Big River
His name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but most know him by his pen name Mark Twain. Twain combined his wit and irony with his brilliant narrative, which he received from his extensive travels, into his novels to become one of the masters of literary writing. His concept of breaking from the foremost academic writing structure in English revolutionized nineteenth-century American literature. His book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn examines institutionalized racism and analyzes America's truth about freedom and prejudice. Twain wrote several novels, with one, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, considered the "Great American Novel. Called "The Father of American Literature" by William Faulkner, another William named William Hauptman used Huckleberry Finn's Adventures to write his book called Big River. With music and lyrics by Roger Miller and Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter's intriguing adaptation, Big River is an entertaining and exhilarating theatrical production.
Written before the Civil War, Jim, the enslaved person in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Big River, was one of nearly 4 million enslaved Black people in the American South. Big River, symbolizing the ultimate freedom for Huck and, more importantly, Jim, explores their unique friendship as they travel down the Mississippi River searching for a better life. Narrated by Eric Amundson, who tremendously performed the role of Huckleberry Finn, Big River's bluegrass, country-style music, and premium singing will delight your soul. Huck, whose drunken father had left him with the Widow Douglas and her spinster sister Miss Watson, lectures Huck that he needs to learn to read and write and, in a magnificent singing number ("Do Ya Wanna Go To Heaven?"), tells Huck that he also needs to read the Bible if he ever hopes to redeem his soul from the gates of Hell. However, Huck wants to find his pathway and takes a once-in-a-lifetime journey down St. Petersburg, Missouri, and later on the Illinois Shore and Jackson's Island with Jim, where they meet two hilarious and peculiar characters named the King and Duke. As Huck, Jim, King, and Duke travel down the waters of Missouri, each looking for a different kind of freedom, their adventures range from having fun to finagling the uneducated townspeople to enthralling fear of being captured— but the most engaging storyline centers around the friendship between Huck and Jim, masterfully performed by Curtis Bannister (whose operatic voice is amazing)— and the incredible chemistry between Amundson and Bannister.
In the nostalgic song "Worlds Apart," Huck gets a glimpse of Jim's world and realizes his insensibility as a white person just looking for someone to run away with him and doesn't see Jim; in the same way, Jim wants to see Huck— a friend genuinely wanting him to be free. In addition, the symbolization of Blacks in America like Jim, who during the last part of the 1800s lost their civil rights after the failure of Reconstruction, symbolizes an anti-slavery and anti-racist message. Although Huck is ignorant about the bigotry and hate Jim faces for being black, and the retribution he faces as a runaway slave, Jim is well aware that his freedom is in the hands of a young boy who has never met humanity's ferocities. Carter beautifully expanded the dialogue in Big River, methodically exposing past and past discrimination blacks encounter, making his interpretation more captivating and compelling. Along with Carter, Kristi J. Martens (Managing Director), and Executive Producers L. Walter Stearns and Eugene Dizon did an exceptional job bringing together this immensely talented cast— featuring ("The Boys") Marcus Jackson, Callan Roberts, Jake Ziman, March Marren, and Eric Amundson as Huckleberry Finn, who see themselves as a band of fictional robbers that will rampage around the countryside. Colleen Perry (Widow Douglas), McKinley Carter (Miss Watson), Gabriel Fries(The Duke), and David Stobbe(The King)— and Cynthia Carter(Alice), Isis Elizabeth(Alice Daugther), Amanda Handegan (Mary Jane Wilkes), Haley Jane Schafer(Joanna) and Darryl D'Angelo Jones, Big River is persuadingly and profoundly invigorating.
For research, Carter went to Hannibal, Missouri, meets with Faye Dant, owner, and founder of Jim's Journey—the Huck Finn Freedom Center is the country's first memorial to Jim, the runaway slave. Jim was one of Twain's fictional characters; however, he was based on Daniel Quarles, an enslaved person on Twain's uncle's farm in Florida, Missouri. Dant considered an expert in the real-life characters and events in the production, is the project's dramaturg. Kudos to Malcolm Ruhl (Music Director), Ariel Etana Triunfo (Choreographer), Jacqueline, and Richard Penrod for their Scenic Design.
One of Mark Twain's famous quotes is, "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." So whatever day you decide to travel to the north side of Chicago, include seeing Big River at Mercury Theater Chicago in those plans.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Big River At Mercury Theater Chicago.
Mercury Theater Chicago
BIG RIVER: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Directed by Artistic Director Christopher Chase Carter
Music and Lyrics by Roger Miller
Book by William Hauptman
Adapted from the novel by Mark Twain
April 21, 2023 - June 11, 2023
