SLIDESHOW: Set Sail To Treasure Island This Weekend

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Set sail to Treasure Island with the Framingham High School Drama Company this weekend.

The drama company will stage two shows of the classic tale on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Director Stephanie Henry wanted to create an “authentic vision” of the swashbuckling tale of pirates on stage at Framingham High.

There are 50 students on stage and more than 100 students involved in the cast and crew.

Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island focuses on the relationship of a young boy Jim Hawkins and the pirate Long John Silver. First published in 1883, it is a morality play full of adventure.

Freshman Natalia Buitta was cast in the lead role of Jim Hawkins. She is one of several freshman on stage in this production.

Senior Benny Williams portrays Silver, an unscrupulous buccaneer-rogue, who shows a merciful side when it comes to the Hawkins family, all while searching for buried treasure.

“Stevenson wrote the story for his friend. His goal was to entertain,” said Henry. “Our goal is the same. We want our storytellers to entertain the audience and take them back to the swashbuckling era of pirates and treasure.”

Senior Jamey Miller portrays Hawkins years later and is the storyteller leading the play for the audience.

The show is a feast for the eyes. The costumes are beautiful, and the set is enormous and powerful.

Henry said her goal is always to “cast the right kids in the right parts,” regardless if they are a senior or a freshman. Williams, although a senior, is “fairly new to the drama company,” said Henry.

She said having several freshman in major roles was not an issue, now that all three public middle schools have a full drama program.

“Just the one year of drama in the classroom has made a huge difference,” said Henry. “They are better trained. I don’t have to teach everything to them. They come to the production with knowledge.”

One thing Henry did have to work on with the cast is the Southern England accent.

The accent is “another layer of the character they portray,” said Henry. ”Our goal with every production is to teach as well as to entertain.”

Treasure maps, one-legged pirates with parrots on their shoulders, and treasure maps, were all the vision of Stevenson and they all can be found in this Framingham production.

And then, there are the large fight scenes.

“I really wanted to teach this year’s seniors something they haven’t seen in previous productions; and this play allowed the cast to learn stage combat,” explained Henry.

Assisting Henry in bringing the pirate’s tale to life is junior Jordana Kagan, who typically is seen on stage for Framingham High plays and musicals. This time she took on the role of assistant director.

“She has been spectacular,” said Henry.

Kagan, directed several scenes by herself for the production, said Henry.

“She brings her knowledge as an actor to her new role. She is a great, quiet leader, who articulates her vision well to the cast,” said Henry.

Tickets are still available online at www.showtix4u.com for $12 each.

They will be $15 at the door.