‘Big River’ Worth the Price of Admission


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‘Big River’ Worth the Price of Admission
Eureka and tarnation! Wow! What a show! The production of “Big River” by the Musical Theater Heritage is one not to miss. I took my parents, husband and daughter to the show on Aug. 15, the third night of the production, and loved every minute of it. As I have written before, I look for shows that appeal to the entire family. I believe that by giving Maddie, age 9, a chance to see musicals and plays that are appropriate for her age, she is starting the process to become an arts patron. Isn’t that what all these groups need? Based on the 1884 novel by Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “Big River” was written by country crooner and humorist Roger Miller. I knew about Roger Miller because my parents liked his songs and then I discovered Miller provided the voice of Alan-a-Dale, the minstrel who tells the story of “Robin Hood” in Disney’s version. It’s easy to be a patron when you attend a show like “Big River.” Now, I have to admit that I am extremely partial to this musical. I fell in love with the songs when “Big River” captured the 1984 Tony Award for best musical. I have had the opportunity to see the musical live, but the Musical Theater Heritage’s production, directed by Music Director Sarah Crawford, was just plain fun. There is just about a tune for every taste – gospel, country, ballads and comedy. Set up like an old radio show with 1930s-styled microphones hovering over music stands, the set is simple with chairs for the singers with the orchestra behind them. It’s not a show with scenery and props, but a show where the audience is asked to call upon their own imagination. I felt like we, as an audience, got to be that live-studio audience during the recording of something momentous. And it was a momentous night. Let me touch a little on the actor/singers. Seth Golay is a charmer. He played Huck Finn. His charisma is almost boundless. He knows how to play the “a-shucks” attitude of Twain’s infamous teen. Huck’s friend and slave, Jim, is played by Mykell Hill. OK, I am a sap when it comes to the songs sung by Huck and Jim: “Muddy Water,” “River in the Rain,” and “Worlds Apart.” Although the actor/singers don’t really interact with each other in this concert setting, there was something downright magical as these two men sang. I got goose bumps several times. That’s one of my litmus tests for musicals – if I get good goose bumps several times during the production, it was a good show. Erikka Dunn’s voice gave me goose bumps. She plays the slave Alice. When she belted out “How Blest We Are” and then sang with fellow actress/singers Emily Harris and Izzie Baldwin for “You Oughta Be Here With Me,” I found myself in tears. (Maddie liked Izzie because Izzie knelt down and spoke briefly to Maddie when all the actors and actresses walked on to the stage.) Julie Shaw, as Miss Watson, and Katie Karel, as the Widow Douglas, give stellar performances. They have strong voices and “Do You Wanna Go to Heaven” never sounded so good. My father, who has limited vision, enjoyed sitting so close to the actor/singers. He has a little monoscope that allows him to get a better view of things and he watched a significant portion of the show through the little looking glass. He told Associate Producer Chad Gerlt that the show was a great joy. Dad doesn’t care for television much anymore on a smaller screen and if we go to the movies, the movie better be bright and colorful, but the live experience of Musical Theater Heritage hit all the right notes – a strong production, believable or sympathetic characters, few mistakes, and songs that stick in your head. My dad’s favorite number came from Kip Niven who performed the role of Pap Finn and sang “Guv’ment.” His gravel-throated sound made my dad and I wonder if it was chore to sing the song in that way, but it definitely stuck with us. The second favorite, for Dad, was Adam Branson’s turn as Tom Sawyer and “Hand for the Hog.” To that point, “Big River” was a hit with my mother. She said she couldn’t fall asleep that night because she couldn’t stop all the catchy songs from running through her head. My daughter couldn’t stop repeating the lines from the Duke and the King, the two hucksters who hitch a ride on the raft with Jim and Huck. Craig Benton plays the King and Jerry Jay Cranford plays the Duke. My daughter thought Benton’s attempts of Juliet’s lines, “Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou?” to be about the funniest thing she has heard in many days. She also liked Cranford’s limited costuming as the Royal Nonesuch. I won’t say what the two pieces looked like, but it was downright fun and even funnier if you are 9. She also appreciated Shea Coffman’s turn with “Arkansas.” I can’t forget Ray Ettinger and Doogin Brown. Both played multiple roles such as Ettinger’s turn as Judge Thatcher and Uncle Silas and Brown’s turn as Ben and Sheriff Bell. I shook Ettinger’s hand as the actors walked on stage. It meant a lot to be acknowledged as an audience member. Finally, I want to give a standing ovation to Gerlt and Executive Director George Harter. Gerlt, like several of the actors, plays three small roles, but watching him contort his tall, lanky frame to drop himself low enough to sing into the microphones was humorous and sweet. It also really fit with a couple of his characters. Harter is a gem. I grew up listening to him host “A Night on the Town” on the local classical music station. Seeing him live as Mark Twain tickled me. I also appreciated his harmonica playing. He learned to play for the musical. After Jeremy Watson, the show’s conductor, wrapped up music from the small orchestra, the actors greeted the audience in the Off Center Theatre lobby. It was such a treat to thank the actor/singers for their time. Again, each of them is a jewel in Kansas City’s musical crown. And remember, there is still an opportunity to catch the show. It runs through Aug. 30.

