By Alayna Een
Yo-ho! Join Cobb&Co. to see an original musical version of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic adventure story Treasure Island, setting sail at the Angelus Theatre in Spanish Fork, UT. The central character, a young boy named Jim Hawkins, lives in a seaside pub with his widowed mother and is always enthralled by the seafaring tales of the pub’s wildest patrons. Jim’s mother, Elizabeth Hawkins, discourages Jim’s fascination with pirate-like adventure and hopes to win his approval of her suitor, Dr. John Livesy. When the boisterous Captain Billy Bones entrusts Jim with the location of a great pirate treasure and then suddenly dies, Jim and company gather a crew to find the treasure. Jim instantly connects with the ship’s cook, Long John Silver, who is more than he seems, and the adventure unfolds with mutiny, manhunts, and more.
With many familiar and some reimagined characters, Cobb&Co.’s Treasure Island is a fun and family-friendly musical adventure. John Cobb’s writing adds heart to the story, particularly in his crafting of the Dr. John Livesy character, and adds depth to this tale of the high seas. The music (composed by Karrol Cobb, orchestrated by Kregg Mowrey, and directed by Alyssa Garn) brings the adventure to life with some tunes that will stick in your head. Director Ruthie Cobb runs a tight and talented ship. The set and props (Karine Tolman) are versatile and fitting, and I especially liked the impossibly long rope that sets a scene and then becomes part of the choreography. The costumes, from the spick-and-span officers to the unruly pirates, are rich and colorful, thanks to designer Erin Cobb. This action-packed play is brilliantly choreographed by Chris Valenzuela and Hannah Jordan (dance) and Jade Higley (fight), as the actors alternate between swashbuckling and sashaying as the scene dictates. And speaking of dictates, I was especially impressed by how the cast committed and stuck to their accents—pirate, proper, or otherwise—thanks no doubt to the help of dialect coach Hannah Tolman.
The cast was great, with each ensemble member pulling extra weight to make the show work. The pirates (Nate Worlton, Steve Whitehead, Christian Hansen, Chris Valenzuela, Grace Clark, Taylor Hyde) were loud, threatening, and convincing, with standouts Tommy Brown (Captain Billy Bones/George Merry) and Parker Brook (Israel Hands). John Cobb’s Long John Silver is phenomenal, with a captivating energy that fills the stage every time he limps across it—and he handles the tender, conflicted moments with the same fervor. His character commitment extends past the final scene (turned toward treasure) and bows and through the final moment in the theater. Jade Higley meets us first as the mysterious blind pirate Pew, but his most interesting role is as Ben Gunn, the marooned, mostly mad, and occasionally cannibalistic island spirit. He switches between the Smeagol-like sufferer and the fork-wielding comedian aspects of the character very well.
The non-pirate crew members are excellent as well, with formal and faultless Captain James Smollet (Joshua Yuen) contrasting with Matthew Delafuente’s fumbling Trelawney. I’ve seen Delafuente in several shows at the Angelus Theatre, and he always does well, but this role seems made for him, with an excellent mix of pride, pouts, and panics to offset his sudden bout of heroics at the end.
Hannah Hacking Brown holds her own as Elizabeth Hawkins (occasionally as a one-woman show) against pirates, thieves, and the adventure-seeking men in her life. And Ryan Tolman’s bumbling but sincere Dr. John Livesy is a huge highlight of the show due to his great vocal command in his solos and his earnest determination to befriend Jim amid Silver-streaked setbacks. Jim Hawkins is played by Jackson Harper, a talented youngster who absolutely embodies the role. His interactions with Long John Silver and Ryan Tolman are honest and believable, and he handles the high singing and acting demands well.
I was impressed by the polish of this show and the talent of the cast, coming from a family-owned company in Treasure Island’s second-ever run. With standout dance numbers (“Come Sinbad”), rowdy pirate anthems (“Lubber O’Land”), and sincere soliloquies (“Just One Miracle”), there’s something for everyone. It turns out that Cobb&Co.’s Treasure Island truly is, like the riches it tells of, a hidden gem of local musical theater. So bring your family and friends—adventure awaits you at the Angelus Theatre in Spanish Fork, UT.
Cobb&Co. Theater Presents Treasure Island
Written By John Cobb, Composed by Karrol Cobb, Orchestrated by Kregg Mowrey
The Angelus Theatre, 165 N Main St, Spanish Fork, UT, 84660
Tickets: $18 (use code cobbco for 20% off)
July 22 to August 6, 2022, 7:30 PM
Cobb&Co. Theater website
Treasure Island Digital Program
Cobb&Co. Theater Facebook Page
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