In 1869 a one-armed Civil War veteran named John Wesley Powell led a party of explorers down the Green and Colorado Rivers, traversing what Powell would later tag the Grand Canyon. Never mind that the local Paiutes already had their own, way better name for the place—”Mountain Lying Down”—the trip was a big deal from a manifest-destiny point of view: the first time white men of European heritage had laid eyes on and mapped out that particular stretch of geological magnificence.
That respect is nowhere more apparent than in the rapids-shooting scenes, wonderfully choreographed to convey precision and collaboration in circumstances of authentic-feeling danger, where small choices can wreck a craft or get somebody drowned. At least for the time they’re on the river, these guys aren’t criminals, conquistadores, or fops but folks on boats.
Through 2/12: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM American Theater Company 1909 W. Byron 773-409-4125atcweb.org $38
