Traveling down the ‘Big River’

Young Chang

R.J. Dickinson said the most difficult thing about playing Jim, the

runaway slave, in Trilogy Playhouse’s production of “Big River” is

capturing the beauty in the role.

The musical, which will run through July 21, is based on Mark Twain’s

“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Traveling down the river, Jim wants

freedom and Huck wants adventure.

Jim is caring and loving, the type who wouldn’t harm a fly but will

fight when necessary. He wants to set his family free from slavery. He’s

a lovable “teddy bear,” as Dickinson puts it, but determined.

“A part like this helps tell the story of what really happened,” said

the actor. When Twain wrote his book, “there was a lot of denouncing of

slavery.”

Alicia Butler, director of the show, agreed that a priority in staging

“Big River” was to tell an honest story. Though the character of Huck is

adventurous, sweet and fun, the plot of the musical addresses issues,

such as slavery, that were sensitive in the 1840s.

“For boys and young men, it was just a carefree time. That’s what

makes it such a challenging piece for actors, I think,” she said. “The

delicate balance between showing how carefree Huck was to the issues of

the time.”

The set for the show includes a huge and beautiful painting that shows

a land fading into the horizon and a river swaying through it. There are

barren lands and grassy lands. The sun looks about to set and, when

placed behind Trilogy’s basic wooden props -- of docks and a raft and

other makeshift items -- the view stirs up something nostalgic.

The musical starts with Jim and Huck deciding to travel down the river

together. Jim insists it’ll be dangerous for Huck to be seen with a black

man. Huck says they can pretend Jim is his slave, to avoid harassment.

Jim gushes that Huck must be a true friend.

“He’s a young man that makes some extremely difficult choices,” said

James Mulligan, who plays Huck. “His best friend in the show is someone

with a different skin color than him.”

The plot is full of fun adventures, including a segment where Huck

dresses as a girl to go into town and find out what people are saying

about him.

“I think everyone wants to do that at some point in their lives,”

Mulligan said.

The two grown men convincingly and touchingly portray a boyhood

friendship that involves more than chumminess. When asked about the

process of stepping into character, Mulligan said he enjoys the immediacy

of reacting with fellow actors onstage and rarely plans things.

“And the writing is so good that it’s so fun not to add anything to

the character,” he said.

FYI

WHAT: “Big River”

WHEN: Through July 21. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 and 7:30

p.m. Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Trilogy Playhouse, 2930 Bristol St., Building C-106, Costa Mesa

COST: $15 or $17

CALL: (714) 957-3347, Ext. 1