Eureka and tarnation! Wow! What a show! The production of “Big River” by the Musical Theater Heritage is one not to miss. I took my parents, husband and daughter to the show on Aug. 15, the third night of the production, and loved every minute of it.

As I have written before, I look for shows that appeal to the entire family. I believe that by giving Maddie, age 9, a chance to see musicals and plays that are appropriate for her age, she is starting the process to become an arts patron. Isn’t that what all these groups need?

Based on the 1884 novel by Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “Big River” was written by country crooner and humorist Roger Miller. I knew about Roger Miller because my parents liked his songs and then I discovered Miller provided the voice of Alan-a-Dale, the minstrel who tells the story of “Robin Hood” in Disney’s version.

It’s easy to be a patron when you attend a show like “Big River.” Now, I have to admit that I am extremely partial to this musical. I fell in love with the songs when “Big River” captured the 1984 Tony Award for best musical. I have had the opportunity to see the musical live, but the Musical Theater Heritage’s production, directed by Music Director Sarah Crawford, was just plain fun. There is just about a tune for every taste – gospel, country, ballads and comedy.

Set up like an old radio show with 1930s-styled microphones hovering over music stands, the set is simple with chairs for the singers with the orchestra behind them. It’s not a show with scenery and props, but a show where the audience is asked to call upon their own imagination. I felt like we, as an audience, got to be that live-studio audience during the recording of something momentous. And it was a momentous night.

Let me touch a little on the actor/singers. Seth Golay is a charmer. He played Huck Finn. His charisma is almost boundless. He knows how to play the “a-shucks” attitude of Twain’s infamous teen. Huck’s friend and slave, Jim, is played by Mykell Hill. OK, I am a sap when it comes to the songs sung by Huck and Jim: “Muddy Water,” “River in the Rain,” and “Worlds Apart.” Although the actor/singers don’t really interact with each other in this concert setting, there was something downright magical as these two men sang. I got goose bumps several times. That’s one of my litmus tests for musicals – if I get good goose bumps several times during the production, it was a good show.

Erikka Dunn’s voice gave me goose bumps. She plays the slave Alice. When she belted out “How Blest We Are” and then sang with fellow actress/singers Emily Harris and Izzie Baldwin for “You Oughta Be Here With Me,” I found myself in tears. (Maddie liked Izzie because Izzie knelt down and spoke briefly to Maddie when all the actors and actresses walked on to the stage.) Julie Shaw, as Miss Watson, and Katie Karel, as the Widow Douglas, give stellar performances. They have strong voices and “Do You Wanna Go to Heaven” never sounded so good.

My father, who has limited vision, enjoyed sitting so close to the actor/singers. He has a little monoscope that allows him to get a better view of things and he watched a significant portion of the show through the little looking glass. He told Associate Producer Chad Gerlt that the show was a great joy. Dad doesn’t care for television much anymore on a smaller screen and if we go to the movies, the movie better be bright and colorful, but the live experience of Musical Theater Heritage hit all the right notes – a strong production, believable or sympathetic characters, few mistakes, and songs that stick in your head. My dad’s favorite number came from Kip Niven who performed the role of Pap Finn and sang “Guv’ment.” His gravel-throated sound made my dad and I wonder if it was chore to sing the song in that way, but it definitely stuck with us. The second favorite, for Dad, was Adam Branson’s turn as Tom Sawyer and “Hand for the Hog.”

To that point, “Big River” was a hit with my mother. She said she couldn’t fall asleep that night because she couldn’t stop all the catchy songs from running through her head. My daughter couldn’t stop repeating the lines from the Duke and the King, the two hucksters who hitch a ride on the raft with Jim and Huck. Craig Benton plays the King and Jerry Jay Cranford plays the Duke. My daughter thought Benton’s attempts of Juliet’s lines, “Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou?” to be about the funniest thing she has heard in many days. She also liked Cranford’s limited costuming as the Royal Nonesuch. I won’t say what the two pieces looked like, but it was downright fun and even funnier if you are 9. She also appreciated Shea Coffman’s turn with “Arkansas.”

I can’t forget Ray Ettinger and Doogin Brown. Both played multiple roles such as Ettinger’s turn as Judge Thatcher and Uncle Silas and Brown’s turn as Ben and Sheriff Bell. I shook Ettinger’s hand as the actors walked on stage. It meant a lot to be acknowledged as an audience member.

Finally, I want to give a standing ovation to Gerlt and Executive Director George Harter. Gerlt, like several of the actors, plays three small roles, but watching him contort his tall, lanky frame to drop himself low enough to sing into the microphones was humorous and sweet. It also really fit with a couple of his characters. Harter is a gem. I grew up listening to him host “A Night on the Town” on the local classical music station. Seeing him live as Mark Twain tickled me. I also appreciated his harmonica playing. He learned to play for the musical.

After Jeremy Watson, the show’s conductor, wrapped up music from the small orchestra, the actors greeted the audience in the Off Center Theatre lobby. It was such a treat to thank the actor/singers for their time. Again, each of them is a jewel in Kansas City’s musical crown. And remember, there is still an opportunity to catch the show. It runs through Aug. 30.