REVIEWS

THEATER REVIEW: ‘Big River' a joyful, solid production

Andrew Macklin, 17, of Weymouth, center, stars as Huck Finn in "Big River" at the Company Theatre in Norwell. (AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger)

By JIM DORMAN
For The Patriot Ledger

As Huck Finn might say, ‘‘considerable joy'' often comes only after ‘‘considerable trouble.'' If that premise holds true, The Company Theatre in Norwell has gone to ‘‘considerable trouble'' to present ‘‘Big River - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'' Their solid production is well worth seeing.

‘‘Big River'' was first presented on Broadway in 1985, and won seven Tony Awards. Roger Miller, best known for his country and popular songwriting, wrote the music.

Like the book, the story picks up where ‘‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' left off. Young Huck meets up with old friend Jim, a runaway slave. He decides to help him escape by pretending to be his master while traveling on a raft down the Mississippi River. Jim hopes to make it to the Ohio River, and then up to the free states. At first, Huck struggles with doing what feels right (helping Jim escape) versus what he's been taught is right (obeying the law). The arrival of two shifty traveling companions (the King and the Duke) only makes matters more confusing.

Directors Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman have accounted for every detail while presenting a strong portrayal of Mark Twain's unforgettably American story. The actors are well cast and well rehearsed, the choreography is polished, the music is perfect, and they are all framed by superior costumes, props, backdrops, sound and lighting.

Andrew Mackin, who recently appeared as John O'Shea in the film ‘‘Mystic River,'' plays Huckleberry Finn. Mackin is comfortable on stage, introducing us to each story and character. He doesn't miss a line or a movement. He and Joseph C. Rucker Jr. as Jim have good chemistry and form a strong bond. Mackin and Rucker provide a high point for the evening cementing their characters' relationship while singing ‘‘River in the Rain.''

Rucker is a strong presence as the kind-hearted and sincere man who helps Huck learn the true meaning of friendship.

Christopher Landis plays King and Bill Cunningham is Duke, the two con men who Huck decides to help before he finds out what they are really up to. First, they orchestrate a silly sideshow to cheat the locals out of their pocket change (‘‘The Royal Nonesuch.'') Then, they try to deceive the Wilkes family by stealing money from their dead father's estate. Later, they repay Huck and Jim's kindness with treachery and cruelty.

Landis and Cunningham are good crooks and good singers, providing one of the evening's show-stoppers, singing with Mackin and Rucker on ‘‘When the Sun Goes Down in the South.''

Trevor Effinger gets every movement and mannerism just right as Tom Sawyer. Sara Spillane made the most of her scenes with wit and charm as Mary Jane Wilkes, Huck's brief love interest. She also sang well on the wistful ‘‘Leavin's Not the Only Way To Go'' with Mackin and Rucker. Dee Crawford also displayed her fine vocal talents while singing the gospel flavored ‘‘How Blest We Are'' during the well-orchestrated funeral scene. Tom Norcott was a nice addition as Pap Finn, looking and sounding just like a hillbilly, and singing the comic blues lament ‘‘Guvment.''

Both the male and female choruses provided color and texture during the ensemble scenes, especially while getting the show off to a good start with ‘‘Do You Want to Go to Heaven.''

Finally, Michael Joseph's orchestra was on target throughout the performance; adding banjos, slide guitar, harmonica, trombone, fiddle and bass to make the show sound as authentic as it looked.

Big River At The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell. Through Aug. 22. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. $23, $25. 781-871-2787;