Treasure Island, The Musical – Audition Booklet Musical synopsis Treasure Island, The Musical is a brand-­‐new musical adaptation of Stevenson’s beloved classic that explores man’s yearning for ‘more’ and the ramifications of escalating greed. This modern take on the classic coming-­‐of-­‐age tale steers a young boy directly into the winds of adventure in pursuit of an infamous, yet timeless, treasure. Through the eyes of innocence, Treasure Island, The Musical re-­‐examines the essence of heroism, the journey to maturity and the strength of the human spirit in the face of extreme conditions. This production is a special once-­‐off endeavor as a TAS community project that should see our students performing and working alongside Old Boys, Staff, and Parents. Increasing the significance of the project is that fact that this will be the worldwide amateur premiere of the show and an updated version of the script from its premiere in Arkansas. Character synopsis MOTHER MARY HAWKINS: Female, recent widow; strong, opinionated, kind and loving but worn with the work and responsibility of her life. Runs the Inn after recent death of her husband. Tough but loving with Jim. Intolerant of Billy Bones and not afraid to stand up to anyone. (Mezzo with belt.) LONG JOHN SILVER: Male, the ship’s cook, charismatic, a cunning manipulator; a brilliant chameleon. As much loving caretaker, as detached serial killer. He is agile and commanding despite his wooden leg. Captain Flint’s quartermaster at one time. An ironic father figure to Jim. Navigates his wide emotional range with prowess and unpredictability. A man of many colors – all of them charming, none of them trustworthy. (Baritone.) SQUIRE JOHN TRELAWNEY: Male, local nobleman and wealthy benefactor of the journey; energetic, pompous, arrogant, upright, but lacking discretion. An excellent marksman, but an all around blowhard. (Tenor to A flat.) DOCTOR DAVID LIVESEY: Male, ship’s doctor. Steadfast, courageous, perceptive, loyal. A protector to Jim and his mother. (Baritone to F sharp.) BEN GUNN: Male, crazy, wild, unpredictable; the sole human inhabitant of Skeleton Island. Comedically schizophrenic and erratic. Excellent physical comedian. (Tenor to C.) CAPTAIN ALEXANDER SMOLLETT, Male, the strict, steady, capable Captain of the Hispaniola; authority figure, moral, honorable and stoic. (Baritone to F.) PIRATES/OTHER CHARACTERS: Billy Bones (Baritone), George Merry (Baritone), Abraham Gray (High Baritone), Dick (Tenor to A), Job Anderson (Tenor to C), Pew (Tenor to C), O'Brien (Tenor to C), Israel Hands (Baritone/Bass to Low F), Black Dog (Baritone/Bass) For the audition you are asked to prepare one of the Character Audition Pieces and one of the Song Audition Pieces that suits your vocal range. Auditions are Saturday 21st February, 10:00am – 4pm. To book an audition go to the Treasure Island, The Musical page on the Hoskins Centre website and book an audition slot using the GoogleDoc page. Any questions or issues with auditions can be directed to Andrew O'Connell or emailed to [email protected] A lot more information on the production can be found at the Musical’s own promotional website, which includes some video, stills and song samples. To get a really good sense of the show go to http://www.treasureislandthemusical.com. I look forward to seeing you all this Saturday. Regards, Andrew O’Connell CHARACTER AUDITION PIECE 1 -­‐ SILVER [SILVER is meeting Doctor Livesey (who was just asking about SILVER’s leg) for the first time after being hired by TRELAWNEY and is subtly attempting to impress with exciting tales.] SILVER – lost in service to my country, under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke! TRELAWNEY Ah, Mr. Silver! Good afternoon! And how very admirable! SILVER Right you are Cap’n Trelawney. (to Doctor Livesey) Long John Silver, sir – at your service. LIVESEY Long John – I hope you don’t think I was – SILVER Pleased to meet ye, Doctor. Before this here timber, I sailed for King George. On two mighty legs, I might add. I weren’t no ordinary man before the mast – and you may lay to that. One day – it were during the Battle of Cape Finisterre – we took a broadside o’ cannon shot and down I went. Remember it like it were yesterday. Smoke fillin’ the sky, cries o’ men deafening to the ear, blood thick under heel and the sea a ragin’ force. And me own leg, I can see it still – there it were – hangin’ by a few shreds. But mark my words, Doctor Livesey – sir – I never felt a thing. It were a master surgeon that ampytated me – out o’ college and all! Latin by the bucket – just like you! CHARACTER AUDITION PIECE 2 -­‐ BONES [BONES, an old well-­‐travelled sailor is speaking to JIM about his adventures on the sea (and greedily drinking his rum at the same time)] BONES Rum, Jim! (JIM quickly brings BONES a bottle of rum. HE hands JIM the spyglass) JIM Thank you, Captain. BONES Look to the west – there’s a swell risin’. JIM A storm? BONES (haunted) There’s evil in that wind, I tell you... JIM (Making sure MOTHER is not near) Captain, have you ever seen Port Royale? BONES The wickedest port there ever were... JIM What about Madagascar? Have you seen Madagascar? BONES (softening) Aye, mate. It’s a paradise. JIM I've read stories about it – BONES She’s rich with silks and spices and jewels...and, Jim, the sweetest fruit you’ll ever taste. You have a liking for the sea, don’tcha, laddie? CHARACTER