REVIEW: Theater

Shiver me timbers!

It appears the adventure is just beginning for Marc Robin and Curt Dale Clark's oh-so-fabulous "Treasure Island."

Thursday's world premiere at the Fulton marked the start of a show that might just have the sea legs to take itself all the way to Broadway.

The Lancaster couple developed the music, book and lyrics over 11 years and then spared no expense mounting a show with absolute wow appeal.

It's all there: suspense, a pirate's curse, a massive sword fight, a foppish squire, a death by meat hook and perhaps the best collection of voices ever to converge on the Fulton stage.

Everything went right Thursday night, and it's a good thing. Robin, who directed the premiere, and Clark, who played the role of Dr. Livesey, aimed high, courting an impressive who's who list from the nation's theaters to check out the show during its Lancaster run.

Eleven years is a long time to get it right, but attention to detail made the difference in "Treasure Island: A Musical Adventure."

Every voice in the 18-man cast was not only solid, but also glorious, and when they put them together, they just about blew open the doors.

Starting with Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of mutiny on the high seas, Robin and Clark nicely captured the coming-of-age adventure of young Jim Hawkins, all the way from England to Treasure Island. Without diverting Hawkins' story into subplots, Robin and Clark's book is streamlined and maintains an exciting rapid-fire pace during the musical's 150 minutes.

Robin's music is just great. Some of the numbers have a hummable quality, particularly the swashbuckling "Mutiny," which stuck in my mind all through intermission after a reprise closed Act 1.

Though Robin and Clark might kill me for the comparison, "Treasure Island" has a Disney-esque quality to it, but I swear it's in a good way.

Not only is the show completely G-rated, it's decidedly upbeat, even in its most dire moments.

The well-developed characters have depth without being terribly complex, and are clearly motivated, even though the musical is relatively light fare.

Add in sprightly songs and solid craftsmanship, and I'd be surprised if anyone left the Fulton Thursday night feeling anything less than downright up.

It seems a shame to mention anyone in this cast without mentioning everyone.

But Thursday's audience was especially enamored of Dan Scott's fantastic performance as a charming Hawkins and veteran actor John Herrera's turn as Long John Silver. That's possibly because the show closes with their lovely duet, "Someday/Look at Me." Audiences might also catch actor Rick Desloge in the Hawkins role during the show's run, as he alternates the lead with Scott.

I also was wild about Dwelvan David's awesome singing voice in his dual role as Billy Bones and Job Anderson.

Robin said he promised Chicago actor Dale Benson's treatment of his dandy Squire Trelawney character would steal the show, and it just about did.

Before Thursday's opening, Robin and Clark credited the Fulton's in-house team for the quality that made the premiere sparkle.

And they were at the top of their game.

Robert Klingelhoefer, who frequently outdoes himself in his set designs, wowed again. These sets really shined — and continuously moved in one scene to give the illusion of marauding pirates searching the island for treasure.

When the curtain rose on Act 2, a delighted audience applauded Klingelhoefer's island jungle sets, which were enhanced by Paul Black's creative lighting effects.

Beth Dunkelberger's colorful costumes topped by Anthony Lascoskie Jr.'s wigs also were a delicious sight.

Fulton artistic director Michael D. Mitchell also deserves more than a nod, not only for offering Robin and Clark premiere space for a deserving world premiere, but also for nudging them along to greatness.

Lancaster isn't often the first place you get to see anything. Don't miss a little adventure on Treasure Island while it's in your backyard — getting there the next time might require a much longer trip.

"Treasure Island: A Musical Adventure" runs through March 22. To buy tickets, call 397-7425.

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com