by a love of plays to fully embrace musical theatre in the way that many in the audience do. I admire those of my critical colleagues who love musicals as much as plays. There is no question that musicals are what audiences want to see and each year in the West End, and further afield, the percentage of musicals overtakes the number of plays.

I went to Big with an open mind. I hadn’t seen the movie in the 1980s but I watched snatches on YouTube and found Tom Hanks charming. Neither did I have any history with the Strictly Come Dancing winner, a show with its following in the millions or his band The Wanted. Kimberley Walsh impressed me with her performance in Elf at the Dominion in 2016.

The orchestra is impressive with its big band sound, the overture has big movie music, and small Josh (Jamie O’Connor) has a big voice. But in terms of storyline I find the sexual fantasies of 12 year old boys difficult to listen to and sub teen, pre-pubescent dating uncomfortable. More on this later.

The next big snag for me was Wendi Peters as Josh’s Mom. No, not Wendy Peters, she has shuffled off this mortal coil. I found Wendi’s singing voice raucous and she looked old enough to be the doubling Mr Baskin (Stuart Hickey in black wig)’s mother. But things can only get better and Josh’s school friend and next door neighbour Billy (Jobe Hart) is a breath of fresh air.

As you’ll know from the film, Josh asks a carnival showman to make him big and overnight is changed into the very tall Jay McGuiness. No Harry Potter magic here but waking up in pyjamas ten sizes too small. As Josh sets off to find the funfair and get back to normal, a night in the bus station precedes his meeting with the toy manufacturer boss, Mr MacMillan (Matthew Kelly). They relate to a love of toys in “Fun” the giant piano dance which is a highlight of this act. Matthew Kelly is charming as ever.

The toyshop brings in Kimberley Walsh as Head of Marketing and her magnificent voice raises the musical roof. Jay McGuinesss is much more successful and confident dancing than singing. When Susan suggests they spend the night, Josh thinking like a 13 year old presumes she’s suggesting a sleepover. Again I was unsure about the implications of a 30 year old woman in a sexual dalliance with someone who is mentally 12 or 13. This scene ends on a star machine filling the auditorium with the song “Stars”.

The second act improved things for me. The kids choreography in “It’s Time” is cute, clever and full of energy. “Coffee Black” is the big dance number of the Toy Company executives as Josh is promoted.

The scene changes are through Ian William Galloway’s video scapes and the costumes culminate in the finale with everyone in American red baseball jackets and white trousers/skirts.

The scene I liked best was the satirical evening when Susan introduces Josh to her adult and sophisticated friends. As they anticipate meeting him, Abigail (Vicki Davids), Nick (Ross McLaren), Tom (Colin Burnicle) and Diane (Tash Holway) sing mock opera in “The Real Thing” as they cattily recall Susan’s heretofore disastrous love life. This scene sadly ends with Josh being given the keys to move his host’s BMW.

Big ends on an extended finale number and crowd pleaser which made me feel sad I couldn’t like it more.

Musical Numbers

Act One

Overture/Prologue

Can’t Wait

Talk To Her

Carnival

Say Good Morning To Mom

This Isn’t Me

Time Of Your Life

Fun

Welcome to MacMillan Toys

My Secretary’s in Love

Office Politics

Let’s Not Move Too Fast

Do You Want To Play Games

Stars

Cross The Line

Act Two

Entr’acte

It’s Time

Stop Time

The Nightmare

Dancing All The Time

I Want To Know

Coffee Black

The Real Thing

The Real Thing (Reprise)

When You’re Big

We’re Gonna Be Fine

Finale

Production Notes

Big: The Musical
Based on the original screenplay, ‘Big’

Book by John Weidman
Music by David Shire
Lyrics by Richard Maltby
Directed and Choreographed by Morgan Young

Cast

Starring:

Jay McGuiness

Wendi Peters

Kimberley Walsh

Matthew Kelly

Jamie O’Connor

Jobe Hart

 

With:

Lori Haley Fox

Edward Handoll

Harrison Dadswell

Jake Simon

Austen Phelan

Theo Wilkinson

Charlie Bull

Colin Burnicle

Christie-Lee Crosson

Vicki Davids

Alex Fobbester

Leanne Garretty

Stuart Hickey

Matt Holland

Tash Holway

Ross McLaren

Richard Murphy

Eddie Myles

Katharine Pearson

Anton Fosh

Gemma Fuller

Gary Murphy

Katy Osborne

Olufemi Alaka

Coco Cousin-Brown

Asher Ezeguiel

Ellis Griffiths

Imogen Law Hing Choy

Noah Leggott

Amaya Lucas

Cassia McCarthy

Ophelia Parsons

Bailey Razdan

Lucinda Wicks

Chanel Zinyemba

Creatives

Director and Choreographer: Morgan Young

Musical Supervisor: Stuart Morley

Production Designer: Simon Higlett

Lighting Designer: Tim Lutkin

Video Designer: Ian William Galloway

Sound Designer: Avgoustas Psillas, Terry Jardine (for Autograph)

Musical Director: Jeremy Wooton

Fight Director: Paul Benzing

Illusions: Chris Fisher

 

Information

Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes with an interval

Closed on 2nd November 2019

 

Address:

Dominion Theatre

268-269 Tottenham Court Road

London W1T 7AQ

Tube: Tottenham Court Road

 

Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge at the Dominion Theatre on 18th September 2019