Salem theater production fits city's role in fighting slavery
Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, Salem turns 200 this year.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SALEM -- The city of Salem has been celebrating its bicentennial this year with a number of events. Coming up next is a musical production at Salem Community Theatre that the director, Judge Mark Frost of Columbiana, thought would be perfect for this special year.
"Big River" is based on Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn." It takes place in the mid-1840s, the pre-Civil War period, and deals with the issue of slavery.
"This play is an absolute natural for the bicentennial, because Salem was such a hotbed in anti-slavery," said Frost. "There was hesitation, because we were concerned about the large cast, and finding enough African-Americans to fill the roles. And this play is highly technical -- it doesn't exactly fit this venue, so we have had to deal with things like the lack of wings. But I pushed to do it, and I think it will turn out well. We have a wonderful cast."
As Frost spoke, he was doing some work on one of the set pieces -- a boat on wheels.
Music
The music and lyrics were written by renowned songwriter Roger Miller, and the show premiered on Broadway in 1985. Frost said he fell in love with the music so when the opportunity came along in 1992 to try out for a role at the Youngstown Playhouse, he jumped at the chance. He landed his dream part of Huck's drunken father, Pap, which he also plays in this production. "I couldn't find anyone else that looked disreputable enough," Frost joked.
Gary Kekel is the music director and talked enthusiastically about what he thinks makes this such a wonderful play. "Roger Miller tried to incorporate every style of traditional American music into this work," he said. "This is not a Broadway-style musical. It really stands on its own. There are different styles of gospel, including African-American and Appalachian, a Loretta Lynn style country waltz, New Orleans folk, and sort of blue grassy tunes. The instruments include guitar, banjo, bass, plus winds and brass."
Though the musical may not have been typical of Broadway, it certainly won enough awards: seven Tony Awards, one Theater World Award, and eight Drama Desk Awards.
And it is not only the music that it is appealing. Both men said it is a wonderful story.
Kekel described "The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn" as a sequel to Twain's "Tom Sawyer."
The plot
"In this story, Huck's drunken and abusive father, who had disappeared, reappears because Tom and Huck found some money," said Kekel. "Meanwhile, Huck is taken in by two widows who try to bring him up as a proper Christian. He's had enough, so he decides to go off on his own adventure. Jim, who is a slave belonging to the widows, finds that they plan to sell him, so he takes off, too, and the two become fast friends."
Kekel says that this is a musical comedy with serious themes. "It presents racial relationships in a positive light," he noted. "Through the innocent eyes of youth, people are seen as people, and the story is heartwarming. And it also portrays Northerners as they tried to help the slaves escape. There really wasn't much they could do to protect them, because, until the Civil War, they were still considered property. But through the Underground Railroad, they helped the slaves escape into Canada. After the war, they were able to return as free people."
Underground Railroad tour
Kekel also mentioned that one of the continuing bicentennial activities in Salem is a self-guided tour that features 12-13 homes that were integral in the Underground Railroad movement.
"Members of the Quaker Church were among the first founders of Salem," Kekel continued. "Though they were religious conservatives, they believed in freedom and equality for all people, and freedom of religion and thought. The Quakers were also leaders of the Women's Suffrage Movement. Salem was the location of the second suffrage convention in the whole country."
Huck is played by Dan Huston, Tom by Chad Fusco, and Jim by Airiz Coleman. While these are the main characters, Kekel says the most colorful, funniest characters in the play are the King of France and the Duke of Bridgewater, played by SCT regulars Eric Kibler and Dave Bedell. "They are carpet-bagging, hucksters, con-men, opportunists of the worst nature," he said.