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Elliott Larson,14, stars in Geometry in Venice at the Segal Centre in Montreal. (JOHN KENNEY/The Gazette)
Beaconsfield teen making a name for himself
Starring in first stage production
Karen Seidman
The Gazette
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Elliott Larson,14, stars in Geometry in Venice at the Segal Centre in Montreal. (JOHN KENNEY/The Gazette)
You can see that Elliott Larson is not your average 12-year-old when you discover you can’t just speak with him – it has to be arranged through a publicist and a stage manager.
Also, his list of accomplishments would put some adults to shame.
Furthermore, there simply aren’t many 12-year-old who would use the word “peevish” in an interview.
Then again, it’s kind of refreshing to interview a kid who you just know would never write “gr8” to describe anything.
Larson, who lives in Beaconsfield, is currently starring in Geometry in Venice, a new play at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. And while he’s loving the challenge of doing live theatre for the first time, it’s hardly the most exciting thing he’s done.
After all, this is a kid who moved to Montreal from B.C. to pursue his passion for aerial circus arts.
While here, he happened to do an audition for a TV show – Rumors – and got the part. That launched an acting career for which he had never planned, but acting has just become another of many passions for the talented youngster.
Larson is also an accomplished pianist, and is playing the piano for his part in Geometry. He has also recorded 13 original piano pieces this year.
Piano is one of the reasons he began to be home-schooled in Grade 4. (He’s now in Grade 7).
“One of the great advantages (about being home-schooled) is that there’s lots of time to play piano,” said Larson. “I get peevish if I don’t play every day.”
Interestingly, his character in Geometry also plays piano and is home-schooled.
Oh yes, and he’s also described as a genius.
But even if there weren’t such similarities, Larson believes there’s “always some part of the character that resonates with you.”
The play was adapted from The Pupil, a novella by Henry James, and tells the story of the Moreen family, an outwardly aristocratic British family living in Venice towards the end of the 19th century. It is the story of the family’s obsession with wealth and status.
Larson still can’t say which of his interests is the one he will pursue as a career later in life.
He loves them all and seems to excel in all of them.
One thing is for sure. He will have many opportunities to pursue.
And that’s just gr8.
Geometry in Venice is playing at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, 5170 Côte Ste. Catherine Rd., until Feb. 14. For tickets, call 514-739-7944.