Maureen Sullivan is a regular contributor to Island Echo’s coverage of the Arts on the Isle of Wight. Maureen has been actively involved in the Island’s amateur dramatics scene for several years, appearing in many different roles and guises with several theatre companies. In her free time, Maureen also writes and reviews at iwtheatre.org.
Catch Maureen’s column each month for the latest theatre and art happenings...
Priory School recently put on a stirling production of Treasure Island at Quay Arts in Newport.
The Antony Minghella Theatre at Quay Arts is an atmospheric space, open to a huge variety of uses – and the pupils of The Priory School used it to advantage in their school production of ‘Treasure Island’. But this wasn’t just a stage version of the RL Stevenson classic – it had elements of a full stage musical, a comedy – and lots of pantomime tropes, appropriately for the time of year.
The script was written by Mr Fry, who directed alongside Mr Lynch and costumes and make up were courtesy of Mr and Mrs Tate and Mrs Brennan, but essentially this was a pupil-led production, with young lighting technicians, backstage crew and front of house staff. These jobs are just as important as the onstage work and it’s great to see pupils involving themselves in all aspects of the production.
The ensemble appeared first and were onstage throughout, providing the backbone of the show as customers in the Admiral Benbow Tavern: pirates and tribesmen (‘The Caulkheads’). Most ensemble performers had some lines which they delivered with confidence, and the chorus songs were among my favourite bits, particularly the energetic rendition of ‘In the Navy’ during which we, the audience, were exhorted to join up ‘as a new recruit’.
We first met the two narrators who not only guided us through our journey but developed their own characteristics along the way, the serious, studious, suited Violet often frustrated, confused and generally impatient with the bohemian, mercurial and at times surreal Delphina.
Tilly excelled as the Widow Hawkins and quickly engaged the audience, particularly in her interchanges with William Bones – a wonderfully funny creation by Isaac S. Eliza was a notably strong performer – as Jill Hawkins she captured the youthful optimism and positivity of the character and displayed a beautiful singing voice too!
The audience really enjoyed using their own voices to boo Blind Pee-Yew, perfectly portrayed by Neve, with Elsa doing a lovely turn as her companion/guide/sidekick Betty Birdseye. The British Navy was regally represented by Captain Ship-Shape Smollett, played with verve by Sam, and his right and left hand men Squire Fancy – a very upright and uptight Isaac H – and the deaf and eccentric Dr Feelgood, humorously created by Doug.
Alongside Eliza as Jill Hawkins, another incredible actor was Hector as Long John Silver – from the moment he stomped onto the stage with his trademark crutch and parrot on shoulder he dominated the stage, and his duet with Eliza was a delight!
There was strong support also from Amber as Izzy Hands and Austin as the cleverly named Been Gone, but there was another contender for ‘Performer who cannot be ignored onstage’ – the amazing Tarquin the Crocodile, ably handled by Courtney, Alicia and Emily.
But in reality, there was no one star of the show – every single pupil contributed, from the narrators setting the scene at the start to the ensemble members pointing out to some of the main characters what they were missing…
The singing and the comedy underpinned the story and kept the action moving along; not only did the principal actors create brilliant characters, the reactions and in-character acting from each member of the cast form oldest to youngest all made Treasure Island mesmerising.
Everyone involved in the show can be very proud of themselves – well done all!
