Cara Statham Berger, Wyatt Hartz and David Lugo in Theatre Arlington’s ‘Big Fish.’ (Photo by Jacob Oderberg) Ok, let me just get this out of the way.
At the core of the musical Big Fish there is a sobering truth: the ostensible hero Edward Bloom is really just a con man. Yeah, I said it.
John August’s book might have us believe Edward Bloom is this good, maybe great guy, but in taking a deeper — and ok, maybe cynical look, he’s a traveling salesman who shirks his familial duties and is oblivious to his son’s emotional needs.
He finds a solace in telling fantastic tales for his own self-worth. Yet knowing that, it is difficult not to fall under Edward Bloom’s endearing spell.