Come Together, Right Now, at Fargo South

By Jennifer Storm
Contributing Writer

Ahoy mates, get yer sea legs on! Fargo South drama department presents “Treasure Island.” Their rendition of this high seas adventure is sure to spark your inner pirate in the true spirit of the pillaging buccaneers.

From the beginning of the show, Captain Flint (Cora Joe Anderson) captivates the crowd with her clenched teeth, snarling rendition of the character. Although Anderson’s character dies within the first scene, she sets the stage for an energetic performance by the rest of the cast.

The show segues easily from scene to scene, leaving audience members eager for more. Jim Hawkins, played by Roxana Karami, embarks upon a voyage to find the treasure, using the map Billy Bones (Alex Gudding) gave to him before he dies. However, when the newly hired cook Long John Silver (Jake Hundley) is discovered to be a pirate along with the rest of the crew, Hawkins is forced to confront his friendship with Silver.

The relationship between Silver and Hawkins is one that the actresses articulate with finesse. They show the struggle between Silver and Hawkins which is pronounced by Silver’s fatherly protection of Hawkins yet clouded by Hawkins’s wariness of Silver when he discovers he is a pirate.

The elaborate set is one of the highlights of the show, the product of hours upon hours of volunteer construction. The set scenes contribute to the originality of the show.  The first act set scene, the pirate ship, extends across the entire expanse of the stage.

The second act scene was handmade by the technical crew and actors every weekend leading up to the show. “I think I put more time into tech than anything else, each branch on the palm tree was individually made, each one took about an hour and a half,” said Hunter Simonson, who plays Ben Gunn, a former shipmate of Silver’s who has been marooned on Treasure Island.

The creation of the show is something the actors and actresses have taken very seriously. From character development to polishing sword-fighting techniques, students have dedicated themselves to understanding their characters, said Jacky Arness, who plays pirate Anne Bonnie. “I usually start creating a character through physicalities— different voice inflections, mannerisms that may have been common during the time period. I try to focus on one thing at a time, because if you take on too much at a time, it’s much less realistic.”

The show was not without a few bumps in the road. Connor Linerooth had originally been cast as Jim Hawkins, but illness two days before opening night called for quick action. Roxana Karami, student director’s assistant, was able to fill in at the last minute.

“It’s all coming together,” said Karami.

[Enter from the 17th Ave side, parking lot on the south side of campus. The theatre is just inside the main entrance, on the left.]

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If You Go

What: Treasure Island
Where: Fargo South High Theatre
When: Thurs-Sat, Feb 18-20, 7:30 pm; Sun, Feb 21, 2 pm
How Much: $4, $5, $6