AUDITON PIECE 3 – TRELAWNEY or LIVESEY [LIVESEY and TRELAWNEY have discovered a chest belonging to the deceased Billy Bones. They are discussing Captain Flint, a name BONES mentioned to JIM before he died] LIVESEY I’ve heard of that Captain Flint. The blood-­‐thirstiest buccaneer that ever lived. TRELAWNEY Blackbeard was a child compared to Flint! When I sailed for His Majesty, I heard stories of the bugger’s wickedness. The wind turned foul whenever he was near. LIVESEY (Reading through the pile of documents in the chest) Not much instruction here. A series of entries... It seems this record lasts over twenty years. I can make neither head nor tail of this – TRELAWNEY This is clear as noonday – to a seafarin’ man! This is Flint’s account book! These crosses stand for names of ships they sank or towns they plundered. LIVESEY It’s a map of an island! TRELAWNEY Livesey – suppose we have here a clue as to where that black-­‐hearted hound buried his treasure? LIVESEY Think of the riches, think of the treasure! To be safe squire, these items must be kept strictly confidential. TRELAWNEY “Sealed orders.” Tomorrow I am off for Bristol. In three weeks, no – two weeks, no – ten days – we’ll have a fancy ship and the finest crew in England! You are ship’s doctor. Hawkins will come as cabin boy. And – I – am Admiral! CHARACTER AUDITION PIECE 4 -­‐ BEN GUNN [BEN GUNN has just stumbled upon Jim on his island – the first human he’s seen in three years.] JIM I don’t have cheese. (BEN GUNN droops). You’ve been here three years? BEN GUNN Three. Ahh, many’s the night’s I dreamed of home ... only to woke again and here I were. Say, what brings you here, boy? JIM A terrible predicament. Were you shipwrecked, Mr. Gunn? BEN GUNN Nay, mate. Marooned. Through light and dark and fair and rain, here I been. (suddenly, BEN GUNN begins making bird noises) Oot! Oot! What do you call yourself, mate? JIM Jim. BEN GUNN JimJimJimJimJimmmm – you wouldn’t think I ever had a pious mother, now would ya? JIM (looking GUNN up and down) Not by the looks of you. BEN GUNN Where’s yer ship? JIM She’s anchored on the other side of those hills. BEN GUNN (suspiciously) Who’s yer Cap’n? JIM (hesitantly) Captain Smollett. BEN GUNN Is this Smollett honorable? JIM I suppose. BEN GUNN Would yer Cap’n help Ben Gunn... for the toon of, say, one thousand pounds? JIM A thousand pounds? BEN GUNN (shrewdly) And a passage home? JIM I am sure he would – if we survive this predicament. BEN GUNN (HE proceeds with confidence) Ah, JimJim, you'll bless your lucky stars, you will, you was the first that found me! JIM I will? BEN GUNN Can ye hold a secret, me dear boy? JIM Yes, Mr. Gunn. BEN GUNN (BEN GUNN looks around and whispers something into JIM’S ear) JIM Flint’s treasure? (BEN GUNN screams in fear) AUDITION PIECE 5 – SMOLLETT [SMOLLETT, newly-­‐hired captain of the ship, has just confronted TRELAWNEY about the rumour they are after treasure] TRELAWNEY Is there a problem, Captain? SMOLLETT Let me speak plain. I do not like this cruise; I do not like the look of these men; and I do not like my officer. That’s the short and sweet of it. TRELAWNEY (hugely insulted and immediately defensive) Well I never! Perhaps you should have hired them yourself. SMOLLETT I would have welcomed the opportunity. TRELAWNEY Then you do not like my ship, sir? SMOLLETT On the contrary, Squire. She’s a clever craft. TRELAWNEY Then you must not like your employer? LIVESEY Stay a bit, stay a bit. Captain, you say you do not like this cruise, now why is that? SMOLLETT First, I overhear that we are going after treasure. Next, I learn you have a map of an island. TRELAWNEY I beg your pardon, sir – SMOLLETT (interrupting sharply) With crosses on it to show where treasure lies. TRELAWNEY (very defensively) I never told that! Never! SMOLLETT The hands know it, sir. Every man before the mast knows more than I. Now I do not call that fair, do you? LIVESEY No, I do not. (to TRELAWNEY) “Sealed orders.” (to SMOLLETT) There has been far too much babbling already. SMOLLETT You will find I do my duty. I ask only that this map be kept a secret. Treasure voyages are tricky work. (SMOLLETT walks away) CHARACTER AUDITION PIECE 6 -­‐ MOTHER [Jim’s MOTHER is the sole manager of a struggling Inn, a duty that has fallen to her after the death of her husband. She is haranguing BONES, a drunken sailor who is behind on his rent and has befriended her son JIM.] MOTHER Ahh... Mr. Bones – another day doused in the drink – and you haven’t paid a single farthing for your lodging! (calling after BONES) Shall I add this to your account? Wretched leech. (BONES exits. To JIM) Jim, don’t dawdle. There’s work to be done and no time for your daydreaming. You’ve got to put these thoughts of sailing the seas and piracy out of your mind when the rooms are yet to be cleaned. JIM But mum… MOTHER Go to! (JIM leaves) Oh, how I’ll miss you if you leave. I see in you your father’s eyes. His strong yet gentle will. If… when you leave, know it’s not the destination so much as the journey that matters more. As you seek adventure and travel far and wide I just hope you’ll listen to that voice within. Let it be your guide. SINGING AUDITION PIECE 1 – SILVER ‘I Never Seen Good’ SINGING AUDITION PIECE 2 – LIVESEY AND TRELAWNEY ‘Soon to be Rich’ SINGING AUDITION PIECE 3 – BEN GUNN ‘Ben Gunn’ SINGING AUDITION PIECE 4 – DICK ‘Murderers and Dogs’ SINGING AUDITION PIECE 4 – MOTHER ‘Sail’