Review: Treasure Island, Bristol Old Vic – ‘Audience members aged seven to 70 yo ho hoed to their hearts’ content’

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale arrives in Bristol for a two-week run in the main auditorium of the Bristol Old Vic, courtesy of the ‘Le Navet Bete’ theatre company. ‘Le Navet Bete’ is best translated as ‘the Stupid Beast’, and perhaps it is this as well as the show being advertised as suitable for everyone over the age of seven that tells you all you need to know.

This is very much a family show, performed with great panache by a cast of only four who slip into multiple characters. Expect songs, slapstick humour, groan-inducing puns and a heavy dash of good old fashioned gender and cross dressing. A panto, in other words, but not quite.

For a start it is performed at the start of the summer school holidays and although it delivers a feast of laugh out loud moments as well as a small dose of audience participation, along with a strong narrative, it does lack a little warmth. There is no one to particularly root for or to hiss, and at times it teeters on the edge of being a farce than a pure kids show.

Treasure Island, Le Navet Bete – photo: Mark Dawson

We are introduced to the usual host of characters, Blind Pugh, Billy Bones and young Jack Hawkins in the Admiral Benbow pub. The black spot appears, but strangely there is no reference made to the Llandoger Trow, the inspiration for the Admiral Benbow, despite it only being crow’s nest away.

Along comes Long John Silver, with only a cursory reference to his wooden leg. There is no hopping about here, although the plot does take a few jolting steps by way of a game of ‘Play your Cards Right’ until we finally set sail for the island itself.

Treasure Island, Le Navet Bete – photo: Mark Dawson

The first half is rather predictable with some corny gags and the odd innovation, the most successful of which is the parrot Alexa (found in the Amazon), which sets about finding misheard orders.

Nick Bunt plays young Jim with an easy charm and Al Dunn does well as the flashing smiley Long John, but Matt Freeman often steals scenes as one of the most unusual mermaids you will ever see, as well as a camp John Paul Gaultier-inspired shipmate.

Treasure Island, Le Navet Bete – photo: Mark Dawson

The second half certainly ramps up the more anarchic elements, with a great underwater scene reminiscent of Finding Nemo and some accidental-on-purpose set disasters. It isn’t quite The Play that Went Wrong, but it sometimes borders on it. The four performers, including Simon Burbage as a slightly sinister Captain Birdseye enjoy the carnage almost as much as the young audience.

Character transition is seamless and the sturdy set, designed by Fi Russell, is versatile enough to get us from the pub to the ship to various parts of the island. Matt Freeman’s Ben Gunn takes the biscuit, even if he still can’t find cheese to eat with it; think of a cross between Dallas Buyers Club and Roman Roy from Succession.

Treasure Island, Le Navet Bete – photo: Mark Dawson

In general, the songs lack the wit and humour of the rest of the dialogue and this isn’t helped by the sound quality making them hard to hear.

Director John Nicholson co-wrote the show with the company, and they steal with pride from classic riffs including the Abbot and Costello ‘Who’s on first’ routine.

Ultimately there is a message for this original coming of age story which demonstrates that sometimes it is the journey rather than the destination which holds the treasure. And raucous cheers rang out at the finale as audience members aged seven to 70 yo ho hoed to their hearts’ content.

Treasure Island (age recommendation 7+) is at Bristol Old Vic from July 19-30 at 7pm, with additonal 2pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday (no shows Sunday and Monday). Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

Main photo: Mark Dawson

Read more: Review: Catastrophe Bay, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A striking, rip-roaring tale’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: