Big River

Mark Twain's classic novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, serves as the source material for the musical Big River.  Appearing on Broadway in 1985, this show features the songs of Roger Miller (perhaps best known for King of the Road).  The songs constitute a potpourri of musical Americana: jazz, gospel, blues, rock, country.  Some of the tunes are catchy and others sentimental.  The lyrics are often repetitious and do little to advance the plot.  But they fit well and provide pacing for the show as Huck Finn goes from staying with Widow Douglas and Miss Watson back to living with his Dad, from his faked murder to running away down the river with runaway slave Jim.  The second half of the show contains scenes from the time Huck and Jim spend in Arkansas.

River in the Rain:  An ode to the Mighty Mississippi sung by the composer.


Worlds Apart:  Duet between Huck Finn and slave Jim.


Leaving's Not the Only Way to Go:  Love-struck Huck and a grieving Mary Jane, who just lost her father, share this duet.  Jim joins them later in the song.


Muddy Water:  An upbeat song as Jim and Huck head out on the Mississippi.

Happy

I just don't keep up with pop music, or so it seems.  But I have recently seen several references to the song Happy (performed by Pharrell Williams) - including an explanation from one writer on why it gets people dancing and another writer who suffers from Pharrell Phatigue.  I decided it was time to have a listen!  I have since learned the song was featured in Despicable Me 2 (a movie I haven't seen) and used by some unhappy people happy to make some happy people unhappy.  Take a listen and "clap along if you feel like that's what you want to do."

42nd Street

The musical 42nd Street is playing at a theater in the region.  I had never seen it before although I had purchased tickets for it when it was playing in NYC (How was it, T&J and B?).  The show has catchy musical numbers and an abundance of tap dancing.  The plot, however, was thin and not compelling.  Yet, it served as enjoyable entertainment.