As someone in their early 60s I have to admit that it's been a long time since I read Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel Treasure Island about pirates and buried treasure, so when I heard that the Ottawa School of Theatre's all ages class was going to stage their own adaptation of the story I was intrigued.
When I actually saw the play on April 19, my intrigue was replaced by total joy. The cast was nothing short of brilliant. They were funny. They delivered their lines impeccably. And they showed absolutely no fear.
I especially liked the trio of ensemble numbers they performed including "Mermaids" by the Gothard Sisters and "Skull & Bones" by Home Free, both of whom granted their special permission for the songs to be used.
But the star of the show for me was Amanda Putz who played Long Joan Silver. That's right, instead of Long John Silver, they had Long Joan Silver. Shiver me timbers. I'm not sure what Robert Louis would think of that littile switcharoo, but Putz was amazing.
The play was filled with sea creatures, mermaids and, of course, pirates. In fact, there were 50 cast members in total, all of whom had an integral part in the play, which is testament to the job done by director Megan Piercey Monafu who was blessed by the sheer wizardy of Gerry Clement, the man responsible for the design and contruction of the set, including a 20-foot pirate ship made entirely of cardboard. Brilliant.
The play was also aided by the presence of fiddler Mathieu Carrigan who accompanied the musical numbers with reels and jigs that had everyone in the Richcraft Theatre tapping out their own accompaniment with their feet.
Other musical acoompaniment was provided by Tim Edwards, Kyle Noyes, Gemma Noyes and max Turiff.
In the end, Treasure Island was one of the best OST all ages productions that I can remember. Kudos to the entire cast and crew for putting on such a wonderfully entertaining show.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
CUMBERLAND FARMERS’ MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with a variety of local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION
VINTAGE CAR EXPERIENCE from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum in Cumberland Village. Explore the rapid design and mechanical advancements made during the earliest years of the automotive era. Cost: Adult - $9.42; Senior (ages 65 and up) - $6.65; Student (valid full-time student ID required) - $6.65; Youth (ages 6 to 17) - $6.65; Child (ages 5 and under) - Free; Family (Up to two adults, and accompanying children, all living in the same household) - $23.83.
