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Pirate show lacking
sea-legs
REVIEW: TREASURE ISLAND
Theatre Royal Haymarket
THE indomitable Allen clan is probably better known these days for their younger ambassadors, pop-star Lily and Alfie the actor. But while the kids savour their salad days, what about gravel-throated father Keith, whose lettuce has been a little limp of late?
Allen senior’s return to the limelight is on one leg and a crutch, with grizzled beard and mechanical parrot accoutrements, as the infamous pirate Long John Silver in Ken Ludwig’s new adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson swashbuckler, Treasure Island.
On paper, it’s the perfect vehicle for Allen; a man whose fame has always been predicated as much by his hell-raising as by his film and TV credits.
He and the charming rogue Silver appear kindred spirits.
In performance, however, the anarchy and rebel-rousing are in short supply aboard the good ship Hispaniola.
Allen has personality, certainly, but his Silver is more sincere than timber-shivering, as if he’s saving the bedlam for the Groucho Club after-party once the kids have gone to bed.
Likewise, director Sean Holmes can’t seem to decide whether the tale of naïve Jim Hawkins’ search for buried treasure should be antic or sophisticated; for every naff synthesizer sea-shanty or clunking sound-effect there’s an earnestly recited Shakespeare quotation lurking around the corner.
As we all know, pirates just love their Shakespeare.
For all its black spots, Treasure Island is far from sunk. Lizzie Clachan’s set is perfect swash-buckling terrain; John Lightbody hams it up well as the pompous Squire Trelawney; and the pirates, the gentlemen and women of fortune are suitably motley (special mention must go to one buccaneer forced to make the line “You like cheese, do ya?” sound murderously evil.)
With greater willingness to send itself up, livelier audiences and a soupçon more villainy, Treasure Island could be a fine West End show.
For the moment though, it’s still finding its sea-legs.
Booking until
February 28
0870 901 3356 |
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