Fifteen men on a dead man's chest . . . okay, not really, but Robert Lewis Stevenson's Treasure Island does come to life each week at the Frazier International History Museum.
 
When the museum began creating the exhibit, "Pirates: Treasure and Treachery," the Historical Interpretations Department was asked to come up with some type of production. Barrett Cooper, Curator of Historical Interpretations (and Long John Silver in the play!), thought the obvious choice was Treasure Island. But how do you shrink a nearly 200-page book down to a 40 minute mini-play? 
 
Interpreter Jeremy White accepted the challenge, and began transforming the book into a play with only six actors to play nine separate speaking parts. Almost the entire Interpretations Department staff took on a part or two - or three! The biggest challenge was to figure out rehearsal times that would work for all six actors.
 
By the time March rolled around, all the parts had been assigned and the actors were ready to begin rehearsal. Professional set designers were hired to create sets that could easily be taken down and stored. A costume designer created clothing for each character. Because it was decided to fire real guns during fight sequences (WITHOUT the ammunition, of course!), all the actors were required to get certified in the use of old-fashioned, black powder firearms.  They had to complete a classroom section teaching them how to load and clean all the weapons they would use.  Now before each performance and under the watchful eye of a member of the museum's security staff, the actors carefully clean and load the weapons before wheeling them up to the roof, where "Treasure Island" is performed.
 
For any of you who have seen this interpretation, I think you'll agree all the effort was well worth it!