This was really dull. It was such a missed opportunity, no light and dark, no characters that achieved anything more than a local panto. And the band played over most of the narrators script so it was heard to hear. - Sarah Ross
13 Jan 09
Absolute rubbish, the most boring couple of hours Ive ever had to endure.
Spoilt a good Boxing day. - james mascari
27 Dec 08
Really good,as I wasn't expecting it to be since the reviews have not been great. A pleasant surprise, all the cast were excellent and very committed - we loved the climbing and hanging in the ropes and Keith Allen a suitably untrustworthy, but likeable pirate, played expertly with great professionalism. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a good time with Whatsonstage staff and fellow theatregoers, very well looked after, all in all a really good evening. I think people are so quick to criticise - not everything has to be Hairspray! The cast after were delightful, really genuine. Altogether: Thank you! - annet gardner
10 Dec 08
I truly enjoyed this production, especially because it wasn't a Panto but a straight forward play. Well, as straight forward as it can get with a bunch of grown men - and two women - playing pirates.
The stage setting looks amazing, is rather spartan but in a very artistic way which gives the audience just enough to let their imagination soar.
There are some outstanding performances which are even more impressive if you keep an eye out for the fantastic doble castings. Keith Allen finds the right balance between being harsh and likeable and you truly want him to be able to make it through to the end. Tony Bell doubles up as growly Billy Bones and later returns as the straight-laced Captain Smollet. John Lightbody is superb first as the frighening Blind Pew and - after what cannot have been more than a 40 second costume change - as Squire Trewlany, wonderfully camp and inept. Also, Paul Brennen as Black Dog and later Ben Gunn is a pleasure to watch.
This is not a show for small children. I would not recommend taking kids below the age of eight but for everyone else who loves the story of Treasure Island, this is the production to go to. - Renate Schmid
27 Nov 08
Potentially this a great re-working with some superb performances, great characters and real tensions set on an open adaptable set that leaves the audience "to work their imagination". But the proof of the pudding is in the performance and the whole things sags like sails on a still day, becalmed in its own befuddled bravura.
If there is a fault 'dear Brutus', it must lie with the director and the final choices that leave the audience wondering what they are watching, is it a play, a pastiche, a panto, or what! - At one stage' with Jim in front of the sails' you almost a songsheet to drop down! And why have the musicians dressed in formal evening wear - on stage at the back - is this meant to be Brechtian? Far better to have them as part of the crew - which would add more credence to everyone breaking out into song at odd times, especially as the tunes are folk based.
And as for the projections -why not stick to 19thc lantern slides -why have what looks like really scratched 16MM film looping round?
Where it really flags though is in the Jim Hawkins' narration between scenes, the boy looks too old and too bored, where is the sense of adventure?
But the acting on the whole is great and
there are some wonderful "stand-offs" with Keith Allen giving a terrific performance and a new twist to Long John Silver, a likeable rogue, maybe in the past "more sinned against than sinning" - DJ
27 Nov 08
Im suprised at the reviews. I went towards the end of the previews on Sat Mat and really enjoyed it. Agree with below, Ben Gunn is funny. Thought Keith Allen was good. All in all i came out singing about Rum so cant have been all bad,, - Katie Sherval
18 Nov 08
I saw it on the last Friday before press night and really didn't like it. I thought the performances on the whole were uninspiring, the pace sluggish, and the loud bangs painful. I was surprised by the number of people that seemed to really like it ( I haven't heard of anyone 'loving' it) as the audience on the whole seemed bored. - Change
18 Nov 08
Maybe this has really picked up since the previews the reviewers below saw, but we really enjoyed it. There are some great performances (Keith Allen is classy - understated and mercifully free of "oooh aarrhs" - and the Ben Gunn is hysterical). I'd recommend it, but just because it's Xmas soon don't expect a panto. It's a grown up play that you can take your kids to, rather than a kids show that's bearable for adults. - Darren Webster
18 Nov 08
Truly awful. A dreadful stage production of a wonderful story. I agree with the other reviewer that it was like watching a school play, but for me even Keith Allen couldn't save the night and we left during the interval. - Jane Smith
15 Nov 08
Admittedly, this was the second (preview) night, but even so,it was like watching a big budget school play and really boring from start to finish.
Keith Allen was the only saving Grace...and the only laughs came from the Ben Gunn character, a marooned pirate who wanted some cheese!
Verdict...Must try Harder. - John Walker
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