Carstairs Considers....: Music Review: Big River - Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Music Review: Big River - Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Many fun and beautiful songs

Cons: Some weak songs (near the beginning); Country style (if you don't like that)

The Bottom Line:

Join Huck and Jim on

A musical raft trip down

The Mississippi

Classic Literature Turned Into a Musical with a Country Flavor

Years ago, I saw Big River, a stage musical version of Mark Twain's classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Frankly, I kind of forgot about it until a theater company I love staged a version of it. As I spent the afternoon tapping my toes to the music, I knew I had to get the original cast soundtrack. And it was worth it.

Yes, this play was on Broadway, starting in 1985. In fact, it won 7 Tony awards that year. However, this is not your typical Broadway musical, as you see as soon as the "Overture" starts. The first instrument you hear is harmonica. Throw in a fiddle and a banjo, and you've definitely got a Country infused musical. Yes, there are other, traditional instruments here, but those are the three you'll notice the most. Given the original setting for the story, the 1840's South, the music fits the story so well. I can't imagine anything else. Granted, it helps that Roger Miller wrote all the songs, and he is best known for his Country music. Really, it's a perfect match.

The story of the musical follows the book pretty closely, so that means we start off in St. Petersburg where Huck is attempting to fit into his new life as a respectable citizen. That struggle (as well as Twain's thoughts on organized religion) are captured in "Do Ya Wanna Go to Heaven?" It actually starts out with organ and is a very drum heavy march.

Things turn fun with "The Boys." This is Tom Sawyer's gang singing about the trouble they will get into with a life of crime. The harmonica is back, and the lyrics are pretty funny despite the fact that they are singing of a life of crime. I can't help but smile as I listen to it.

The same can't be said for "Guv'ment." Now I'm not going to fault the singer, John Goodman. Here's, he's playing Huck's Pap. I just don't like the lyrics which are basically a drunken rant. There's some foul language here (which doesn't bother me as much when it pops up in other songs). It's just a very irritating song that I am more than happy to skip over.

Tom is back in "Hand for the Hog," a silly song about how a hog would make a much better pet than a dog. Frankly, it's a bit too silly and doesn't really feel like it fits with the rest of the play, even when you see it in the play.

Just like the book, the musical really doesn't get going until runaway slave Jim and Huck leave St. Petersburg for their trip down the Mississippi. And these two get the best songs of the musical, too. Daniel Jenkins and Ron Richardson absolutely shine in their three duets as these lead characters. The first is "Muddy Water," sung as they are just starting their trip. Just as their spirits and hopes are high, this is a fun foot stomper that you'll want to sing along with.

Things are much slower for "River in the Rain," a love ballad to the Mississippi. Again, you can definitely hear that harmonica. More than anything, this is Ron's big moment, and he absolutely shines here.

Finally, the pair gets to sing "Worlds Apart." It's actually a rather melancholy song about how, even though they are becoming friends, their skin color will keep them from ever being really truly connected.

There are some touches of other genres of music in the score. Spirituals factor heavily into two of the songs. The first of these is "The Crossing" which Huck and Jim hear as several recaptured slaves cross their paths near the end of the first act. Meanwhile, when Jim gets captured late in the second act, he sings "Free at Last" which again draws from that genre of music.

For something completely different, there's the jazz feel of the song that conmen the Duke and the King get to sing. "When the Sun Goes down in the South" has that Dixieland feel. And the lyrics about how easy people are to fleece are rather fun. The Duke also sings "The Royal Nonesuch," a very upbeat song that features fiddle and banjo, so it's got more of a country feel to it. Incentally, the Duke is performed here by Rene Auberjonois, probably best known for Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine of the crazy French chef from The Little Mermaid.

And I can't end this review without commenting on a couple of ballads sung by the character of Mary Jane Wilkes, a character that the conmen try to fleece in the second act. Okay, so technically, both songs are trios. "You Oughta Be Here with Me" is a sad song she sings with her sisters as they look at the coffin holding their dead father. Equally as poignant is "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go" which she sings with Huck and Jim as Huck is torn between his allegiance to these two characters. Patti Cohenour performed role on the recording, and she blends so well with her costars. The harmonies are absolutely outstanding.

As I said earlier, the early songs are rarely that great, but as the play gets going, they truly become memorable. You'll need to be able to stomach a healthy dose of Country as well. But I can't imagine better music for this story. Since the book is so well known, you can pretty much buy and enjoy these songs without having seen the play. You already have the context for them.

I'm glad that Big River has come back into my life, and I'm glad to have the original cast soundtrack in my collection. It's sure to bring a smile and tug at your heartstrings.

CD Length: 45:47

Tracks:

1. Overture

2. Do Ya Wanna Go to Heaven

3. The Boys

4. Waitin' for the Light to Shine

5. Guv'ment

6. Hand for the Hog

7. I, Huckleberry, Me

8. Muddy Water

9. The Crossing

10. River in the Rain