[NEohioPAL]Berko review: BIG RIVER

[Roy Berko]

‘BIG RIVER’ FLOWS TRIUMPHANTLY AT THE PALACE

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


Billed as a celebration of silence and sound, ‘BIG
RIVER THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN,’ now on
stage at the Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square, is a
unique and entertaining experience.

Using deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors, the
show, which had a recent  on Broadway production, was
developed by The Roundabout Theatre Company and Deaf
West. 

Adapted from the novel by Mark Twain, ‘BIG RIVER THE
ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN’ is a tale of adventure
and self-discovery.  It takes the audience on a trip
down the Mississippi River in the 1840s on a raft
where Huck, escaping from his drunken father, is
traveling with Jim, a runaway slave. The story of
their journey captures the rhythms, sounds and spirit
of life on the big river.  Their adventures bring to
life Tom Sawyer, the Widow Douglas, the sinister Pap
Finn and Mary Jane Wilkes- the love of Huck’s life.

As Jeff Calhoun, who directs and choreographs the
musical states,  “The tradition of theatre for deaf
audiences places an interpreter on the side of the
stage, forcing the eye away from the physical drama. 
What I tried to accomplish is a marriage of the
hearing world and the deaf culture. Every moment of
the show is both signed and spoken. I didn't want
there to be one moment in the show that favored the
hearing audience or the deaf audience." 

How does Calhoun accomplish this?  The hearing actors
sing and speak their lines and use American Sign
Language (ASL) to accompany their performance.  For
example, Shaker Heights native Michael McElroy, who
portrays the role of Jim, both speaks and sings.   On
the other hand, Tyrone Giordano, who was born deaf,
portrays Huck, but his singing and speaking voice is
provided appropriately by Mark Twain (in the person of
Daniel Jenkins).  Giordano makes no attempt to do a
lip sink, but signs as his lines are presented.  What
makes it totally involving is that Giordano, as is the
case of all the deaf cast members, moves his hands in
perfect time to the music.  He actually sings with his
hands.  

Director Calhoun has intentionally made it obvious
when someone is projecting for another actor.  The
person stands next to, or is spotlighted on a balcony
or a platform.  No hiding here, no need to even look
for the person.  As the synchronized ballet of
speaking and signing  are interwoven with the music,
the dancing and the storytelling a "third language" is
created which the audience has no trouble in
understanding and embracing.

The Tony winning music for the show, which is a mix of
Cajun, gospel, folk, country and blues songs was
written by Grammy Award winner Roger Miller, one of
the great country singer-songwriters.   The score
includes “Do You Want to Go To Heaven,” “Waiting for
the Light To Shine,” “Hand for the Hog,” “Muddy
Water,” “When the Sun Goes Down in the South” and
“Worlds Apart.”

The touring production is top-notch in every aspect. 
Ray Klausen’s ingenious set design allows the audience
to participate as the raft floats down the river,
often transfer to land, and returns to the flow of the
river.  Pages of the Mark Twain novel are hung from
the fly gallery, stand on the stage, and sometimes
even turn for us to gain a view of what is happening. 
Michael Gilliam’s lighting design helps lead the eye
to the proper place on stage to view the center of the
action. 

The singing, dancing and acting are perfectly keyed. 
McElroy makes his local fans proud with his big
well-tuned voice, engaging acting and total grasp of
the character of Jim.  Giordano makes Huck a
delightful combination of a free-spirit who marches to
a different drummer while having a strong moral core. 
Jenkins is believable as both Twain and the singing
and speaking voice of Huck.    The supporting cast is
of equal quality.

CAPSULE JUDGMENT:  ‘BIG RIVER THE ADVENTURES OF
HUCKLEBERRY FINN’ is a wonderful theatrical
experience.  The show itself is a joy, but this
particular production, incorporating the hearing and
the deaf performers in a seamless manner, makes it
even more special.  THIS IS A MUST SEE PRODUCTION!

 ‘BIG RIVER THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN’ runs
Tuesdays through Sundays at the Palace Theatre in
Playhouse Square until December 12.  .  Tickets can be
obtained by calling 216-241-6000, 800-766-6048 or
going on line to www.playhousesquare.com.


=====
Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


		
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo