Youthful actor relates to Huck Finn character
Each shares a willingness to try almost anything once, he says
Mark Twain published his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 134 years ago and time has only enhanced its ability to enthrall readers.
StoryBook Theatre’s version of Huck Finn, which runs in the Beddington Arts Centre until May 5, uses an exciting new concept by British playwright and children’s theatre director Greg Banks. The famous story is being told using just three actors.
Brendan Sugden plays Huck, with Tenaj Williams and Haley Fiegs playing all the people he meets on his adventure. That means Williams not only plays the slave Jim but numerous other male and female characters as does Fiegs, whose characters include Tom Sawyer, Huck’s abusive father and Huck’s widow aunt.
“Haley and Tenaj use just one or two costume pieces for each new character. These quick character changes are very much a part of the fun in the production,” says Sugden, who appears only as Huck.
When he auditioned for this production last year, Sugden admits he was “only vaguely aware of the story of Huck Finn.
“I thought I knew the story and characters but when I read the script I learned so much more and then so much more when I read the novels. These are really amazing stories and characters.”
Sugden says prospective StoryBook Theatre audiences, both young and old, don’t need a lot of foreknowledge to enjoy the show.
“This is a very good, concise adaptation of the novel. It gives you everything you need to go with Huck on this really important journey down the river with Jim.
“Audiences just need to be ready to accept anything because there are a lot of twists and turns in the story and in the staging.”
While preparing to play Huck, Sugden realized he and the character share several qualities. At 19, he is five years older than Huck but he can identify with his boyishness and sense of wonder, especially about nature.
“I think both Huck and I have that willingness to try almost anything once. That’s how I feel about theatre and why I want to make it my career,” says Sugden, who will begin theatre studies at the University of Victoria in September.
He attended William Aberhart High School where he joined the drama club because he “wanted to have an after-school activity.” In his three years there, he appeared in six plays, including Our Town, Twelfth Night and the one-act play And Others by Dennis Bush, which was his most rewarding experience.
“It’s the story of a woman who suffers from multiple personality disorder. My mother is a psychologist and it’s a topic I’m very passionate about.”
Audiences just need to be ready to accept anything because there are a lot of twists and turns in the story and in the staging.