‘Big River: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ to launch March 24

Possum Point Players encourages all who want to drift down the Mississippi with the players in “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” to purchase tickets now. One matinee is sold out and sales for all shows are brisk.

In the musical adaptation of Mark Twain's timeless classic, an energetic Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their river raft adventures along the way range from hilarious to suspenseful, and then touching.

Performance dates are set Friday to Sunday, March 24 to 26, and March 31 to April 2. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m., Sundays.

Admission is $27 for adults, and $25 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. To purchase tickets, go to possumpointplayers.org or call 302-856-4560.

In an ensemble cast, more than 20 area actors perform almost 100 roles in this musical that was performed at Possum Hall for the first time in 1993. This production is part of the Possums’ 50th anniversary celebration.

In his best Mississippi drawl, Director John Hulse said, “Who’d a’ thunk we would be here 30 years after our first foray into the Mississippi territory with Huck Finn, doin’ it all over agin? Not me!”

In 1993, maybe he didn’t think about “Big River” coming around again as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, but he has lasting memories of that production 30 years ago, since he played the role of Tom Sawyer. “It is an honor and a privilege to revive the show with the current cast and production team,” he said.

Hulse points out that the themes of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” are still prevalent today: learning to see things from another's point of view; treating others the way one wants to be treated; and learning the value and worth of each person one meets.

He said, “We still have to teach and learn and preach and listen to these important human lessons today and every day. The humor and heart of ‘Big River’ overlay the serious experience of being a person of color in the mid-1800s. May we learn the lesson of friendship like that of Huck and Jim, and may we teach this to our children and our children’s children so that we all can finally someday soon be free at last.”

Featuring Roger Miller’s homespun country bluegrass music, the show is sponsored by Dogfish Head Beer and Benevolence.