Treasure Island

Treasure Island, Comberton Players’ annual pantomime was a very original script written by Rachel Nielsen, who also directed the show.

The performance space available in Comberton Village Hall is not large and with 18 cast members, 6 seagulls plus another 11 making up the young chorus it was a challenge to get them all involved without stepping on each other.  However, with use of entrances through the audience and using some floor space in front of the stage it all worked pretty seamlessly.  

The setting was good with the cast bringing on furniture and props and making any set changes needed,  Compliments on the shadow play which was cleverly done.  There seemed to be a lot of lights on the three lighting bars which overall did what needed to be done although there were a couple of dark patches on the far edges of the stage.  Principal costumes were fine. Even the band looked piratical.

All Principal roles were well done. Elliott Noble as Jim Hawkins had the required Principal Boy looks and produced a nice bit of strutting.  Jude Brown as Dolly Hawkins did a good job of interacting with both the audience and Squire Trelawney nicely played by Ben Froste.  Dan Edwards was impressive as Long John Silver aided and abetted by Beth Walthew and Steve Kennett as Swash and Buckle. Nice controlled sing-a-long by the way.  First rate support came from Bill Adams as Captain Smollett, Madeleine T (Ariel), Izzy M (Pearl), Aaron E (Ben Gunn) Glynis Ellis (Doris the chicken).  I could go on but suffice to say all the other players with named roles did a great job.  

If I am allowed favourites though I have to say I loved the Seagulls, Rufus, Will, Emily, Lillia, Lucy and Freya.  They were well-schooled, delivered well-timed lines clearly and were totally believable as a flock of noisy and nosey seagulls.

The eleven very young chorus members all acquitted themselves well. Every one of them knew the song lyrics and the moves and did a splendid job.  Throughout the show singing and choreography was good with the whole production well supported by the “Pirate Band” MD Dan Blackburn, Adrian Dunlop and Andy Borman.

Rachel Nielsen’s nicely written script was clever, funny, original and well directed.  I saw the first night which I suppose was the Premiere performance which was pretty slick.  

This was my first visit as NODA Rep to a Comberton Players’ show and I sincerely hope it won’t be my last.  Thank you for a very enjoyable evening.

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