Kirk Players to perform ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’

Mark Twain closes the preface of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” with a thought about celebrating the child in all of us.

“Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls,” he wrote, “I hope it will not be shunned by men and women, for part of my plan has been to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and how they felt and thought and talked, and what strange enterprises they sometimes engaged in.”

Kirk Players will open “Tom Sawyer” by Tim Kelly Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at the Mundelein High School Theatre. Matinees are Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m. Another performance is set for Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Mundelein High School is at 1350 W Hawley St Mundelein.

“Mr. Kelly’s script is so true to Mark Twain’s famous novel and captures its adventure, mystery and wonderful comedy. It is sure to delight every member of the family,” said Jon Matousek, director for Kirk Players’ spring children’s show.

Information and tickets for the show are available by visiting www.kikrplayers.org or calling (847) 521-6192.

“We are fortunate to have a strong and talented ensemble made up of children, teens, adults and seniors, who have worked hard to reveal the flavor and charm of St. Petersburg, Missouri, in the mid-1800s,” Matousek continued.

“While some of our seniors in the cast recall the joy of rolling a hoop with a stick, can you imagine how some of our younger, electronically-gifted actors responded when they learned of such simple childhood recreation.”

The story centers on the adventures of Tom Sawyer, played by guest performer Scarlet Wickert, Huckleberry Finn (Max Basso), Joe Harper (Zachary Scott), Amy Lawrence (Emily Blake) and Becky Thatcher (Mary Grace Lothspeich) and all the rest of Mark Twain’s beloved characters.

The classic scenes are all there, too, like the eerie graveyard murder of Doc Robinson, played by guest performer, Mike Bavido, with Muff Potter (Kirk Player Randy Rice) and Injun Joe (Kirk Player John Tomlin), as well as the sidesplitting “funeral” scene with the ever-wailing Mrs. Harper (Kirk Player Marilee C.C. Wald), Aunt Polly (Kirk Player Lisa Soare) and Widow Douglas (Kirk Player Bev Karns).

Other Kirk Players in the show include Franny Pollack as Alice, Gary Gunther as the Sheriff, Jessica Stowe as Mrs. Thatcher, Dave Kennebeck as Judge Thatcher and Patrick Blake as the Rev. Sprague.

Assisting Matousek in the direction of the show is assistant director and Kirk Player Sara Gunther. The stage manager is new Kirk Player Meaghan Lane. Rounding out the technical team is set designer Brenda Sparks, lighting designer Sara Gunther, sound designer Janet Walker, props master Gary Gunther, and assistant stage manager Bev Johnson, all veteran Kirk Players.

Guest crew chief Adriane Joyner is costume mistress. Her son, Owen, is playing Ben Rogers.