'Big River' by BoHo Theatre: A mighty 'Big River' in an intimate, heartfelt telling
THEATER REVIEW: "Big River" ★★★ Through Oct. 10 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes; Tickets: $25 at 773-975-8150
Roger Miller died of lung and throat cancer in 1992. The chain-smoking “King of the Road” was only 56 years old, and he'd just discovered how good he was at writing scores for Broadway musicals.
I can never watch “Big River,” the masterful adaptation of Mark Twain's “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” without wondering what other great songs Miller might have written. It's not William Hauptman's book that sets “Big River” afloat — most of its charm can be attributed to the timeless quirks of the source — but it's Miller's stunning progression of songs. You've doubtless seen musicals where your toes would love to tap, if only there were a real tune in the house. You never have that problem at “Big River,” where the sticky, zesty numbers just keep on comin' like the good times: “Muddy Water,” “Waitin' for the Light to Shine,” “Arkansas,” “River in the Rain.” I'd better stop before I take up space listing the whole score.
The thing about Miller (if you're a fan of his other music, you'll know this) is that he was the rare composer with wit. I'm not talking about Miller's lyrics; I mean the melodies. That's why his unpretentious tunes, rooted in the music of rural America, are such a perfect match for Twain: They're perky, devilish, jovial, and yet they carry an emotional and humanistic sting in their tale that gets you right where you live, especially when you're not far from Twain country. The score to “Big River” is a masterpiece, and it's always a pleasure to hear it performed.
The new Bohemian Ensemble Theatre production of this treasured material is performed in the most intimate of the lovely new theater spaces inside Theater Wit. You're pretty much right there on the raft with Huck and Jim, the runaway slave, waving to that old adventurer Tom Sawyer, somewhere on the banks.