By Vantage Staff
If you like adventure, if you like pirates or if you want to see how a college-aged actress successfully portrays a 14-year-old boy, you’ll want to attend one of this weekend’s performances of “Treasure Island,” the latest production by Newman’s Theatre Department.
The show, which stars senior Catherine Madison as treasure-seeking teen Jim Hawkins, runs Friday through Sunday. It follows Hawkins as he heads off on an adventure to find buried treasure only to encounter a band of pirates also after the treasure, including the iconic character Long John Silver. The show is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Madison said the show is different from anything the department has done lately. It features a moveable, interchangeable three-piece set, which adds a level of difficulty for the actors.
“A lot of the practices have been working on when to change the set around,” she said. “They have to change all of the set while I'm doing my monologues, so it's a lot of pressure, making sure I have the correct lines and the correct spots so then they have enough time to do the stage changes that they need to.”
Madison said audiences will be impressed by fifth-year senior John Suffield’s portrayal of Long John Silver. Costume designer Christy Railsback has put together impressive costumes for the whole cast, and especially for Suffield.
Madison said she’s especially enjoyed working with the cast, many members of which are new to Newman productions.
“I love the cast because they’re all super excited to be there,” Madison said. “I love working with fellow cast members who are excited to do projects.”
Performances of “Treasure Island” happen at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the DeMattias Performance Hall. Admission is $15; $10 for seniors, members of the military and Newman faculty and staff; $5 for students; and free for Newman students.
Tickets are available at the door or online at onthestage.tickets/newman-university
Contributing: Victor Dixon of the Vantage
‘TREASURE ISLAND” CAST LIST
Jim Hawkins…Catherine Madison
Long John Silver…John Suffield
Captain Flint…Corbin Molina
Jemmy Rathbone…Steven Brown
George Merry…Austin Schwartz (Newman technical director)
Isiah Hands…Brenden Schwartz (Newman graduate)
Black Dog…Tony Ureno
Justice Death…Daniel Graber
Anne Bonney…Travia Smith
Ezekiel Hazard…Zeke Oberley
Job O’Brien…Ethan Mowery
Josiah Bland…Abigail Oberley
PHOTO: Courtesy photo, Newman Today
