Assignment #3: Singing Time

Listening to this soundtrack makes me really happy that I'm in musical. I love this show already and all the songs bring something unique to the table. I listen closely for the harmonies in the ensemble because we will be working hard on nailing the notes and recognizing individual parts. There is great variety with the soundtrack. Not one song is boring or dull. The slow songs are beautiful and well-written for the characters and moments. 

It's truly difficult for me to pick a single favourite, but I narrowed it down to 'Time Stops' because of the amazing harmonies. They're effortless and perfectly matched. I love how it starts slow with Edward, switches to Sandra and finally tops it off with their duet. It's the icing on the cake. I see this song with Edward and Sandra on opposite sides of the stage. He is entranced as everything freezes while he sings to her, although she does not know it. When Sandra comes in and sees him staring she should look back but there should be something blocking their path to eachother, as he will not meet her until much later. It fits into the play because it's a defining moment is Edward's life. This song shows us when he falls in love with his future wife, a woman who shapes his path until the day he dies.

My least favourite song is 'Red, White And True.' I just don't really like all the instrumentals but I know they are meant for dancing and the Patterson/Red Fang gist. I don't find the song very catchy with all the girls singing. It would be quite engaging with dancers and decorations corresponding to the song. Sandra Bloom sings this song along with an ensemble of girls who sing most of it. This song is one of Edward's storytales. It's about how he survived poison from the evil "General Red Fang." 'Red, White And True' is essential in bringing pictures from Edward's mind to life.

Assignment #2: Musical Time

From watching "Big Fish" on a stage performed by high school students just like us, I learned multiple things. It was extremely beneficial for me to see how the finished product turns out in real life as I wasn't sure how all the flashbacks would work. The actors were quite amazing and seemed older with lots of experience. Not one person let the team down. Everyone was engaging to see. They inspire me to do my absolute best acting and practice, practice, practice! 

The number one scene that stood out to me would have to be the ending where Edward and Will go to the river after Will completes his father's story for him. It makes me cry every time. I liked how all of the characters supported him until the end. It was a good idea for Edward to die along with the heartbeat monitor, as I believe it increased emotion for the audience and the actors. Another scene that I enjoyed watching was the whole circus performance. It has nice variation with the beautiful 'Time Stops' along with the laughs that Mr. Calloway provides.

The moral of the story, at least to me, is that the people you love don't all show their love in the same ways. Edward creates these detailed, outrageous stories in order to make his life seem more interesting. He loves his fantasies as well as sharing them to others. Will began to resent his father for the lies until he realized that Edward was only trying to add magic and life to his son's world. Imagination is a wonderful thing and I think Edward wished to teach Will that there is always a silver lining of sorts. Since Edward was not around much at home, he created a place of imagination for Will to escape to (or tried at least). The audience will leave the production knowing that parents always try their best, even if it's not what their children want. In the end, Will knows that his dad loved him and through his own son, learned what his father was all about.

I think that the main metaphor from "Big Fish" would be in the title itself. Edward tells many tall tales and they seem to get increasingly more hard to believe. He uses stories to escape sadness in the world. They allow him to always take a positive outlook on things. How you live your life is all about perspective. With a bleak and negative attitude, life will be miserable. Edward takes matters into his own hands, with his own unique method. He'd rather be happy and part of staying that way is creating exciting stories. The tales are big fish, but his intentions are gold. He continues to tell his stories even when he knows the sickness will take him because he's scared of being forgotten. Through vivid stories, he lives on in his family's memories and all those who heard the stories of Edward Bloom.