Just before the Tokyo run closes, I got hold of Garrett Matthew Zuercher who is an understudy for Huck and performed the role in Tokyo and ask hime to share his experience.

1. Garrett, could you tell us about yourself, when you started acting, how you get involved with Big River production, your audition for the show, etc.?

I'm 24 years old and have been acting for as long as I can remember. Theatre has always been something I've loved to do and I remember being a young boy of seven and writing plays for my sister and I to act out for our parents. I acted in school productions in grade school, high school, and finally majored in Theatre Arts in college, which is where I really began to take off. As a result of a college acting showcase my final year, I got a part in a professional production of "The Fantasticks," and a man who saw me in that production has a friend who works for Deaf West. That man heard that Deaf West was searching for an understudy for Huck, thought I would be good, and so he called me and told me to send in my resume and photo. A few weeks later, this past February, Deaf West contacted me and asked me to fly out to New York City to audition. Four days later, I performed two of Huck's monologues and a song, "Waiting for the Light to Shine," in NYC, my first time there. They offered me the part on the spot, and I've considered myself one of the luckiest people ever since to be involved in such a spectacular production with such amazing talent surrounding me.

2. You have taken on the understudy role of Huck for a couple of times in Tokyo (Congratulations!), could you tell us about the experience? Was it the first time you went on as an understudy? How did you feel before, during and after the show? How much rehearsal time did you have? Which was the most difficult/challenging scene or number? Were you nervous before and during the show? Were there any fun(ny) episodes you can share with us?

It was extremely nerve-wracking because I hadn't done a full run of the show in either rehearsals or performance for three months, and then Ty got sick and I had to cross my fingers and do my best and hope I remembered everything. I am extremely comfortable in front of audiences, so that's not why I was nervous. I just wanted to do a good job and have the audience leave the theatre feeling satisfied that they had seen a good show and a good performance. I do not want to disappoint. Of course, I had done my homework, reviewing my script and watching Ty during every performance, since that is my job as an understudy, but it was still very stressful to suddenly learn that Ty was sick and that I would be performing only two hours later.

My performances here were not my first, since I had already performed once in Dallas, Texas in July, but it was only my second time when I performed here, and third, and fourth. While I had some rehearsal time this past June and July, I have had nothing since. Our first understudy rehearsal here in Japan was actually the same day I went on, but I had focused that day on my other understudy part of the Young Fool. Then, towards the end of rehearsal when I learned that I would be playing Huck that evening, we crammed in an hour of emergency rehearsal for me to brush up on the things I felt I needed to. So, of course, I was nervous before the show. However, once it got started, I didn't really have time to think about anything else except playing Huck, so my nerves dissipated and I just focused on having fun as Huck would and telling the story. At the same time, I had to constantly maintain focus so I wouldn't forget which line or which movement came next, so I wasn't able to bring out the character as much as I should have or would have liked to. The whole thing happened so fast and, before I knew it, it was over.

And I was able to look back and see where I could improve myself and my performance, and went back to the script and talked to the other actors and immediately started working on getting better. I was fortunate in that I had two more performances to come (Ty was still sick), so I was able to continue to improve myself with each successive performance and work on bringing out the character more and more each time, telling the story and listening to the other actors. By the time the third performance rolled around, I wasn't nervous at all like I was for the first because I knew I could do it. I knew I could remember all my lines and movements, so I was able to begin playing around with Huck and discovering who his character is, and that was so exciting for me. It's a process that's still continuing, but I was able to make dramatic leaps (pardon the pun) with my three performances here.

I don't really think that there is one single scene or number that is more difficult than the others; I see the entire character of Huck as one single entity rather than separate scenes and songs. Everything ties into one greater character and performance, and it is difficult all at once to build such a vital and nuanced being on your own. Especially from the top down, since most people build a character first in a process as they memorize their lines and learn their blocking while working together with the director and the other actors. Here, I'm doing the opposite. I learned the lines and blocking by rote, and now am trying to build a character from there, with certain moments already locked in. That's the challenge for me, but it's a challenge that I love and am enjoying every moment of. It's a great learning experience, and the support that I feel from the people around me is simply tremendous. I can't say enough for this company and how they've helped and guided me.

3. Do you think your portrayal of Huck is different from Ty's? If so, how? How do you see Huck's character in the show? Now you have a couple of Huck performance under your belt, how would you like to perform Huck next time you'll play? Would you play it any differently?

My portrayal is in many ways the same as Ty's, and in many ways different. I watch him in performance constantly every day from backstage when I'm not on the stage myself, practicing my lines and songs simultaneously and imitating him as much as I can. But I am not Ty, and never can be, so I naturally bring some of myself to the role. The way I see Huck is that he is not school-smart and educated through reading like Tom Sawyer is, but he has a great deal of common sense, street-smarts, if you will. He has only good intentions and just wants to have fun; as Mark Twain narrates; he has as good a heart as any boy ever had. He is so excited to tell his story to the audience, and thoroughly enjoys every moment of it.

