REVIEW: 'Big River' a great season opener for FLT

I was able to see “Big River” this weekend at the Florence Little Theatre. This is a great show to open the season and I hope that you are able to see it before Saturday. The director, Robin Thompson, “has known this book ever since his elementary school teacher read it to his class in third grade. Four decades later, he’s directing FLT’s second production of the show after playing for the first one. But as he says, anyone who thinks Mark Twain wrote a children’s book should read it again.“
The mere size of the cast of “Big River” is impressive. I had chill bumps as soon as the show opened to the entire cast singing “Do ya wanna go to heaven?” I do wanna go to heaven, of course, so I stayed to see if they could learn me how to go.
Huck Finn (Courtney Dease) sets the stage for the play. His role as the narrator is demanding. He moves seamlessly throughout the play between narrating and performing. Dease said, “Playing Huck has been so much fun! He’s the perfect mixture of mischievousness and goodness and that makes for one fun time! I love stories that take an audience on a journey of emotions and this one definitely does that. I’m so blessed to get to work with so many talented people and help create an evening of laughter and tears as we share such a poignant story that is full of heart and meaning.”
We quickly see that “Big River” has a dark side as Pap (Joel Saverance) enters the play as a no-good, scheming alcoholic. Saverance absolutely mastered this character. His every motion, step, grimace and yell made me hold on to my armrests a little tighter in case he decided to come toward the audience.
My blue hat is off to the set designer. The raft that takes Huck and Jim down the Mississippi is great. When I write these reviews I watch other theaters that have done this on YouTube. It helps me understand what was done right and what could be improved. Many other theaters have a stationary raft. The raft at FLT moves back and forth as Huck and Jim “paddle” it down the river. This made it easier to get lost in the story.
Leon Rogers (Jim) was once described by the a by the New York Times as a “Fireball of energy.” I am glad that his energy has made its way south. I got chill bumps when Huck and Jim sang “River in the Rain.” These two actors drove this play just as they drove the raft down the mighty Mississippi.
n Glen Gourley. It would be worth going back to college to take his class. His interpretation of The Duke is pure entertainment. The way he switches immediately to “Brother William” almost had me rolling in the floor with laughter. Jamie Lambert is spot-on as The King. Watching these two actors and their chicanery kept a smile on my face.
n Joey Webster (The Young Fool) was a treat for the whole audience. I have now seen Webster in a variety of shows and he has an uncanny ability to transform into whichever character he is playing. Chrissy Fennel (Mary Jane) did a lovely job. Her rendition of “You Oughta Be Here with Me” could be an audition song for “Nashville Star” or “American Idol.” Ben Hankinson was absolutely charming as Tom Sawyer. (I don’t believe for a second he would murder OR rob a single soul.) All of the boys in Tom Sawyer’s “gang” show me that Florence will have a thriving theater for many years to come. There is a lot of talent in that group.
I honestly can’t pick one song from this show as my favorite. I loved “River in the Rain,” the duet with Jim and Huck. I also loved “Free at Last” and “Muddy Water.” I find myself humming about three or four songs throughout the day (especially now that I have listened to them on YouTube over and over again.)
While I can’t possibly talk about each cast member (as I would like to), I have to mention Scarlett Knight. For some reason people constantly ask me if I am Scarlett. I love to perpetuate that rumor, but we don’t actually know each other and she is clearly more talented than Flossip! I would like to stop by Aunt Sally and Uncle Cyrus’ (John Bankson) house for dinner one night — as long as no shotguns are involved.
From the opening number to the final bow, the entire show was a delight. The orchestra was top-notch, as well. I am always amazed by the caliber of talent that we have in Florence. If you have not been, you are missing out.
(Please listen to some of the Big River Music on YouTube. I promise you will want to go hear the live performance and see how great our local talent is.)