Treasure Island

Treasure Island 

By Ben Crocker 

Directed by Shaun Bonetta 

Musical Director: Josie Sherwood Choreography by Willow Ryerson Producer: Daniel Hay 

Tuesday 17th February 2026 

The Beehive, Honiton 

‘Tricia Barclay 

NODA SW Representative District 6 

After an amusing “in character pirate” front of house announcement the 4-piece band, positioned in the DSL corner, struck up with a lively intro of the music to come. The curtains opened to an energetic opening number Rollin’ with the whole cast on  stage, and Jim and Jenny, principal boy, and principal girl, establishing their  characters from the outset. 

This is a very well-known tale of adventure, skulduggery, and romance, but in their  usual style HCTC managed to put their very own stamp on the action. Everything  was fresh, with unexpected twists and turns, and masses of fun as the audience was  taken on a on a swashbuckling journey from the Admiral Benbow Inn and aboard the  Hispaniola in the hunt for buried treasure! 

This was a well-chosen script for this inclusive group with a large cast, giving all  members across the age ranges the opportunity to take part, both in principal and  supporting roles and in the chorus. HCTC is excellent at giving their youngsters a  chance to stretch themselves and gain experience across the board. The performer as Mrs Hawkins, the Dame, was in great form as usual, very much a  “bloke in a frock,” he engaged with the audience from the start, picking on a  “handsome man” to interact with! His costumes throughout were suitable for every  scene with some interestingly placed “Cherry Bakewells” on one frock!  The experience of Jim and Jenny shone out from the beginning, but they were still  very much part of the team as a whole. 

Jim, in a fetching pair of leather shorts, was immediately bowled over on meeting  Jenny for the first time, who was feisty and determined insisting they had fallen in  love on the spot, the poor lad didn’t really stand a chance! 

Their duets together were excellent but played slightly “tongue in cheek” style rather  than soppy, and there was a great number when they simply chased the spotlight  across the front of the stage! 

Both were looking to find adventure. Jim hoping to seek his fortune so Jenny’s father  Squire Trelawney would consider him a worthy suitor, and Jenny desperate to avoid  her father’s plans to entrench her in the Smuggler’s Cove Women’s Institute!  Ah yes, the Gentle WI! The ladies of the group were simply perfect in these roles,  encapsulating a cross section that you would normally expect to find. Mrs Henderson  was very much in charge, confident and bossy, while Miss Normington was more  down to earth but eminently sensible, saving the day when the treasure map  disappeared! They were excellently supported by the other WI members, and all  showed their delight when recruited as pirates! 

Squire Trelawney was also very believably played, dancing and singing with Jenny,  Jim, and the Dame as well as the ensemble numbers, and displaying a convincing appetite for cake in general but for Mrs Hawkin’s “spotted dick” in particular! A lovely  performance. 

Making up “The Quality” in the cast was a young performer playing Kitty, the maid  who immediately made her mark when rushing on to announce the demise of the  Dame’s husband, thus causing a change of lines, only to rush back to announce his  “return”, she certainly captured the audience’s attention! 

Now for “The Scum of the Seven Seas”!  

As Long John Silver this performer gave a simply outstanding and strong performance, another young company member coming up through the ensemble  over the years to take a leading role. He played throughout on only one leg with a  typical pirate crutch under his arm. His strapped-up leg was cunningly disguised by a  flowing red coat and his movements around the stage were amazing, especially  during his rendition of Michael Jackson’s Bad when having lost the crutch he simply  danced on one leg! 

He encapsulated the character perfectly and was brilliantly supported by his  nefarious band of reprobates. There was a lovely scene when they infiltrated the cake baking competition disguised as the Smuggler’s Cove WI which “big bad” Fridge, who was actually quite small, won with his giant tin of baked beans – of  course no one dared to challenge him! 

Polly the parrot was a revelation, this young performer squawked on and off in an  eye-catching costume of yellow feathers complete with headdress and beak, totally indignant that she wasn’t allowed to sit on Long John’s shoulder. When a parrot did appear on his shoulder later in the action, she was absolutely furious. This made for  some extra fun every time the shoulder parrot slipped and needed to be re-adjusted – great stuff! 

The opening of Act II aboard the Hispaniola was well presented, with the Ladies of  the WI, now pirates, insisting on a “risk assessment.” 

The shipwreck scene was very well performed, a member of the chorus manfully  holding the ship’s wheel steady, and renditions of Tragedy and “Staying Alive,” with some great sound and lighting effects.  

There was a lovely moment on the line “night falls quicky…” when the lighting cut at  once to blackout! 

The ghost scene was particularly memorable with great dancing and costumes all to  the tune of Ghostbusters, and the usual expected pantomime tradition, “It’s behind  You”, and there was also a great “chase” scene around the set. 

The programme was particularly cleverly designed. Taking up on the nautical theme  of the production, it highlighted not only the cast in descriptive terms but also the  backstage personnel on the “Quarter Deck” and “Down Below”, the “Ship’s Crew”,  the costume team in charge of “Disguises”, the “Galley” and the " Press Gang” responsible for posters etc.  

The Ship’s Musicians gave sterling support throughout, the singing and choreography was top notch, lighting and sound excellent and the many costumes  perfect for every character, with the ones for the prisoners being especially eye  catching. 

With black spots, treasure maps and gold aplenty everyone gave their all and the  feeling of an incredibly happy ship simply spilled out into the auditorium. Many congratulations to the Director all the cast and crew for a simply stunning first  night – oh yes it was!

 

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