Buckle your swashes and shiver your timbers, because Treasure Island by the Children’s Theatre Company is a rollicking adventure on the high seas! The CTC brings this well-known tale to life in all its plundering glory, made livelier with original music performed live on stage. It’s a delightful show, but I need to share some tips based on my personal experience to help ensure an enjoyable experience for all.
Please pay attention to the age recommendation for this play, which is 8 and up. If you’re not sure, check out the helpful Audience Guide. This is an adventure tale with double-crosses, literal back-stabbing, and cold-blooded murder, not to mention loud noises and flashing lights. The cast of adult actors–with the exception of Jim Hawkins–are excellent in their roles, especially Reed Sigmund as Long John Silver, but this contributes to the more mature feel of the overall production. I made the assumption that, since the last few major adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story were Muppets and Disney cartoons, that this one would follow in the same child-friendly direction. It does not. We weren’t the only family to make this realization shortly through the first part of Act 1. Many kids were upset by the realistic fight scenes, and at least a handful had to make an early departure. If you are unsure whether your little ones will be able to handle treacherous scheming, definitely sit this one out. If they are emotionally ready for it, older kids and their parents are sure to be delighted in how well the CTC brings this classic coming-of-age tale to the stage.
Playing now through October 19, 2025 in Minneapolis. Tickets are available at https://childrenstheatre.org/shows-and-tickets/
Photo by Glen Stubbe Photography
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