Stage Review - Big Fish (Kitsap Forest Theatre)

Stage Review - Big Fish
Presented By: Kitsap Forest Theatre - Bremerton, WA
Show Run: July 26 - August 17, 2025
Date Reviewed: Saturday, August 02, 2025
Run Time: 2 Hours, 45 Minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman

There’s something uniquely magical about seeing a larger-than-life tale unfold under a canopy of trees, and Big Fish, currently running at Kitsap Forest Theatre through August 17, brings that sense of wonder to the woods. Directed by Craig Schieber, this production leans into that whimsical charm, and with performances from a cast of actors who deliver their roles with a good deal of respect to the 2003 film of the same name, and the 1998 novel on which it was based, it represents a experience far different from what this group has put up on its stage previously. The tale of Edward Bloom—a father known for spinning grand yarns about his adventures, and the son trying to separate fact from fiction—takes on a fittingly storybook quality in the forest setting.

The set, designed by George Pledger and Jim Johnson, captures this tone while using the standard scenic design playbook for Kitsap Forest Theatre. Anchored by a wooden pier that serves as a recurring image for the relationship between Edward and his son, the design smartly evokes both grounded reality and flowing memory. A particularly clever construct of “water” surrounding the pier adds a visual poetry to key moments, reinforcing the show’s themes of depth, reflection, and the passage of time. Meanwhile, costume designers Amy Fancher and Gail Foster further allow the audience to suspend their collective disbelief with their vibrant and varied looks. From witches to circus folk to suburban mothers, the wide array of characters is brought to vivid life through smart, character-driven design choices. Their work does a great deal to assist the storytelling as the narrative shifts between timelines, fantasy sequences, and reality.

Musically, the live orchestra, under the direction of music director Mark Press, does an admirable job supporting the cast throughout the musical numbers. The underscoring is tastefully done, never overpowering the dialogue or vocals—a challenge in any outdoor setting. Guy Caridi’s choreography is also solid, though not as thorougly complex as previous productions, though in all fairness Big Fish isn’t filled with huge dance numbers requiring that kind of associated choreography. As with many productions at Kitsap Forest Theatre, Caridi knows how to use the space to its fullest, and the movement feels both grounded in character and expansive enough to match the open-air venue.

Performance-wise, Ila Faubion Dreessen continues to demonstrate why she’s among the most consistent and exceptional vocal talents in the county—and beyond. As Sandra Bloom, she gives a rich, layered performance, navigating the emotional and chronological shifts in the role with ease and authenticity. Her voice, as always, is a highlight. She is delightful in all of her character’s incarnations, including her performances in “Little Lamb from Alabama” and “Red, White, and True” with other members of the ensemble. Kristopher Jones steps into the demanding role of Edward Bloom with energy and charm, convincingly portraying a man whose life blurs the line between myth and memory. Both his and Ila’s work in pivoting between versions of their characters in time is excellent, and vocally Kristopher is generally able to keep up with Ila and the rest of the ensemble, though at times during Saturday’s performance he seemed to struggle, particularly when reaching for notes outside his apparent comfort zone. And whether or not this contributed to the struggles the ensemble had at times maintaining their harmonies, it’s hard to say, but the larger musical numbers, especially in Act 2, suffered a bit as a result. Still, his portrayal is heartfelt, and he handles the emotional arc of the character with sincerity, also managing the Alabama accent extremely well.

Beyond Kristopher and Ila, there are plenty of highlights within this cast. Kevin Tanner is very good as Will Bloom, Edward’s son, and Emma Drazkowski plays his wife and voice of reason solidly. I like Walt Foster’s portrayal of Amos Calloway, the ringmaster of the circus Edward joins, and Ellen Hume as the witch whose prediction of the manner in which Edward will die sets this entire crazy story into motion, steals the scenes in which her character finds herself. It’s a decent sized cast, and the character portrayals are all good across the board. For those familiar with the film, this show is a nice and nostalgic trip back to the story, and without movie magic, it does a nice job bringing the story to life.

Life outdoors, though, is not without its challenges. Sometimes the microphones are hit and miss in this environment, the good days are the ones where there’s a bit of crackling or some delay in picking up an actor’s words, but this past Saturday skewed a little bit away from the best case, with moments of veritable silence when the audience was clearly intended to hear dialogue, but up to a minute of these scenes were missed as a result of the microphones not being completely cooperative. The other challenge with this show is the pace. Clocking in at 2 hours, 45 minutes, it’s a long one, and with the speech patterns of the Alabama drawl, it feels like it at times. The speech is slow and deliberate in these moments, and the pace of the show follows that pace. This is all to say that if you’re looking for a high energy musical, this isn’t it. Big Fish is an emotional, poignant piece about family, love, coming of age, and mortality, told with a sprinkling of the extraordinary. Knowing that going in, and those familiar with the film will, makes Big Fish more enjoyable than for those coming in expecting something else.

Big Fish, the current musical production on stage at Kitsap Forest Theatre, is an ambitious and touching production. It’s a story about fathers and sons, about the stories we tell and the truths that lie within them. In the capable hands of this talented cast, under the direction of Craig Schieber, it becomes a reminder that sometimes the setting, with all of its natural imperfections, and by adding its own magic to an already fantastical story, can make for an experience that transcends the tale being told on its stage.

Big Fish runs on stage at Kitsap Forest Theatre through August 17. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://www.foresttheater.com/.

Photo credit: Amy Fancher and Gala Lindvall