Review by Avery Dall-Hilton, Front Row Reviewers
From my first moment stepping into the Angelus Theater, I was swept away into a world of swashbuckling pirates and high seas adventure at Cobb&Co’s Treasure Island—An Original Musical Adventure. Reviewing this show for Front Row Reviewerswas a true treasure as we enjoyed an evening of laughs, cheers, and even a few tears. Writer John Cobb does a smashing taking Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story, combined with innovative music by Karrol Cobb, clever writing, and a crew of talented performers and technicians to create a truly memorable show. Not only is the integrity of the original story maintained, but the author also brings out a strong thorough line about paternal figures and how they grow, change, and are lost, in the life of the main character, Jim Hawkins. I was so impressed to see the care and meticulous detail put in to making this adaptation.
The production itself is charming and engaging as we follow Hawkins and his adoptive father journey on a ship of pirates to uncover a long lost treasure on a faraway island. Jim is portrayed by Elias Fenn who’s clear and lovely voice absolutely knocks every song out of the park. His co-star, the scheming yet lovable pirate Long-John Silver is brought to life by John Cobb. This iconic character could not have been captured any better as he leaves the audience both charmed and uneasy while we decide whether to trust him. His big personality and salty attitude are countered by the kind and somewhat bumbling Dr. John Livesy, played by Parker Brook. Brook does a fabulous job connecting with the audience while trying desperately to connect to Jim; his vocals are strong and by the end we come to truly care for the doctor and his plight.
I also have to mention two remarkable supporting characters, Elizabeth Hawkins (Chelsea Tramell) and Ben Gunn (Carter Reading). Tramell does an excellent job of giving tension and building stakes while also bringing plenty of comedy as she does it. Reading is an absolute showstopper from his first appearance as the starved and wacky islander.
Backing up the main cast are some wickedly talented pirates. I was so impressed with Jenna Rhodes (Pirate O’Brian) who takes on a difficult singing role and nails it with grace and power. Jackson Harper (George Mary) and Chris Valenzuela (Israel Hands) are also incredibly strong as they not only sing and dance well, but also take on difficult accents that truly bring their characters to life.
Of course, what are pirates without their ship? In this case, the ship was designed and constructed by set designer Garion Jorgensen, whose design is brilliant as it allows for the cast/crew to do very little to change it to an entirely new location. Lighting, sound, and prop designers (Nathan Nordin, Gabi Pack, Chelsea Tramell) also collaborate well together to create a marvelous ambiance for the adventure to take place. The tech crew should be commended for running a truly flawless show that saw almost no technical hiccups whatsoever (Ruthie Cobb stage manager, Haze Nielsen assistant stage manager, Bonnie Leslie sound tech, Galen Ashworth spot operator, as well as the floor/production crew!)
One of my favorite musical numbers was the “Curse O’ The One Legged Man”. The cast brings so much great energy, and the choreography is particularly entertaining. Choreographer Rebecca Cobb does a great job throughout the show of creating fun and diverse dancing to the performance. Fight choreographer Devin Tanner also added a lot to the show, making the pirates and sailors look their very best as they fought against each other. Making sure everyone look their best in stunning costumes was costume designer Erin Cobb, and hair and makeup designer Liney Seiter who brought a plethora of colorful pirate apparel and specialized looks.
Overall, performers, crew, writers, and director Tiffany Davis, should be very proud of the production they’ve created. If you want to support local theatre creators or just want to go on an adventure from the comfort of your seat, go see Cobb & Co’s Treasure Island—A Musical Adventure at the Angelus Theatre this August.
Cobb&Co Theater Productions presents Treasure Island—An Original Musical Adventure by John Cobb (book/lyrics), and Karrol Cobb (music), Kregg Mowrey (Orchestration), based on the book and characters of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Angelus Theater, 165 N Main St. Spanish Fork, UT 84660
August 11-26, Monday, Friday-Saturday 2023 7:00 PM
Tickets: $18 (discounts available)
Cobb&Co Theater Productions Facebook
Photos provided by the reviewer and the production company.
Audiences are advised that this show contains instances of theatrical violence (guns, swords, fist fights), though this is a family friendly production.
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