Big, The Musical gives a lift to the season

Growing up is tough. But compressing years in Big, The Musical creates an eruption of bright, sparkling and poignant fun.

The St. Albert Children’s Theatre premiered their version of Big, The Musical to a standing ovation last Thursday night.

It’s a story we all relate to. Young Josh Baskin tires of being treated like a kid. He has a crush on a girl and tries to impress her at a carnival. When Josh is told he’s too short to ride a rollercoaster, he’s embarrassed and slinks away.

Stumbling on Zoltar Speaks, a magical machine that grants wishes, Josh asks to be big. The next morning, his body is transformed into his 30-year-old self.

Josh is taller. His clothes don’t fit and he hides under blankets when his mother comes to wake him up.

Trapped in a man’s body, Josh panics and runs to his best friend Billy. The two set out to find Zoltar and reverse the wish.

During his journey, Josh is hired at a toy company as a tester and develops a fondness for Susan, the company’s vice-president of marketing.

However, adult responsibilities and rivalries creep into the fun and relationships become complicated through jealousies, competition and love.

Josh comes to realize the importance of gaining experience and emotional growth with each passing year and returns to his youth as a wiser 13-year-old.

Jarrett Krissa as Big Josh successfully treads a delicate line between adolescent naďveté and adult wisdom. He delights in playing with toys and delivers a triple-threat performance especially during scenes with the toy company founder Mr. MacMillan (Josh Languedoc).

As MacMillan, Languedoc is authoritative yet compassionate and his scenes with Krissa have a relaxed father-son chemistry. In particular, the duo is a synchronized standout performing a piano duet of Chopsticks.

Karina Cox as the workaholic Susan develops an attraction for the singularly humble Josh. As affection for him grows, she thaws from a chilly career woman to a softer, trusting woman ready to have fun.

Carter Woodley as Billy deserves a special mention as the adventurous best friend who goes to great lengths to help Josh. Woodley is the quintessential friend – a trickster rogue, yet loyal to the core.

And special kudos go to choreographer Jackie Pooke for some of the snappiest choreography that supersedes most of the semi-professional work I’ve seen this season.

Pooke set a high bar and the 33-cast members vaulted right over it with leaps, jumps, twirls that keep the musical moving at a fast clip.

Big, The Musical is a lush production with clever music, snazzy dance moves and a message that’s easy to digest – enjoy life in the moment.