Treasure Island

I was welcomed at Front of House and spoke with Director Paul Welham at the end of the performance. Once again Terry White and his team had designed and constructed an imaginative set. Simple and highly effective, it provided a great backdrop to the many scene changes from the Inn to the docks, the ship and the island. Props were moved on and off stage fairly fluently and, where more time was needed for a scene change the Wivenhoe Hoolies treated the audience to rousing shanty songs at the stage downside. I particularly admired the illusion of the gangplank and ship in dock. The set was transformed in Act Two to Treasure Island with a drape painted with green covered rocks which was very effective. Creative use of lighting enhanced the scenes and sound levels were fine with all the cast projecting well. Costumes were entirely appropriate for the characters.

All the cast played their roles well and made good use of the stage.

Jim Hawkins was played unusually, by a young female Phoebe Walkey. Phoebe was ideal for this part and initially took the role of narrator to introduce the storyline. She expressed her anger and frustration at emerging events very well and really came into prominence in Act Two. Marcus Pierpoint was well cast as Long John Silver and had good stage presence. He was convincingly evil and domineering but displayed a softer side to his character when dealing with Jim. Well played!

Squire Trelawney and his wife, Mrs Trelawney were so well cast. Dean Kiely, as the Squire was pompous and full of self importance and essentially a bit of a buffoon character whilst his wife, played by Natalie Dwan was rather silly and frivolous. James Hooker was Tom Redruth, the Squire’s servant. Captain Smollett was ably played by Oliver Walkey who had a professional manner and was most definitely in charge of his boat, the Hispaniola!

I loved the character of Ben Gunn so well portrayed by Keith Sippitt. Dressed in tattered clothes he played this elderly, shambling and slightly deranged castaway perfectly sparking a good deal of laughter.

The pirates were a motley crew, loud, scheming, threatening, evil and quick to draw swords. Very well done to Ian Lockey as Israel Hands, David Lye as George Merry, Ian Reed-Golden as Rowley, Samuel McCarthy as Jacob Stone and John Thomson as the evil Black Dog. All that you expect from a group of pirates !

I especially applaud the sword fight between two pirates which was obviously well rehearsed and looked authentic.

There were a number of small but nevertheless important roles which were integral to the plot. Ian Reed-Golden played a great but short lived role of Billy Bones, a drunken pirate whilst David Lye was convincingly evil and sinister as the blind pirate Blind Pew. Nicole Eve brought her own interpretation to the role of Dr Livesay, a local doctor and seemingly the most practical and level headed member of the expedition. Charlotte Root was Jim’s mother and the owner of the Inn.

Many congratulations to everyone involved in any way and special congratulations to Director Paul Welham for bringing this familiar story to life and adapting and writing this script.

 

 

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