BAC Stage Kids bring Twain's Tom Sawyer to life

When 42 BAC Stage Kids perform Mark Twain's 1876 "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" over the next two weekends, there might be a sighting of the author himself.

Twain, who in 1864 lived at his brother Orion Clemens' house just up Division Street from the Brewery Arts Center, will appear in ghost form via McAvoy Layne and others as a bonus to audience members.

The play, in two acts, will last an hour.

"The kids have just been having a ball with it," said director Pat Josten, a volunteer. She said the old-fashioned slang and Twain's colorful writing have been a thrill for the actors.

"We told them at the beginning this is the only time they're going to be able to talk wrong. They're having a lot of fun and doing a really good job with it."

Tom Sawyer is a great character, according to the actor playing him, Carson Valley Middle School student Jake Reid.

"I can really bring out a lot in him because he's not a very quiet kid," he said. "He's really loud, and he gets to kiss a girl and do cartwheels and hand stands."

Josten took about half of the crew to see a Mark Twain impersonation by Layne.

"He came to talk to us afterwards," Josten said.

Part of the BAC Stage Kids experience, which is free for area children, is getting a little background on whatever show they're doing.

"We give them little homework sheets to do so they get to know a little bit about what they're doing, " she said.

Performers for this show, age 4 to 12, came from as far away as Yerington and Coleville, Calif.

Jake first played Snowbell the Cat in a BAC performance of "Stuart Little." He has acted in "Music Man," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and BAC's "Fiddler on the Roof."

He is excited about the performance.

"I get off the bus, and I'm like, 'Yes! Only a half hour until rehearsal!'"

He'll be showing off for and saving Becky Thatcher, played by 10-year-old Melissa Chambon of Minden.

Sawyer and Huck Finn, Alex Herzing, 10, of Carson City, will witness a murder in the graveyard committed by Injun Joe,Devan Rushing, 12, of Carson.

Together with Joe Harper, Gardnerville's Kole Lynch, 11, the boys will escape on a raft to Jackson Island, where they plan to be rich, pipe-smoking pirates.

Nine-year-old Lucas Marri of Coleville plays Ted Austin, the little kid that tags along for many of the boys' adventures.

BAC Stage Kids have been invited to play at several recent fairs and events, from the Carson City Rendezvous to Reno's ArtTown.

They may take their shows on the road to Yerington and Winnemucca, Josten said.

IF YOU GO

What: Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," presented by Brewery Arts Center's BAC Stage Kids

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and May 16, 17, 18 -- Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Where: 449 W. King St.

Tickets: $8 general, $5 students, seniors and BAC members, younger than 5 free with adult.

Call: 883-1976