Treasure Island

Treasure Island follows Jim Hawkins, a young innkeeper’s son, who discovers a treasure map in the chest of a mysterious old sailor. With the help of Dr Livesey and Squire Trelawney, he sets off aboard the Hispaniola to find the fortune. Danger lurks aboard the ship – many of the crew, led by the charming but treacherous Long John Silver are secretly pirates planning a mutiny. What follows is a thrilling game of wits; sword fights, daring escapes, shifting alliances, and the ultimate hunt for buried gold. In the end, Jim must use his courage, cleverness and quick thinking to outsmart the pirates and make it home. 

Directed by Alex McKenzie, Treasure Island, embraced everything audiences enjoy aout traditional family pantomimes. From onstage mishaps to puns by the bucketload, the pantomime had every ingredient needed for an enjoyable evening. Even before the curtain rose, the atmosphere was beautifully set with sea shanties playing in the auditorium. 

The pantomime opened with a violin solo performed by the talented Charlotte Gray. It was refreshing to see her showcased in two numbers enabling her to get the recognition from the audience that she deserved.

Alex not only directed the pantomime but also took on the dame role, Rosie Bloom. His charismatic energy and quick-fire retorts to the audience about her bottom had the audience laughing throughout. Justine Abbott’s Jim, paired perfectly with Rosie. Justine was able to bring boyish charm and presence to the role. Anthony Curson’s as Long John Silver was equal parts conniving and charismatic with an excellent rapport alongside Blind Ali (Julie Haydon) and Sea-Snake Sally (Laura Cousins). Their trio of pirate antics delivered consistent laughs and added lightheartedness to the production. Benjamin Thirwell was enchanting as Billy Barnacle and Barmy Ben, bringing the eccentric characters to life with ease and confidence. Chloe Ellson (Penny), Marcus Whitestone (Captain Mullet) and Gordon Oliver (The Squire) were strong performers, bringing their own flair to their roles, rounding out a strong principal cast. 

With so many jokes and puns throughout the show, the cast did a brilliant job ensuring every pun landed with gusto. The rapid-fire cheese-themed puns between Barmy Ben, Jolly Roger (Isaac Warwick), Salty Sam (Dulcie A’Lee) and Cut-Throat Kate (Isabella Orson) was a very fast paced witty exchange that didn’t miss a beat. 

The principal cast were well supported by the ensemble, dancers and youth ensemble. When the full company came together for musical numbers, the sound was very impressive.  

Musical Director Ashley Gray, also performed with the live band, delivering an accompaniment that was beautifully balanced against the performers. The show was full of with songs, all performed with confidence. Strong harmonies were heard throughout but the standout moment came at the end of Act One with The Parting Glass, sang partly a cappella. It showcased the vocal strength of the company and was a truly beautiful moment.  

Choreography by Chloe Ellson played to the strengths of every cast member. The four core dancers delivered more complex routines with flair, while the adult and youth ensembles brought high energy and confidence to each number. 

The scenery and costumes supported the storytelling well, capturing the theme and era of the show. The props sometimes had a mind of their own but this didn’t put the performers off, they were able to include the mishaps into the spirit of pantomime!  

Each of the main characters were supported with a microphone, allowing them to be clearly heard. The balance between the vocals, band and sound effects was spot-on. The lighting added additional atmosphere throughout with cues executed cleanly.

There were a few moments where the prompt was used, possibly due to opening night nerves but it didn’t detract from the overall performance and the pace was quickly recovered. 

I really enjoyed this performance by Irchester Players, the cast always look like they have having the time of their lives on stage and the family-like spirit radiates into the audience. In my opinion, it’s one of the strongest performances delivered by the cast. Thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to seeing your next production. 

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