amasis---Unfortunately I didn't see both. And the DW revival was out here in L.A. for quite a while before moving to Broadway. I think that (deep down) it was intentional. I adored the '85 production so much that I wanted to keep it "frozen" a bit in my mind. Probably foolish, but know I was purposely avoiding it for some reason, even though I'd heard it was quite good. I had just moved to NYC back then (in '85), having just finished a season of summer stock with Marin Mazzie. I actually answered the phone at the theatre box office for Marin when Des McAnuff called to ask her to replace Patti Cohenour in the Broadway run of Big River as Mary Jane Wilkes. It was Marin's first Broadway show, and she left the theatre we were working at and went right into this show in New York. So, when I moved to NYC myself a few weeks after our season ended, I had the "inspiration" of having a friend and co-worker of mine who'd just "bounced" to Broadway! I guess I didn't want to erase all of those memories, even after all these years. "Big River" is not only a show to me, but it represents a special time and place for me, when I was young and green and new to the Big City.
As far as the original production itself, what doesn't come through so well in photos is how really wonderful the sets were. You felt like you were looking at etchings, drawings, wood carvings, etc. from the era. Beautifully done and beautifully lit. That's something I will never forget. During "Muddy Water" when the scrim went up and revealed the river stretching back into the painted and wood-textured background (to infinity) it never failed to get a round of applause every time I saw the show.
One interesting note: One of the performances I attended during this original run with Marin was a special performance for the deaf. They had signing on either side of the stage. It was amazing to watch. In a way, I feel like I'd already seen the DW production (which of course wasn't and isn't true).
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 2/15/06 at 06:51 PM
. Thanks for sharing that. I can understand wanting to keep it frozen in your mind, given your personal experiences with it. 
