Kids in London – Treasure Island

We love pirates! Whether it’s on a theme park ride or with Johnny Depp at the cinema. So taking a journey with Long John Silver and the unlikely hero of Jim Hawkins at Richmond Theatre (although it soon sets sail for the West End) was an ideal post half term treat….

The set was excellent (my daughter particularly liked the decorations on the ship’s wheel) and while we waited for the action to start we were lulled by the call of gulls and the lap of waves. We enjoyed the story immensely, although we could imagine the very young getting a bit fidgety. Mind you, with only 45 minutes in each of the two halves it isn’t a very long production and there is generally some lovely singing, powerful sound effects, atmospheric light changes, interesting scene changes (from the ship to shore and back again through the very creative use of ship’s rigging turning into trees), “pieces of eight” from a blue and yellow parrot or the eerily pointing arm of an old skeleton to keep your attention fixed firmly on the stage.

The cast was dominated by the very authentic Cockney and always chuckling Long John Silver and the Irish accented thoroughly bad baddie Israel Hands. Young Jim Hawkins was reminiscent of a young Orlando Bloom. But those of you with daughters (like me), please remember that there are no girls in Treasure Island!

The story, of course, is a classic. And contemplates how a young man is thrust into dilemmas where he must choose good over evil – whether to associate with goodies or baddies – and so becomes a man. But it also explores the concept of honour amongst baddies – and the need to keep your word even when given to a bad baddie such as Long John Silver. And the burning question, of course, is whether we are allowed to like Long John Silver even though he is a baddie – and the fact that he did spare some lives and keep his word too…..We sang “15 men on a dead man’s chest” all the way home.

The programme was lovely – packed with pirate pictures and facts and word searches and colouring in and spot the difference. A nice memento. There were badges and tee shirts too – my favourite said “I’m a little treasure” but there were some great skull and cross bone designs too.

And we were very excited to see that soon to appear (7th-12th April at Richmond and no doubt elsewhere in London theatres) was High School Musical on stage! I can imagine there will be many Mums and Dads having their arms twisted for that one...

:pirate2: :pirate: :depp:

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For those who don't know - the story in a nutshell:

Jim serves an old captain in a bar and watches as he is given a black spot and then dies. But not before he has found the Captain’s treasure map which is what the bad pirates have been seeking. So the good guys set sail to find the treasure, unwittingly taking a whole bunch of baddies Long John Silver and Israel as cook and crew). Jim is afraid to climb the rigging and branded a coward. Then, while hiding in an apple barrel, hears Long John mutinous plot to overthrow the captain so that the treasure can be his. Jim warns the Captain. On arrival at the island, a battle ensues. Jim meets the marooned Ben and then does a very brave deed to save and hide the ship. Of course, most know the final outcome of the story…and we won’t spoil it for those who don’t.