Treasure Island
A pirate gets lost behind some bushes. Suddenly, his decapitated head is thrown on center stage. The cheap rubber head does not even resemble the pirate’s features or skin tone. There’s a short moment of disbelief in the audience, though maybe that’s just me, before laughter fills the theatre.
That fake head, which would fit perfectly in an ultra low budget Troma Entertainment movie, is a symbol of the best and worst in Bus Barn’s production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Treasure Island."
The production is very entertaining if somewhat cartoonish.
Hints at greater character complexity come through at some points in the play. But the two main characters, Boy-Scout-like Jim Hawkins (Annamarie MacLeod) and greedy, but ultimately decent, seafarer Long John Silver (Charles McKeithan) never manage to escape Flat Character Island.
Also, the sword fight scenes are a little too slow. But I’m really nitpicking at this point. The most important thing is that "Treasure Island" does not for a minute cease to be fun.
It gets away with being a bit predictable and one dimensional because, unlike more cerebral plays on stage right now, this production feels like good old theatre. It is a fun comedy that takes the audience to a world of treasure-seekers and explorers for a couple of hours.
The action takes place all over the stage on a set that creates a believable 18th century atmosphere with visual depth and varying points of focus.
Out of the 29 characters, frail, creepy and evil Blind Pew (Max Koknar) and hyperactive, loony, and good-hearted Ben Gunn (Chris Tann) stand out. Both actors create the kind of characters that, though minor, take the whole play to a higher level.
Treasure Island, continues through October 3 at the Red Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos, CA. For more information visit the Bus Barn Theatre website.
