Actor channels iconic author in Grandstreet production

Mark Twain returns to Helena this weekend, when he steps on stage at Grandstreet Theatre to share his beloved classic story "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

It just so happens Twain played in Helena at the Ming Opera House in 1895 when it was located on then Grand Street, according to research by the play's director Martha Sprague.

"I'm guessing that most Helenans missed that performance," she said.

But now they'll get another opportunity, when Twain appears in this theatrical adaptation.

"It's almost as though the audience will see Mark Twain in a reverie n a memory of him in his later years talking about his story, his characters, Tom Sawyer," said Sprague. "Having Mark Twain present brings a lot of the insightful and delightful humor that otherwise would be a little bit missing."

Twain is played by professional actor (and Sprague's husband) Kim DeLong, who in his stage make-up bears "an uncanny resemblance to Twain," she said.

A longtime Twain fan, DeLong said he's moved by "the rhythm of the language. It really grabs you. It's Americana in its truest sense. Mark Twain roots you in a joyous time of history.

"I really see him capturing American colloquialisms and culture at a certain time of history. He made it universal. Shakespeare does that, and Mark Twain does that."

In this particular adaptation, the audience is very much a part of the story.

"It happens in the imagination of the audience," DeLong said. While Twain tells his story, it turns into action with Tom Sawyer (Aaron Folsom) and Tom's sidekicks, Huck Finn (Nate Wyatt) and Joe Harper (Pat Hooks).

They are perfectly typecast, Sprague said. They are "all boy" and full of energy.

Folsom admits that the part of the mischievous Tom is perfect for him.

"I feel like I'm Tom Sawyer, in a way. I think he's kind of a fun character," said Folsom. "He's not too uptight. He's relaxed. He knows how to have fun."

The audience will recognize many of Tom's escapades as well as famous scenes from the book -- the whitewashing of the fence, the boys showing up at their own funeral and their frightening encounter with Injun Joe.

Perhaps they'll see a little bit of Helena in the fictional, small town community of St. Petersburg, Mo.

"From Mark Twain's point of view, he's looking back as a sort of memory," said Sprague. "Like most memories it's relationships and the emotions that are tied to that that become the strongest."

To facilitate this shifting from one memory to another, "the set is not detailed. It can be all these different places," said Sprague. "We have a graveyard, Aunt Polly's house, the town of St. Petersburg, there's also a church, there's an island, there's a school and a cave.

"What I hope comes through with this (play) is the sense of relationship that Tom has with the community -- the people he loves, those he doesn't love so much, the people he has conflicts with, the people he plays with, the people who he fears n those relationships are key," said Sprague.

What also comes through is Twain's humor. Sprague quotes him as saying,"The human race has one really effective weapon and that is laughter.

"This is a really wonderful time for Grandstreet to be offering this play," said Sprague. "I think particularly with the bevy of bad news on the economic front and institutional front and social issues -- those things were as present in 1840 as they are today.

"I hope what people take from this is when all of that is peeled away, the things that are still important are family, our community and our support of each other. Maybe what Mark Twain said is our ability to laugh can get us through tough times and we'll realize those things that are important are right in front of us."

Although the story is a classic children's tale, it's not just for children.

"All of us know a Tom Sawyer," she said, "or some of us have been Tom Sawyer."

Twain concurred.

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

If you go

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

- Where: Grandstreet Theatre, 325 N. Park

- When: Thursday through Saturday, March 6 to March 21, 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee, March 15, 2 p.m.

- Tickets: $16 adults; $14 seniors, students and military; $12 all balcony

- Contact: 447-1574 weekday afternoons noon to 5 p.m.