The international children's theatre group, Missoula Children's Theatre, returned to Carlyle Elementary School for its fifth year, bringing along some fun and excitement for the children.
Setting up shop on Monday, Oct. 18, the Missoula staff of Christy Waymouth and Katie B. Jarvis conducted an open audition for a slightly revised version of the classic 'Treasure Island.'
Roles were found for every child who wanted to be a part of the production, and work began on training the students to perform the play within five days.
A gruelling experience for an actor is to learn lines, cues, and stage places in a short period of time, however thanks to the expert assistance of the Missoula representatives, the students were ready in time for their major dress rehearsal, which was performed on Friday, Oct. 22, in front of their fellow students in the CES gymnasium.
The story loosely followed that of the Robert Louis Stevenson's immortal masterpiece, 'Treasure Island,' but embraced a more friendly message overall.
More than 45 students from the school ended up taking part in the production, which featured a wonderful fabric set where the backgrounds, sewn together into curtains, allowed set changes to occur as easily as drawing the curtains at home.
The play featured many funny and catchy tunes, which had live musical accompaniment in the form of pianist Carroll Dyck, who played the piano throughout the play.
Songs like 'Service with a Smile' were easily catchy, and the jovial tune could be heard hummed from the lips of many during the play.
"Don't be rude, no attitude, just service with a smile!"
Along with the fantastic score written to go with the play, the characters themselves were enough to leave a grown audience to chuckle.
While some characters like Jim Hawkins (played by Ronald Allary) kept their original names, many other characters, like Captain Long John Silver, were given names meant to better suit a children's story (becoming Long Jane Silver in the captain's case.)
The pirates included such colourful characters as Davey the Letterman (played by Nathan Schmidt,) who only spoke in letters ("U B O K!" or "You be okay!" being an example,) and the most glamorous of all pirates, Goldie the Hun (played by Norma Shepherd.)
The story begins, much like the novel, looking at the life of young man Jim Hawkins.
Hawkins works within his mother's restaurant and dreams of adventures with which to test his mettle.
Hawkins' chance to do just that comes along when a mysterious stranger who comes into the restaurant scrawls upon the table cloth of his table a map.
Overseen and heard by the conniving character of Captain Long Jane Silver, Silver plots to lure Hawkins into an adventurous search for the location shown on the map.
But far from an act of charity or kindness, Silver plots with her collection of scallywags to steal whatever treasure it is they find by following the map, and to leave Hawkins destitute.
The story leads from the humble restaurant to Silver's ship the Jolly Rogers, and finally to a jungle-covered island deep in the ocean.
As the adventurers draw close to the location of the treasure, Hawkins becomes aware of Silver's less-than-honourable intentions, and the action on the stage transforms into a short bit of slap-stick comedy, harkening back to the days of Laurel and Hardy.
In the end, all parties involved realize the futility of the pursuit, and the thought that the value of friends outweighs the value of any treasure one might find in a chest.
The evening performance of 'Treasure Island' saw more than 160 spectators pack the gymnasium for the show.
Cast of Characters
Jim Hawkins - Ronald Allary
Pirates
Cap'n Patches - Madison Hourd
Davey the Letterman - Nathan Schmidt
Sing Sing Sam - Jenna McAuley
Goldie the Hun - Norma Shepherd
Rosie Red - Karli Colpitts
Whitey - Ethan Anderson
Big O' Blue - Delan Robertson
Jim Hawkins' Sisters
Jeannie - Sanchel Taypotat
Janie - Marissa Owens
Jennie - Brittany Rowe
Joanie - Kaelie Bouchard
Jinnie - Mercedes Sackman
Jan - Brooke Valentine
Cap'n Flint - Rese King
Mother Hawkins - Daysha Smith
Ruffians
Hope Robertson, Gracie Schutz, Sheredin Slykhuis
Villagers
Matthew Broughton, Tori Chapman, Sophia Clark, Sydney Flynn, Ashley Gilks, Kelsey Hollinger, Rylan King, Devin Loustel, Tynel Maxie, Kate Reiss, Katie Rowley, Alexis Thompson
Seagulls
Audrey Barath, Sydnie Bouchard, MaKenna Henry, Tatiana Joyea, Denae King, Rese King, Marissa Mason, Maddison Magotiaux, Carter Morrison, Darcie Rae, Taris Rae, Morgan Robertson, Halle Schultz, Kaysha Turner
Accompanist - Carroll Dyck
Long Jane Silver - Tour Actor/Director Christy Waymouth
Director - Tour Actor/Directors Katie B. Jarvis.
