The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-02-22

Who hasn't read Treasure IslandT
And who hasn't sat all covered with
goose pimples when the pirates Normed
the stockade, or Long John Silver saved
the life OF Jim Hawkins from the band,
or when Jim cut loose the Hlspaniola,
leaving the buccaneers msrooned2 Doesn't
this bring II all back to you? And Ben
Gums cave, with Capt Flints treasure
piled high. and Capt Smollett, who
| couldn't be blufred. although he was out
numbered nineteen to six, and how Jim
Hawkins hid in the apple barrel on the
! boat and overheard the bandit crew
planning to get hold OF the treasure chart
and then silt the throsts" OF Squire
Trelawney and his men? You remember
| 1t now, don't you?
Well. then, you'll have the time Of your
life at the Belasco this week, where
Robert Louis Stevenson's story is en-
acted IN play form by a most capable
company. It's curious how II affects
| you-you just think you are kid again.
| You rebuild that old stockade OF bar
rels and boxes, and with one leg tied
up. as Long John, you lead the charge
you recall, you always were either Long
| John or Jim. The smaller kids were the
! ordinary pirates, or the defenders OF
| the stockade. The whole thing is de-
| lightfully real to you. Just as though
you read the story and lived it but yes
/
grew up and never read Treasure
Island" you'll enjoy 1t just as much
and will think you read 1t II you see the
play.
| It's hardly necessary to narrate what
happens II the story Is still clear IN your
minds. skip this paragraph. II It isn't,
here's Just enough to refresh your
memory. Bill Bones, captain OF Captain
Flint's" pirate crew, now a boarder at
the home Of Mrs Hawkins, Is handed the
black spot" signifying he has been de-
posed as leader. Rum and excitement
have brought him near to the brink,
and when he hears the band is coming
to get Flint's treasure chart, which out
lines the way to the vast buried treas
ure, he confides in Jim Hawkins where
he has hidden the chart, and then
shufIles of the mortal coil. Jim turns
the paper over to DIR. Livesey and Squire
Trelawney, and they secure a ship 10
seek the treasure. Through the clever
Vaccinations of Long John, Capt. Flint's
entire crew is hired for the cruise and
the trouble begins when the island is
reached. Jim overhears the pirates
. plans, is taken by them as a hostage
escapes, discovers the msrooned Der
Gum, former Flint pirate. who ha:
transferred the treasure to his cave, and
In fact, out-heroes all heroes. All of the
pirates but Long Jim are killed and the
rest live happily ever afterwards
George Fawcett. as Long John, does
one Of the best bits seen in Washington
| this season. Never in your fondes
dreams did you picture a more real pirate
leader. He'd as leave take life as take
a deep breath, he's foxy. cunning, cruel
and he's lovable. Just wait until yot
. see him, and you'n swear he really lives
, There's no need to tell wherein Fawcet
excels-he's just Long John. that's all
, Next in Importance comes Jim Hawkins
! as played by Ruth Vivian. It's a Difficult
part for a girl to do, but Miss Viviar
: handles herself well. One naturally ask!
why they didn't get a boy to be jim
Hawkins. but that would place the entire
action in the hands Of men, and tina
would never do. So. we're glad they haC
Miss Vivian do Jim. To take up the res
of the performers whose work demands
attention is to mention the cast. TheI
are all excellent. including Harry Had
field as DR.. Eivesey, John Trevor a.
|. Squire Trelawney. Harry Ingram as Bill
Bones. David Burton as Ben Gum. Geof
frey C. Stein as Black Dog, and Rub!
Hallier as Mrs. Hawkins.
The performance Is in four acts. witt
nine scenes and most of them are rea
3 scenes, too. The Quay at Bristol and tn
2 Hispaniola adrift are the most realisti
:, settings. while the second scenes of tn
third and fourth acts are excellent pic
5 lures.