Treasure Island

Since it’s formation in 1974 this group has performed a pantomime for the local community every year (apart from 2021 due to the Covid pandemic) and the choice for the 51st panto was the ever popular “Treasure Island”. With a cast of 60, including a chorus of 44 youngsters, the stage was a hive of activity and awash with colour. Alisdair Mackintosh, making his panto dame debut, made an impressive Molly Malone, keeper of the Admiral’s Bimbo Inn - with a different outfit for each entrance the inn must have been doing good business for her to have such an extensive wardrobe! The character built up a good rapport with the audience and her rendition of “Big Spender” when she brought up an unsuspecting audience member – male of course – on to the stage was hilarious. Dawn Gregory was excellent as the baddie of the piece Long Joan Silver, as she connived her way to finding the lost treasure by fair means or foul. A lovely visual gag was her parrot Cap’n Flint who got bigger each time he appeared until he was human sized and talking (played by Sean MacIvor). Gina Peasnall and Tracy Chatten as Long Joan’s hapless crew members Fore and Aft made a good comedy pairing as they bumbled along trying to steal the map leading to the hidden treasure. Also adding much to the comedy was Martin MacKenzie as Billy Bones, one of Molly’s assistants, with his witty asides to the audience. The treasure map had been entrusted by Blind Pew (Jane Milne) to Molly’s other assistant Jim Hawkins played by principal boy Zoe MacBeath with plenty of thigh slapping. Rhianna Fraser was delightful as Jim’s love interest Tess Trelawney and their duets were moving. Ian Shearer as Tess’s father, and Molly’s love interest, Squire Trelawney was very strong. Strong support was given by Andy Hurst (a wild haired Ben Gunn), Rosalyn Oliver-Jones (Fairy Coral) and William MacDonald (Crow). The set was kept simple, as necessitated by the size of the chorus, but was colourful as were the costumes. Well done everyone for a show that was greatly appreciated by the first night audience.

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