Treasure Island (1974)
Cast Details:
Jim Hawkins
Liz Sutton
Black Dog; Israel Hands
Cliff Palmer
Billy Bones; Dick
Tim Andrews
Blind Pew; Merry
Peter Airey
Anderson
Terry Pomroy
Harry; Gray
Sue Gunnell
Dr. Livesey
Rosemary Quinn
Squire Trelawney
Sarah Berwick
Redruth
Marina Foxlee
Long John Silver
Stephen Swinscoe
Morgan
John Morris
Captain Smollet
Lesley Argles
O’Brien; Tom
Tim Young
Benn Gunn
Keith Walton
Captain Flint – The Parrot
I.M. Stuffed
Technical Crew Details:
Director
Chris Argles
Stage Manager
Peter King
Lighting
Chris Garrett
Sound
Robert Harmes
Properties
Tim Young, Cliff Palmer, Geoff Shrub
Wardrobe
Chris Argles
Make Up
Rosemary Quin
Yo ho ho and all that jazz
By J. D. For The Croydon Advertiser, Friday December 13, 1974
Gunfights, sieges, mutiny at sea and treasure… what more could a vigorous young drama group ask for in the way of action?
Theatre Workshop – Coulsdon – a group of young people from a Further Education evening class – relished every moment of Bernard Miles’ verion of ‘Treasure Island’.
Producer/director Christopher Argles ensured that the play swung along at a merry pace, with scene changes carried out swiftly on the open stage to the accompaniment of sea shanties.
Long John Silver was his traditional swashbuckling self, portrayed by Stephen Swinscoe, complete with parrot on his shoulder, a crutch and his one leg. Cliff Palmer as Black Dog, and Peter Airey as Blind Pew, were both suitably cut-throat and the remainder of the pirate colleagues leaped around the stage sticking daggers into all and sundry.
The non-pirate parts are less colourful to play, but Liz Sutton made a good job of Jim Hawkins, and Rosemary Quin and Sarah Berwick played Dr Livesey and Squire Trelawney.
A plain black stage made an adaptable backdrop, whether for the tavern scenes, the storm at sea (which was most dramatic with the flaying ropes, sailors thrown about the deck and the flashing lightning) or for Treasure Island itself.