‘Big River’ Gets Fresh Staging in Ojai

Producer Rocco Landesman’s choice of Roger Miller to provide songs for a musical adaptation of “Huckleberry Finn” may have been one of the most inspired ideas in post-’60s Broadway history.

Miller, a country-pop singer and songwriter with an offbeat sense of humor, a shrewd ear for idiom and an innate feel for hummable tunes, turned in a fistful of numbers that merged comfortably with William Hauptman’s breezy adaptation of Mark Twain’s deceptively folksy novel. The result: 1985’s “Big River” wasn’t a huge hit at the time, but remains a real treat.

The Conejo Players turned in a fine version of the show some years back, but “Big River” is ready for the local comeback that’s currently running in Ojai and will move to Simi Valley next month.

Featuring a strong cast under the direction of Taylor Kasch, a set by Jeff Rack that’s worth the price of admission, and (this is crucial) a terrific backing band, “Big River” is worth traveling several miles out of anybody’s way.

Zachary Pugh plays Huck, who, in order to escape an abusive father, fakes his own death and helps a slave, Jim (Jesse Washington) escape on a raft, headed for freedom. Along the way, the two have several adventures and encounter a number of colorful characters.

Huck’s ambivalent attitude toward helping a slave escape, and Twain’s liberal use of a derogatory term for African Americans, have generated controversy around the novel--particularly among those who haven’t read it.

Both the attitude and the language have been preserved here, but in context it is easy to ascertain Twain’s attitude toward slavery and those victimized by it.

Pugh and Washington (who had also played Jim in the 1992 Conejo Players version) turn in strong performances here, aided by a supporting cast that includes Gary Best and James Lashley as a pair of (at first) comic con men; Christine Zirbel as a grieving widow; Chad Anderson as the “Fool” who sings the praises of Arkansas; and a couple dozen more actors and musicians in various--sometimes multiple--roles.

Keyboardist Jim Calire is musical director, with vocal coaching by Jaye Hersh; Pam Pilkenton choreographed, and Cyrena Hausman supplied the nifty costumes. Set designer Jeff G. Rack’s efforts have been praised often in these pages, and he continues his fine work here.

* “Big River” continues through Feb. 2 at Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $15; arts center members, $12.50; children and seniors, $10. For reservations or further information, call 640-1506. The production moves to the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center from Feb. 14-March 2. For further information on that engagement, call 581-9940.

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“Social Security” in Camarillo: Upscale, married New York City art dealers David and Barbara are forced to take in her ailing mother in “Social Security,” now playing at the Marquie Dinner Theatre in Camarillo.

While they accept the responsibility, the young couple worries that Sophie will get in their way and embarrass them in front of their tony clients. Andrew Bergman’s witty script proves them right, then takes things into a curve that should--at least--appeal to the seniors who make up the bulk of the Marquie audience.

Mark Sawyer and Denice Stradling, both Marquie stalwarts, play the frustrated young couple. Ron Ford and JoAnna Jocelyn are Barbara’s sister and her husband, who have been taking care of Sophie but must find a new place for her while (in an odd, but amusing, subplot) they search out their daughter, who may have developed a shockingly Bohemian lifestyle while in college. High jinks ensue.

Morris Erny plays Maurice, the world’s greatest artist and a prized client of David and Barbara, and Carolyn Cohen makes maximum impact in her Marquie debut as the surprising Sophie.

The play moves swiftly and smoothly under Don Pearlman’s direction, and provides a relatively high ratio of laughs for the money. The story line involving the wayward daughter may scandalize some patrons with its implications of group sex, but it’s all in fun.

* “Social Security” continues Thursday-Saturday nights through Feb. 15 at the Marquie Dinner Theater, 340 N. Mobil Ave., Camarillo. Doors for all performances open at 6:30 p.m.; dinner is served at 7 and the show begins shortly after 8. Tickets, which include the show, buffet dinner with a choice of entrees, nonalcoholic beverages, tax and tip are $30; seniors, $28; students and children, $25. For reservations or further information, call 484-9909.