My goal is to get as comfortable with the lines and blocking (movements) as soon as possible (which can be difficult with minimal opportunities to work onstage), so that I can focus on bringing out the character and expressing the joy he is experiencing in telling his story and expressing the things he learns and experiences in the journey he is on. Even though its inevitable, I don't like to compare myself to Ty because I know that it took him three years to get to where he is now and develop this character while I've only been onboard for a few months and have only played Huck several times.

4. What is the most challenging scene/number for you in your regular roles (Simon/Slave trader)? I know Ty can hear a little bit using the hearing aids, can you hear too? What's your favorite number to perform?

The most challenging thing for me in my regular role is not really in performance, but rather in changing clothes and makeup and hair as fast as I can so that I can watch Ty from backstage. I have honed it down so exactly that I manage to change during moments when Huck has little to no action and return in time to see his next moment. That's why I like to stay in one city for a long time, because I can develop a routine that works. Each time we get to a different theater, I have to develop a new routine based on the changing layout of the theater. Sometimes my dressing room is on the first floor, sometimes the third; sometimes the hair room is close, and sometimes it's a long way away. Generally, the only big scene that I am forced to miss is when Huck scares Jim at the beginning of Act Two and the resulting song ("Worlds Apart"). I'm changing from my "Nonesuch" clothes into my mourner clothes for the funeral at the time, so I can't really see any of that scene.

I can hear about the same as Ty, since we have practically the same hearing loss and both of us use hearing aids. We have even shared hearing aids on several occasions when one of us has forgotten our own. Before we began the tour, I got brand new digital hearing aids, but discovered during the first leg of the tour that the computer processor inside them was suppressing a large percentage of the sounds because they were too loud (from me being onstage). So, when I went home during our break, I had my audiologist turn off the compressor. I was thrilled to discover upon my return that I could hear much better than before I left, and can follow most of the songs very well after practice with just my hearing.

I can't understand what I'm hearing, since my brain never developed the ability to "interpret" the sounds, but I can match the noises I hear with the words to the songs that I have memorized and keep time that way. I have also worked intensively with the musical conductor, Steven Landau, on visual cues that I can take from him to keep time on the television monitor that I can see above the audience. Once I have these cues worked out, along with the improved hearing, I am able to keep in time with the songs. I continue to practice every day, though, as the people backstage can attest to.

Now, it sounds cliche, but of course my favorite song to perform is "Waiting for the Light to Shine" in Act Two, the one where the music cuts out at the end. It's such a powerful and moving moment that it's thrilling to be a part of it. But, honestly, my favorite song in the show is "Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go." When I first read the script, I instantly gravitated to that one song, and found it beautiful in its simplicity and honesty, as well as the raw emotion.

5. You have written and directed three plays. Did you get any inspiration (for a new play or book) while you are staying Japan? What would you like to do after the tour is over, do you have any project you want to work on?

No inspiration here yet, but I'm not really looking for any at the moment. I am currently working on a short, ten-minute play for Deanne Bray, a friend of mine who was recently in Big River but left to film her television show in Toronto. After the tour is over, I would like to continue to work as an actor and playwright and continue to hone my craft in theatre. Also, someday soon, I would like to return to my last full play, Quid Pro Quo, which was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC last April, revising and expanding it and hopefully workshopping it.

6. What did you do during your stay in Japan? Could you tell us about the most exciting memory in Japan (other than performing Huck on the stage)? What kind of souvenir did you get for your family and friends from Japan?

I did as much as I could here. I explored much of Tokyo with the other cast members, went to Nikko and Kamakura and Tokyo Disney and the Fish Market. I also went to Asakusa and Shibuya and Ginza and Shinjuku and Roppongi. I tried as much food as I could, from Okonomiyaki to Tempura to Sushi to Sukiyaki to Ramen to Soba to Udon to Yakitori.

But I think the most exciting memory in Japan so far would have to be talking with audience members after the shows and hearing your feedback and seeing your excitement. It reminds me that we're all essentially the same inside, no matter what country we're from or who we are. We're all human, we're all the same, and that's an amazing thing to experience. From here, I got many gifts for my family and friends, but don't want to say what they are because I'm sure they're going to read this interview. But they're great gifts, I can tell you that, and I can't wait to give them out!

7. Do you have any message to Japanese audiences?

Thank you tremendously for your support and enthusiasm, which has been exhilarating. I have had an absolutely fantastic time here in Japan and look forward to returning someday soon, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed the show.

Garrett, thank you SO MUCH for sharing your experience in detail. See you in Sacramento!



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