BEACON FALLS — The Woodland Regional High School drama club will take the stage to tell a tale of pirates and swashbuckling that students in Region 16 know well.
The club will present two productions of “Treasure Island.” The show opens Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at Woodland. Those who miss the opening night, can catch the play Dec. 9 at the same time. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for high school students.
“Treasure Island,” which was originally a serialized novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson in the 1880s, is the book chosen for Region 16’s One Region, One Book initiative. The book is being read and taught at all grade levels in the region, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, through age-appropriate lessons.
In addition to reading the book, schools have held a number of events with “Treasure Island” themes, Woodland teacher and drama club director Sue Cinoman said
“It is like a whole pirate cavalcade we have done over the past month. This is kind of the culminating event,” said Cinoman about the play.
The play is an adaptation of the book, which means it does not follow the original story exactly. There are a number of jokes in the play that aren’t in the book, and the genders of some of the pirates have been switched to allow for more female characters, Cinoman said.
However, Cinoman is sure anyone who has read the book will enjoy the play.
“They will love it,” Cinoman said.
Senior Tina Vlamis, who plays the lead character Jim Hawkins, said the show has been challenging but is coming together well.
“It is definitely challenging because this is the first show we have done where 15 people are on stage at once and in every scene. But it is good because there is a lot of energy,” Vlamis said.
Cinoman said there are about 35 actors in the play and an additional 30 crew members.
“Everything is going real well,” said senior Amanda Neff, who plays Meg Trueblood. “The entire cast is having a blast putting it together.”
Trueblood said the play has something for everyone.
“Not only is it hilarious, but there are moments that tug on your heart,” she said.
The play also presents a challenge with a number of choreographed fight scenes.
“We have all the big fights we have to do choreographed and locked down. We are just cleaning it up now,” said junior Clark, who plays Billy Bones and George Merry, during a rehearsal this week.
Woodland senior and drama club President Gillian Farina, who plays Harry Flash, said anyone who comes to see the play will be pleasantly surprised.
“I don’t think they realize how funny it is,” Farina said.
