Village Theatre kicks off its 2012-2013 season with Roger Miller’s Tony award-winning musical, Big River. Big River is based on Mark Twain’s timeless classic tale and chronicles the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his friend, a runaway slave Jim as they raft down the Mississippi River. Reminiscent of a summer's evening sky, Village Theatre’s production of Big River shines with numerous points of lights and guarantees to delight audience of all ages. The production proves a masterfully prepared, directed and performed show can both simultaneously entertain as well as stimulate theater goers to consider deeper issues like human rights and equality.
Big River will no doubt have broad appeal due to its engaging, adventurous storyline and popular lead characters, Huckleberry Finn played with much boyish charm by a talented Randy Sholz and runaway slave, Jim, portrayed by the charismatic Rodney Hicks. The show actually has many wonderfully quirky characters, which run the gamut from loveable and endearing to the outright peculiar and despicable. Each is uniquely brought to life by a brilliant cast, which is supported by beautifully detailed sets, an immersive production and of course, Roger Miller’s wonderful eclectic range of bluegrass, blues and country music.
You are invited to take a break from your own troubles and spend a laugh filled evening immersed in the pure meshugaas which is the wedding of a Jewish bride and her Catholic groom. Toss in the extended dysfunctional families, the uninvited ex-boyfriend of the bride, two controlling yenta mother-in-laws and the marginalized but ‘please others at all cost’ older sister and you may just begin to scratch the surface of the insanity and drama which is the new musical “It Shoulda Been You”. Written by Brian Hargrove with music by Barbara Anselmi the production runs from March 14th – May 20th at the Village Theatre.
“It Shoulda Been You” is a hilarious and entertaining behind-the-scenes view into family life, wedding planning, familial relationships, love, laugher and embracing one’s identity. The songs are catchy and the characters endearing despite their own flawed natures. Performances are top-notch with an equally strong supporting cast. Combined, they will joyfully carry you through all the biting one-liners, plot twists and over the top chaos and quirkiness which is the modern family wedding.
There is a ‘laugh or else you might cry’ mindset which pervades the production, as serious issues are called to light, but dealt with in a comical manner. The emotionally stunted father unable to show authentic affection to his son, the mother incapable of recognizing the beauty and value of her oldest daughter, simply because she’s heavyset and yet unmarried, parents who turn to alcohol and the manipulation of their children’s lives to try to compensate for their own less than satisfying marriages and more are all on display in “It Shoulda Been You” and yet we laugh. Perhaps laughter is the best of medicines and certainly preferable to tears, as we recognize ourselves and others in the characters we see.
Scripta Manent 
October 1, 2012
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