‘Sawyer’ is faithful to original
Tom Titus
Certain works of literature, after multiple readings, tend to
insinuate themselves in the memory, and for me, Mark Twain’s “The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a sterling example.
A good half-century after I put down the book for the last time,
Twain’s narrative strikes a most familiar chord upon viewing the
Laguna Playhouse Youth Theater’s adaptation of the children’s
classic. The characters, the situations and the dialogue are
virtually unchanged in the Laguna production.
A single alteration -- and a positive one -- is the addition of a
guitar-strumming narrator (Mark Turnbull) in the local rendition,
adapted by playhouse Youth Theater director Joe Lauderdale and
directed by Donna Inglima. Turnbull moves, unnoticed by the
participants, through the young hero’s character-shaping adventures,
commenting musically from the perspective of an adult who’s been
there, done that and remembers fondly.
Now the playhouse is introducing this classic novel of young
people’s life on the banks of the Mississippi River in the mid-19th
century to a new generation of youngsters, and the young audiences
should be more than happy to make the introduction. Lauderdale has
selected highlights from the book and dramatized them splendidly,
aided by an enthusiastic band of young (and some older) actors under
Inglima’s loving direction.
The young title character -- an orphaned boy living with his
maiden aunt -- is skillfully brought to the stage by Jared Wigdor,
who captures with ease the essence of childhood a century and a half
ago. Handy with his fists, awkward in romance and possessing a keen
spirit of adventure, Tom Sawyer comes beautifully alive in Wigdor’s
energetic portrayal.
Tom’s love interest, Becky Thatcher, is given heart and spirit by
Jazz Brice, who warms to her suitor only to reject him when learning
of a previous flame. Bamdad Miradi delivers a richly robust
Huckleberry Finn, the town bad boy (who’ll go on to his own fame in
the musical “Big River”).
Nick Mirman and Trevor Evans lend solid support as Tom’s buddies
Ben Rogers and Joe Harper, while Jordan Sandfer isn’t on stage long
enough to establish his repugnance as Tom’s smart aleck stepbrother
Sid.
Aunt Polly, Tom’s stern but loving guardian, is well interpreted
by April Morgan, while Karan Founds-Benton has some nice moments as
Joe Harper’s concerned mother. Choice among the adult roles, however,
is Daniel Jensen’s authoritarian schoolteacher, who rules his classes
by intimidation.
Other adults contributing impressive performances are Blake Hardin
Chambers as the murderous Injun Joe, Cory W. Casoni as the hapless
Muff Potter and John Richard Peterson, doubling as the sheriff and
the local clergyman.
Don Gruber’s multi-segment settings are well utilized across the
sprawling playhouse proscenium, hitting an impressive height during
the cave sequence near the play’s end. Costumer Dwight Richard Odle
lends a touch of physical authenticity and Glenn Powell’s lighting
further enhances the production.
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a book every youngster should
peruse, particularly before viewing the Laguna Playhouse’s
ultra-faithful youth production. Setting the show to music only
enhances its appeal.
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