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The Citizen, 1991-09-04, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4,1991. PAGE 23. Theatre review Happy 20thA new spirit of giving A national program to encourage giving and volunteering Treasure Island fun for all A schemer and a dreamer Leon Pownall as the pirate Long John Silver, left, casts his spell on the young Jim Hawkins, played by Geoffrey Brumlik in Elliott Hayes' adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic Treasure Island appearing at Stratford Festival. by Bonnie Gropp I'm certain when Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island he never imagined the phrase "that was cool" would ever be used in praise of a stage adaptation of his classic tale. This was, however, the reaction of my eight-year-old son, when we took him and his sister to the production at Stratford Festival. When it comes to theatre, my youngest critic is a hard sell and this is without a doubt the highest accolade he can bestow. Robert Louis Stevenson penned many colourful adventure stories, perfect for tantalizing and inspiring the imaginations of the young and young-at-heart. Adapted for stage by Elliott Hayes and directed by Artistic Director David William, this Treasure Island brings that imagination to life with realistic choreographed fight scenes, lively acrobatics, flamboyant characters, colourful costumes, and even an upstaging parrot. As a boy Stevenson was belea­ guered with bouts of illness and his love of adventure stories was nur­ tured by his childhood nurse and companion through her recounting of fiction stories and tales of Scot­ land's bloody history. It was while recovering from tuberculosis in a sanitarium that Stevenson completed Treasure Island ending a bad case of writer's block that had also been plaguing him. The story begins with young Jim Hawkins and an aged pirate Billy Bones, who arrives at the Admiral Benbow Inn, run by Jim's mother. Bones confides in Jim about a hid­ den treasure and warns him to be alert for a man with one leg. When another pirate, Black Dog, arrives to claim the map to the trea­ sure, Bones fights and chases him from the Inn. Then Blind Pew arrives and tells Bones his time has come. Bones dies, then Jim discov­ ers the map that the other pirates will kill for. When Jim takes the map to Squire Trelawney and Doctor Livesey, the real adventure begins, as they plan to travel to Skeleton Island and uncover the buried trea­ sure. Trelawney goes to get the ship "The Hispaniola" and hires a crew that includes a man with one leg, Long John Silver. Smollett, the ship's captain is sus­ picious, however, and thus not sur­ prised when Hawkins comes to tell them he has heard the men dis­ cussing mutiny. In an attempt to sabotage their scheme he tricks the pirate crew into going ashore, but when he is reminded there are still others left behind in the hold and learns Jim also went ashore, he and the rest follow. On the island, Hawkins meets Ben Gunn, a spirited elf of a man, who was once a pirate, and has been ship-wrecked on the island for the past three years. Gunn offers to help in return for passage off the island and leads Jim to the stockade where the Squire and his company are battling with the pirates. Jim decides to do what he perceives as his duty and returns to recover the Hispaniola from the pirates still on board. When he returns to the island to boast of his accomplishments he is nabbed by Long John Silver and his men. Doctor Livesey promises to do what he can to save Silver from the gallows in return for Silver's word that he will spare Jim's life. Then with the help of Ben Gunn, the pirates are defeated, the treasure discovered and the adventurers return home. I chose to take my young chil­ dren to see the Stratford production because, while they have attended live theatre, their exposure to the classics has been limited. I felt Treasure Island would be an ideal introduction and I wasn't wrong. This production is perfect for novice theatre-goers to cut their teeth on. Debra Hanson's set design is simple, yet effective, while the breath-taking stunts co-ordinated by John Stead leave the audience wide-eyed. Though the dialogue can be challenging at times, with its accents and nautical phrases, the plot is simple enough for the youngest child. A story like this will not only enthrall older audiences, but inspire their children. ItJ sparks in us all, that which is the flame of our child­ hood imaginings and the action awakens our basic spirit of adven­ ture. Music sets the mood of play continued from page 8 grew up in.” Perhaps one of the most effective aspects of this play is the atmosphere created by the bluegrass music of Michael Taylor, which sidles into the Cornflower story like a trout among smooth rocks,” says another reviewer. ” Cornflower Blue features the acting talents of Donald Adams, John Jarvis, Maggie Nagle, Jan Wood and musicians Michael Taylor and Gary ‘Humphrey” Walsh. The tour of Cornflower Blue which was commissioned by Prairie Theatre Exchange, is made possible through the generous support of the Touring Theatre Programme of the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Ministry of Northern Affairs, Ontario Ministry of Culture & Communications, Canada Council Touring Office, Ideal Supply Company and Journey's End Motels. Cornflower Blue is directed by Kim McCaw with set design by Dennis Horn, lighting design by Leslie Wilkinson, costumes designed by Mary Fulford, and assistant direction by Laurel Paetz. Since 1980, the Blyth Festival has toured Ontario on an annual basis, sharing with audiences: The Perils of Persephone by Dan Needles, The Mail Order Bride by Robert Clinton, Bordertown Cafe by Kelly Rebar, Another Season’s Promise by Anne Chislett and Keith Roulston, Quiet in the Land and The Tomorrow Box by Anne Chislett, Cake-Walk by Colleen Curran, Country Hearts by Ted Johns and John Roby, The School Show, St. Sam of the Nukes and Garrison's Garage by Ted Johns. Happy Birthday Trevie Love Dawn the I Blyth Iw THURSDAY NIGHT IS WING NIGHT 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT WINGS 35c EACH MINIMUM ORDER 10 a variety of sauces available SORRY NO TAKE-OUTS FROM THE GANG Love Dawn Lindsay and Bonnie Mon., Tues., Wed. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Thurs., Frl., & Sat. 5 p.m. - midnight CHICKEN WINGS & CHIPS $5.45 EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 1 Bruce Hooper are pleased to announce their forth­ coming marriage to take place on Friday, September 20, 1991 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Chapel, Kitch­ THURS., FRI. & SAT. NITES PIZZA BUY ONE & GET A 2ND FOR 1/2 PRICE 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT EAT IN OR TAKE OUT ENTERTAINMENT Sept 6-7 Ben Gerding 523-9381 L.L.B.O.ener.