Performance Tue Sep 22 2009

A Pirate's Life for Me

Lifeline Theater opened its 27th season Tuesday night with its adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Treasure Island is a fantastic story, and the Lifeline ensemble fills out the roles for each of the vibrant characters.

Treasure Island holds buried treasure, and everybody knows it. The road to get there is riddled with double-crossing pirates, greed and rum.

A treasure map falls into the hands of Jim Hawkins, an English boy played by Evanston Township High School freshman Warren Weber. After taking it to the proper authorities, Jim joins the adventure, led by investor Squire Trelawney (John Ferrick), Captain Smollett (Robert McClean) and the boy's unofficial guardian Dr. Livesey (Patrick Blashill).

Little do they realize that the crew guiding them along the journey is one of scallywags, led by none other than "Captain" Long John Silver himself.

Lifeline's adaptation of the novel is a good one. The story weaves several flashbacks and explanations of the treasure's origin through brief vignettes. Like any good pirate story, there are plenty of fight scenes and Lifeline executes in a fun and exciting way, complete with blood, gunshots and cannon explosions.

Actors seamlessly rotate in and out of characters, most playing three distinct roles. Sean Sinitski (Long John Silver) stands out in his performance of the fully Machiavellian and manipulative Long John Silver.

By the end you'll be talking pirate, yes ye will.

Treasure Island runs at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., until Nov. 1. It shows Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 4pm. Tickets range $25-$30. Call 773-761-4477.

— Margo O'Hara / Comments (0)