Treasure Island
Adapted by Jack Neary

This is a faithful adaptation of the classic tale by Robert Louis Stevenson, created to move quickly in exciting storytelling fashion as the shipwrecked sailor Ben Gunn greets the audience with an enthusiastically-delivered telling of his great adventure, which evolves very swiftly into a storytelling challenge between Gunn and rip-roaring pirate Long John Silver. As these two magnificently colorful sea squabblers square off and try to top each other with their renditions, the story comes to life and all of Stevenson's beloved characters appear in gripping, intriguing, swashbuckling scenes leading to the great battle and chase at the end. This adaptation is designed to thrill and enlighten the kids as it entertains their parents and guardians. Easy to stage, and lots of fun for actors, directors and designers. (PHOTOS FROM THE WINCHESTER LITTLE THEATRE PRODUCTION.)

The Cast:

Cap'n Flint (a parrot)
Bones
Jim's Mother
Jim Hawkins
Pew
Black Dog
Trelawney
Livesey
Ben Gunn
Long John Silver
Smollett
Hands
Merry
Gray
Morgan

THERE ARE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOUBLING, IF DESIRED.

The Setting:

I think the setting is best described simply by taking the set description directly from the script...

"THE PRINCIPAL SETTING IS SKELETON ISLAND. THE TIME IS ANYTIME AFTER THE BATTLE. ANYTIME WHEN THE STORY OF TREASURE ISLAND MIGHT BE TOLD. THE ACTION OF THE PLAY WILL TAKE PLACE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE THEATRE. THE STAGE AREA SHOULD INCLUDE THE ISLAND'S STOCKADE, A STURDY FORTRESS WHERE SMOLLETT'S CREW TAKES COVER; AND SOME ROCKS AND SAND AND TREES, IN THE MIDDLE OF WHICH, EVENTUALLY, SILVER AND HIS CREW WILL SEARCH FOR THE TREASURE. THE STORY WILL BE ACCOMMODATED LATER ON BY THE MANIFESTATION OF THE BOW OF THE SHIP "HISPANIOLA," WHICH CAN BE REPRESENTED BY A SMALL PLAYING AREA, WITH, PERHAPS, A SAIL, AND CERTAINLY A PLACE TO FLY THE UNION JACK. THE PORTION OF THE SHIP WHICH WILL BE IN VIEW MAY BE ROLLED ON DURING THE SHOW, AND THEN SECURED. THERE SHOULD BE A NEUTRAL AREA ONSTAGE TO ACCOMMODATE SCENES AT THE "ADMIRAL BENBOW INN," AND THE SEAPORT OF BRISTOL.THIS PLAY, FOR THE MOST PART, WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MEMORY OF BEN GUNN. AS HE RELATES WHAT HE REMEMBERS, THE VARIOUS LOCALES WILL COME TO LIFE."

 

 

Treasure Island