Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Written by Ben Crocker

Performed by Pinhoe Pantomime Society

At America Hall, Pinhoe Exeter on 10th January 2024

 

Directed by Mollie Guerin

Produced and Choregraphed by Beth Adams

Musical Director Emma Guerin

Stage Manager Phil Bastin

 

The stage is set with a luminous “Treasure Island sign” above the proscenium and luminous yellow footprints on a black background on stage left and right. The overture from the live band begins and the tabs open to a well painted set, flats, backdrop and bar of the Admiral Benbow and its colourful landlady, Dame Hawkins dressed in a bright pink wig, spotty dress, pink Basque, pink boots and sparkly tights.  This actor is a consummate professional and a brilliant dame, holding the stage with just presence alone, superb stage craft, clear diction and most importantly, comedic timing. Constantly, on and off script, tantalizing and interacting with the audience, cheekily and saucy at all times with lines such as “would you like to have a good feel about me!”. While Dame Hawkins narrates the tale she is interrupted by a very dramatic, confused and wonderfully funny, Kitty telling her that her husband is dead and then not, a lovely cameo role.

We meet Jim Hawkins, dressed in reddish brown gold braided jacket, laced up shirt and with the obligatory thigh high boots, a young actor who fitted the part perfectly. Justifiably frustrated and embarrassed by his mum but gentle with the character’s love interest, Jenny Trelawney.  Dressed in a simple white dress with a blue sash, I loved this portrayal of Jenny from an actor who gave us a feisty, no-nonsense portrait of a girl with fortitude and gumption and used her obvious acting skills and a wonderful singing voice to its best ability. One to watch without a doubt. Her father, Squire Trelawney, bit dumb with a terrible fondness for “spotted dick”, is easily manipulated by his feisty daughter and was played sympathetically by this actor.

And then we meet the terrible threesome of Blood Boiler, Gizzard Slitter and The Fridge. Dressed in differing versions of red and white striped tops, black and white trousers, belts, pirate hats and kerchiefs, they looked fabulous and worked superbly well together, bouncing of off each other, line after line, all with contrasting characterisation, brazen with an attempt to be scary, until their boss, Long John Silver arrives! Long John Silver, with a powerful, roaring voice and presence commanded the stage throughout the performance, enjoying every boo and hiss from the audience and had us all in stitches when ad-libbing with Polly, the annoying but loveable parrot.  With a great rendition of “I hate Everything About You”, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance, as I did with the portrayal of Polly, a full- size parrot with a superb plumage of gold and blue, black and yellow head feathers, a pair of huge wings used with hilarious effect when exiting the stage and a very noticeable limp!

In Act 2, we are introduced to Ben Gunn, gloriously portrayed as a nutty ex-pirate, stranded on the desert island. This actor, with a thick devon accent had excellent stage presence and produced a side-splitting performance. Well done indeed.

The strength of this society is the enthusiasm not only within the cast but their ability to bring forth young talent. The junior chorus were so delightful to watch with a lovely tap routine, a luminous mask scene and their singing and acting.  The raucous pirate chorus were exactly that, their drunken singing produced an in-tune cacophony (I said in tune!)  and was fun to watch especially when they are recruiting the local WI as sailors.

I have to say the addition of a WI society of prim and proper ladies was hilarious. Each member of this blessed company of woman produced performances of note. Davina Henderson, the WI chairperson, with her clipped English accent mustering her ladies and governing how the pirates behaved was particularly impressive, Daphne Battersby who was wonderfully flirtatious and could not keep her hands to herself, Sheila Parker, a stalwart for the rules and Doris Normington, a young actor with huge confidence and hilarity.  Well supported by the WI Chorus.

The costumes of every member of the cast were just perfect and deserve huge praise. The Dame’s numerous dresses ranged from spotty dresses to blue and red sailor dress with sparkly red swimming cap, a rainbow number and an impressive chest (and I don’t mean the treasure chest), huge teetering heels and a stunning finale dress of white, blue and gold.  The summer tea dresses of the ladies of the WI, well dressed pirates with added facial hair and scars, the junior chorus in naval collars, white t shirts, black trousers and navy hats and the beautiful finale costumes are a tribute to the work involved in producing such a good pantomime. As is the need for a well- dressed set with various painted backdrops to suit the scene which this company provided. I especially loved the hanging clouds and seagull! This was the first night and the backstage team did well to keep the production running smoothly with no issues at all.  The lighting was well thought out especially with the luminous mask scene and dead-man’s cave. The sound was well balanced which could have been tricky with a live band and stage mics front of stage only.  It is always a pleasure to see a live band instead of backing tracks and this group of six musicians provided the cast with wonderful accompaniment to their story expertly handled by the MD, Emma Guerin.

Pinhoe Players have produced a community pantomime for many years now and I have had the pleasure to witness a number of them but this year they have more than upped their game. I have to applaud the production team of Mollie Guerin, Beth Adams and Emma Guerin for their input in all areas, direction, production and performance. I witnessed one of funniest pantomime I have seen in a while. Some incredible additions to the script such as the name of the ship, the ‘Jolly Todger’ which made the audience roar every time it was mentioned.  Every member of the off-stage team should be very proud of this production too.

I have to give my grateful thanks to the front of house team who gave myself and my husband the warmest of welcomes to the show, very heart warming indeed.  My sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Pinhoe Players Society for an excellent evening of entertainment and frivolity and would just

 like to add a comment I overheard from a member of the audience as they left “well that was the funniest thing I have seen in ages”.  You can’t get better than that!

Lyn Burgoyne

Noda Representative (District 5, Mid and East Devon)

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