SacBee Review Of "The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer"

Many familiar names in today's review by Jim Carnes:

[Matthew Taul] also acts very well. His scenes with Huck (well-played by Nicolas Candito, although he looks a little older than the character's 13), Ben Rogers (Cooper Salmon in a restrained and "proper" performance) and Joe Harper (a lanky Alex Ahlstrom in a perfectly kidlike portrayal) are loose and natural. Likewise, his proposal scene with Becky (played by a too-reticent Ginny Gardner) has the feel of youthful innocence that strikes just the right tone. Tom is both con man and confidant. (The role of Becky is played in some performances by Erin Solomon.) Frances Swickard admirably portrays the thoroughly honorable, though less-fortunate, young Gracie Miller. Her character represents Twain's acknowledgment of a social stratification that is at odds with the otherwise perfect community he creates.

Among the adults, Zach Wiedenhoeft, who plays teacher Walter Potter, and Brandon Johnson, who plays his father, the alcoholic Muff Potter, are most successful. Their tenuous relationship -- the son's love constantly threatened by disappointment in the father, the father's love always inadequately expressed -- is finely crafted. Michael Manley, his 40 years of acting experience showing, is solid in the dual roles of Doc Robinson and Judge Thatcher, and the single-named actor Roscoe brings a frightening intensity to the character of Injun Joe.

The women are less successful, and it must be partly due to Twain's approach to the story. He's obviously more interested in telling the boy's story.

A way-too-young Isabel Siragusa plays an ineffectual Aunt Polly; as the Widow Douglas, Melissa Rae Frago presents a character who speaks with the reluctance of a woman who has yet to learn to assert herself; and Athena Bergen as Mrs. Thatcher is given little to do except to sing a bit of opera to Potter's students, which Bergen does very well.