After acting in more than 20 plays at Sequim High School during his teenage years, Richard Wadsworth decided to perform once again on the same stage but in a play he’d written himself. "We just wanted to do a play so we came up with a story," Richard said of "Tales of the Grandson," which he co-wrote with his wife, McKenna, also an SHS grad who acted in a few plays after moving to Sequim during her senior year of high school.
"Grandson" begins with Tom, played by SHS student Stevie Holloway, who receives a phone call from the hospital saying his grandfather has suffered a stroke and is in a coma. Tom rushes to the hospital and, after the nurse informs him that it could be beneficial to his grandfather if he speaks to him, begins reading a story he’d been writing specifically for his father’s father.
"Tom wants to read him the story before he passes away," Richard explained.
The play explores both Tom’s stressful home life, which includes a deceased father and a frazzled single mother who works multiple jobs and often takes her frustrations out on her son, and Tom’s fantasy world that is filled with fairies, kingdoms and royalty.
The latter is produced by Tom’s story, which he began writing at a young age after being inspired by his grandfather, who would read the young boy book after book while babysitting him. Tom’s story is about a province ruled by a benevolent king, who has a son named Draiden. When Draiden is still quite young, an assassin kills the king, leaving the kingdom without a ruler. The king’s brother, Fayrid, always jealous of his sibling’s position, deems Draiden far too young and inexperienced to rule a kingdom and takes over the job, saying he will hand it over to his nephew only after the Southern Kingdom is defeated.
According to McKenna, she and her husband helped write "Pride of the Pirate," which premiered in Sequim in 2006, but this is the first play they’ve written by themselves.
"It’s been great seeing it come to life," McKenna said.
After completing the play, the Wadsworths rallied family and friends, which Richard called "some of Sequim’s best local talent," to act in the play and help with costumes and decorations. Richard created the set, mother Jane Wadsworth created the costumes, including the elaborate head fairy costume and Mary Cain, whose son Brett Cain plays Draiden, is both acting – as Tom’s stressed-out mother, Trudy – and co-directing with Richard.
"It’s an interactive dramatic-comedy … the audience has an opportunity to participate," Richard said. "Audience members should prepare themselves to hav
A family play
Who: Actors Community Theater
What: "Tales of the Grandson," an original play co-written by Richard and McKenna Wadsworth and directed by Richard Wadsworth and Mary Cain
When: 7 p.m. Aug. 18-23 and 2 p.m. matinee Aug. 23
Where: Sequim High School auditorium
Tickets: $5 for family night on Aug. 18 and the Aug. 23 matinee, $7 Aug. 19-21 and $10 on Aug. 22-23
Information: 208-716-4603 or talesofthegrandson@gmail.com
e a great time laughing, crying and laughing until they cry."
