The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at KC Rep Winter 2012
This winter, the Kansas City Repertory Theatre brings Mark Twain's classic, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" to life (showing through Feb. 19 at the Spencer Theater on the UMKC Campus). Visit http://www.missourirepertorytheatre.org/shows/2011-2012/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/ for tickets.
Note: This review does contain spoilers. If you are unfamiliar with the story some plot details are revealed. Parents, the final paragraph lists content warnings.
On Thursday night, my husband and I attended the Kansas City Repertory Theatre's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." As we've come to expect from the Rep, the acting was outstanding, the music perfectly set the scenes, the sets were ingenious, and the lighting... the lighting always captivates me at the Rep's shows. Reader please don't misunderstand, the play was fast-paced, fun and engaging.... yet, every performance, whether it is the beautifully crafted "A Christmas Carol" or this year's "Tom Sawyer," the Rep's lighting team shows some of the greatest talent in their field. They creatively use shadows, lit props to convey the whitewashing of a fence, and color to add suspense (and no, I am not friends with, or related to, the light crew). I mention the lighting because it is a key player in making this performance charming and appropriate in telling Twain's tale. Twain is America's great storyteller... his style of folklore is legendary. It may be tempting for a theatrical team to overuse sets, props, and special effects to tell a story, but the Rep instead chose a simple, yet creative approach with backdrops, props, puppetry, shadows and costumes allowing the audience to "fill in the blanks" in their own imaginations making the story richer and more vibrant for the telling. And this is what I most appreciated about the play.
It seems I have read countless articles and listened to numerous interviews from those in the entertainment field recounting that this generation is the "hardest to impress" - we've seen it all and we expect "more, more, more" as if every performance is to be of Jurassic proportions. Yet, sometimes the simplest stories are the very best. I am an avid fan of old time radio programs because of the brilliance and imagination that come from listening closely. Jack Benny, my personal favorite, found that his show did not translate as well on television because no amount of money could build or purchase special effects that were extravagant enough to match the incredible scenes listeners had been painting in their own minds for years. And that is what the Rep does right in this tale.... the actors play their parts beautifully telling the story of boyhood and adventure, telling just enough to build excitement, humor, youthful romance, and suspense, but leaving enough to the imagination that the tale you paint in your own mind is more vivid than anything a stage could produce. As a mother, I am grateful to artists and entertainers who provide just such an experience for today's often over-stimulated youth.
Tom Sawyer is a tale we all know, and it's story is woven on stage beautifully by the cast, especially Tom played by Tim McKiernan, Huck played by Robbie Tann and Becky played by Hayley Treider. It is a tale of adventure - what will happen as Tom & Huck witness a murder, Tom & Becky are lost in a cave, and an entire town prepares for a murder trial? It is a tale of humor - who could manage to make a profit while enlisting the entire town to complete his chores, but Tom? It is a tale of family - who can imagine the changes in orphan Huck as he is loved and adopted, who can imagine the love of Aunt Polly as Tom is thought dead? And it is much more - it is the classic American tale of a Missouri boy and his adventures.
This play is truly outstanding, but it is not for everyone. I believe it is best for parents to determine when their children are ready for certain literary themes, so I will not recommend an age, but I will list a few things to consider when taking kids to the show:
- Tom is disciplined by the school teacher with a whipping.
- Tom & Huck witness a murder (stage fighting is used). Knives are used in the fight.
- A gentleman chases away a criminal (Injun Joe) with a shotgun (no shots shown or heard).
- Tom has a nightmare about murder and blood is splattered on a window.
- Tom & Becky are lost in a cave and are fearful of being found (there is a happy ending).
And, lest you're tempted to leave before the curtain... parking is not a problem and the finale is FANTASTIC! You must see how it ends... having read the books numerous times and having seen films and plays adapting the stories, I was still completely surprised by the fun conclusion... wait till the very end, you don't want to miss it!
Written by Kristina Light