As a fan of John Denver for many years I was excited to see the Denver Center Theater Company's production of 'Almost Heaven'. Without having read extensively about the production I expected an impersonation of Denver in a telling of his life with a musical retrospective thrown in.

The production we saw was not at all what I expected. Instead of a main character with a few supporting characters, there is an ensemble cast of six vocalists and five instrumentalists. The beautifully interwoven arrangements presented Denver's music in ways I never would have considered. With so many wonderful arrangements it is difficult to know where to start. Jeff Waxman's arrangements include a complex medley of Annie's Song and Leaving on a Jet Plane woven to show the simple beauty of the love between John and Ann as well as the complex times of conflict and termoil. The medly, as do the other songs, succeeds in sharing the beauty and harmony as well as the variety and complexity of the music and the man who created the music that has touched so many.

The show touches on several of the low points in Denver's life such as being dumped by RCA, being arrested for drunk driving and a painful divorce. In a touch of directorial brilliance no attempt is made to explain these things. They are presented without judgment being offered for them.

Prior to tonight I would never have expected to hear Sunshine on Your Shoulders as a soulful R&B tune with touches of classical operatic influence. I'd never considered Rocky Mountain High as a hard rock tune. In showing all the different ways interpreting Denver's music the show succeeds beautifully.