So we’ve moved into the second half of 2013, as evidenced by last night’s American League win in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. That means you might be seeking some theatrical entertainment. I thought there would be several opportunities, but Untethered Theater Company just let me know that the Clifton Performance Theater (on Ludlow Avenue) was flooded during the Independence Day monsoon, so they’ve had to postpone until the fall their production of Love/Stories (or, But You Will Get Used to It) that was scheduled to open last week. But never fear: The Showboat rides on the Ohio above the flood and is offering a classic musical, Big River.
There couldn’t be a more perfect show for summertime on the river — this tuneful version of the story of Huck Finn and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, is a timeless classic. Roger Miller’s award-winning score is one that many people (myself included) love, and there’s plenty of comedy to keep everyone entertained. Mark Twain’s sense of humor is front and center as we see Huck and Tom Sawyer get into and out of scrapes, Huck’s drunken dad making life difficult, and a pair of ne’er do wells who are out to fleece people with an entertainment. Fear not, they’ll just be entertaining audiences on board the majestic, not picking pockets. Big River runs through Sunday, July 28. Tickets: 513-421-6550.
This article appears in Jul 17-23, 2013.
