My "Big River" OBC Review

After recently completing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, I purchased "Big River."

The first thing that I noticed and enjoyed was the country sound and feeling to the piece; I felt it represented the time and location of the story.

What troubled me is that the novel, for some strange reason, is always labeled as a children's story, but it really isn't. The novel deals with hypocrisy, satires, and racial stigmatisms. The msuical, although "adapted" from thenovel, white washed that entire part of it.

Rather, the creators made a family friendly musical. The only song that I feel touched upon the morals of the book was "Worlds Apart."

Overall, the show is well done as its own entity, but compared to the novel, the show is far behind.

Any one else agree? disagree?

---

I love the book except the last few chapters, basically when Tom's antics started to get a bit too much for me. It was funny, but that part dragged on way too long.

I'm more familiar with the 2003 Deafwest Revival, and definitely think that they downplayed a lot of the issues by making it funny instead of biting. I wonder if that's how it was approached in the original production, too. (I love what they did in the revival, though, with deaf actors and hearing actors working together.)

I don't remember the exact lines, but there's a part when Huck saw either King/Duke tarred and feathered, and he said something along the lines of not being able to feel hatred toward the man, despite all the evils he'd done. "Human beings can be so cruel to one another." Basically highlights the extent of cruelty that people are able commit if they believe they're in the right. I love that scene in the book, and really didn't like how it was presented on stage. I don't know how it was done in the original production, but in the revival it came across as a comical scene (and they skipped Huck's reflection altogether).

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 11:04 PM

I saw this in January, 2003 at the Mark Taper - it was amazing. One of the most engrossing productions I have ever seen.

I don't know how much of this cast went on to the OBC - but I found that the signing and speaking at the same time did not detract from the story in any way.

I think the deafwest production was in an even smaller house than the Taper.

All I kept thinking was that this should be done more often for more shows. And, then I felt a bit guilty for not taking time time to at aleast try and learn some sign language.

I love DW's production!!! It's the reason I am taking ASL in college. I seriously am having withdrawl from the show. lol I wish it would come back. It was a great show and the cast as a whole was amazing.

---

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 02:11 AM

I think she was just talking about the Cast Recording. The libretto has been published, too, although it's out of print now.

I saw Big River on Broadway during its original run 2 1/2 times. I had a friend take over one of the main roles, so we saw her in it a few times.

It was a terrific show each time I saw it, with gorgeous sets, costumes, lighting and wonderfully fluid staging... and if the spirit of Mark Twain isn't coming through on the CD for you, I can assure you that it did in the Eugene O'Neill theatre, with book, songs and characterizations. They captured "Mark Twain" beautifully. I think these are the best "Twain" lyrics written, so far. Most other lyricists that have tried to musicalize Twain either miss the irony or the double-meaning he was so skilled at incorporating. Roger Miller nailed it.

"Do you wanna go to Heaven, if you don't go to Hell."

You can read that lyric with grave religious concern, or with a "screw you" at the end that's pretty damn funny. Miller put little gems like that all through this show.

---

I saw the tour in DC. OMG....one of the worst shows i have ever seen!!!!!!!!! it had some good moments but overall it was really bad.

I saw Deaf West's production five times and am also in my second semester of taking ASL for fun partly because of it (I'd always wanted to before, but hadn't had the time -- this convinced me to MAKE time).

I wasn't as thrilled with the OBC when I bought it. The energy I was used to just wasn't there. But since my first experience was with the DW cast, what do they say? You never forget your first love.

---

Mister Matt, this is coming from a Wicked Freak. Do you think it would actually like anything else?

Yall...i have seen plenty of shows to compare it to...it just happen that wicked is my favorite at the moment...there is nothing wrong with that. I just did not like the whole sign language thing. I think it is a great thing! but it really threw me off. I kept looking at the hands and was not getting lost in the story as much. I am sure it is an awsome thing for someone who IS deaf but it just was not for me. Sorry

I thought the music was very good! But the sign language just brought it down for me.

oh well...that is what is so great about America...we can have different opinions!! and i do! so yeah

Haha! So true!

I thought the ASL made it better. Plus adding ASL gave more emotion to the whole thing. I agree with Lizzie, it probably wouldn't have been as good if it didn't have it.

Don't let ASL die! (whole other topic)

---

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 04:00 PM

Haha, that's funny, wickedfreak.

---