Island School’s annual fifth-grade production, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” opens tonight and runs this weekend.
Showtimes are tonight and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Island School main hall.
The much-loved story, adapted from Mark Twain’s novel by Dave Barton and Matt Bond, features the rascally Tom Sawyer, played by Sawyer Munroe, who, coincidentally, was named for his character.
Tom and his brother, Sid, played by Tyler Stokes, are orphans being raised by their Aunt Polly, played by Chloe Ayonon. Polly is beside herself, trying to raise Tom to be a “decent man,” but Tom continues to play hooky, make faces in church, lies and is “actin’ a fool!”
When the Thatcher family moves to town, he unceremoniously dumps his girlfriend, Amy Lawrence (Lily Glick) in favor of the new girl, Becky (Braxtyn Montalbo). The story darkens a bit when Tom and Huck (Hoby King) witness a murder in the graveyard, an innocent man almost gets hung, and he encounters danger in a dark cave. But all ends well, as Twain’s stories usually do.
The entire class of 23 eager fifth-graders make up the talented cast, directed by theater arts teacher Peggy Ellenburg.
“These young actors are gaining confidence and, besides practicing theatre skills, are strengthening their abilities to work as a team, manage their time effectively and be responsible,” Ellenburg wrote.
The cast also includes Makalapua Blake, Kennedy Braun, David Du, Shayla Edgerton, Max Evslin, Jack Frank, Maddie Halladay, Jer Harris, Annie Harris, Mia Javellana, Kainoa Love, Kamryn Mackey, Lea Meyers, Graydon Rosenthal, Ryan So and Keely Stedman.
Tickets are on sale from cast members and at the school office. They are also available at the door.
