Big River

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 9:01pm

What are your thoughts on this show? I love the score, and I would love to see it revived in the near future!

Just simply discuss Big River.

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:03pm

I also really like the show for the most part, but doubt it will be be revived in the near future due to the revival a few years back.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:07pm

I don't think it's ever had a chance to experience extravagance, and I mean that in the best way possible. The most recent revival had its focus on the ASL, but I think another revival that focused on really upping the ante on the sets and music would fare well. Not for a few years, of course.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:38pm

It's much "smarter" than people give it credit for.

Kinda like the Twain source material itself.

The original production was breathtaking as far as sets, costumes and staging.

It came out in a VERY bleak year, and most people were depressed about the state of Broadway and theatre in general. It was touted as the best of what was around, but that wasn't saying much.

I think it was "sold short," and since then I have seen VERY few productions on Broadway with as solid an ensemble, as creative a vision, as strong a book and score, and as brilliant a design (the sets got applause during the show!).

What I remember most...

Roger Miller's BRILLIANT lyrics (many hidden meanings)...

Those sets... a wooden planked "river" that started on the stage and worked its way up into the scenery behind it.. shimmering and "moving" because of the equally brilliant lighting design.

The wonderful cast of "characters" performed by the most talented ensemble of performers I've seen in a musical to date.

It was a quiet little "gem" of a musical. Focused, humorous when it needed to be, dark in tone when it needed to be... inspirational, thought-provoking...

...classic.

I was fortunate enough to see it several times.

(Okay I'm a tad biased, because I had a good friend in the show, and as a result I was able to hang out with the cast on several occasions, at various parties, and just to sit around and talk and socialize.)

Okay, gang... Take my observations with a grain of salt if you want... but I do believe it was a monumental show that (in the grand scheme of things) has not been heralded for what it was. Subtle in approach and presentation, but shining in achievement.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:44pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=921581

[tourboi]

Posted: 1/11/07 at 11:56pm

It's been revived recently, by the Roundabout and Deafwest, and it was a brilliant production.

I did a regional tour of it a few years ago in New England, and had a fantastic time. The score is incredibly charming. I would love to see the show done more often by theatres, but that doesn't seem to be the case, sadly.

[marlomanners]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 1:43am

I saw the national tour in the 80's and the tour of the DeafWest production. The DeafWest production was stunning, but, yeah, it's a little soon for another revival.

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 12:51pm

I think it's a very good show too-- i think it's avoided because of the liberal use of the n word which we changed to slave.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 1:13pm

Wow, THAT sounds legal!

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/12/07 at 1:42pm

Well, yeah, understandable--it was also a community theatre production and to be honest, I was glad--i really didn't want to have to bust out all those n bombs and still try to have the audience like me--but illegal nonetheless.

[misto625]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:23pm

I just finished listening to the cast recording for the first time and I must say this show seems to have a lot of emotional pull and I wish I could have seen this show live but I was yoo young to see the original production and the revival closed in between my trips to NYC. I really love the score, especially the slower songs, which are usually my least favorite parts of the score, but here I think they are the stronges parts.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:25pm

The Roundabout Revival was gorgeous! I wish it would have lasted longer. Tyrone Giordano was a revelation.

[misto625]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:28pm

I have seen a clip of the revival which was shown at the Tonys and loved it. I always thought Tyrone bore an uncanny resemblance to John Tartaglia.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:29pm

I recently viewed the original production at the Lincoln center Library and I must say, I was greatly disappointed. Des McAnuf's direction, which is usually smooth as glass, seemed very clunky here. Most scenes were boringly set at center stage with awkward transitions and a noticable lack of dancing. The show, to me, is one that can be greatly infused with lively choreography in many of the larger numbers, but instead was often staged with a slew of characters aimlessly walking about the stage and cartoonishly scolding Huck. I realize this production won the best musical Tony, but it certainly was carried by a marvelous score. The deaf west production was supposedly marvelous, though i do wish for another straightforward revival in the future sometime. I think this might be a good show for the Kennedy center to produce as a pre-broadway engagement.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:55pm

It won Best Musical in a remarkably lousy year for musicals. It opened very late in the season, and there was talk of eliminating thew best Musical category that year until it opened to mostly good reviews.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 6:33pm

i liked the roundabout revival

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 6:46pm

. I always thought Tyrone bore an uncanny resemblance to John Tartaglia.

And Ioan Gruffudd.

Posted: 1/24/07 at 10:33am

I agree with Best12Bars, especially about the set for the original production. While the producer's wife got the credit, it was actually Rick Dennis who designed and constructed the set. Rick designed the sets for several years at The Hangar Theatre in Ithaca and whatever the show they were always magnificent and very creative.

[DG]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:12am

The moment in the Deaf West production during "Waitin' for the Light to Shine" when the entire cast and orchestra went silent and signed the climax to the song is one of the most moving experiences I've ever had in my life.

[D2]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:16am

Theatreboy: it is difficult to judge a production based on a tape, especially one made for archival purposes. The live spirit that is so essential to theater is missing. In the theater, BIG RIVER was a breathtaking experience. As was the recent revival. Neither was better or worse than the other, they were both remarkable productions of an under appreciated show.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:30pm

Tom14850 - are you saying Heidi Landesman/Ettinger is a fraud? Did she not design the set for SECRET GARDEN? or TOM SAWYER?

And in what universe does the set desinger "construct" the set?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:45pm

"Tom14850 - are you saying Heidi Landesman/Ettinger is a fraud? Did she not design the set for SECRET GARDEN? or TOM SAWYER?

And in what universe does the set desinger "construct" the set?"

I didn't say Heidi is a fraud. Perhaps you could ask her about the details. I'm sure she'll verify them.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:35pm

I'm reading Huck Finn right now, and I'm wondering how the two compare. Does Big River retain the satire of the novel? I listened to the cast album a while ago, it's probably time to revisit.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:42pm

I like it...have seen a few productions of it, and always feel like act two is very slow.
Goodspeed is doing it this summer.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 12:37pm

I love Big River! I did see the recent tour twice, once in Atlanta, and once in Cincy. Both times were stellar, by the time it had gotten to Cincy it had a mostly new cast. As much as I loved the Deaf West/Roundabout production I secretly wanted the big set design and floating raft I'd only heard about. I'd love a full scale revival in 5 years or so!