Set sail for “Treasure Island” at Theatricum Botanicum

Thrilling escapades, sword fighting, high spirits on the high seas, and heroic exploits! Robert Louis Stevenson’s rollicking “boy’s own adventure” story Treasure Island comes to the outdoor stage at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, where the rustic beauty of Topanga Canyon effortlessly transforms into the wooded island of the title and the vast expanse of an imagined ocean voyage.

This family-friendly stage adaption is now playing in repertory, and performances continue through October 3, 2026.

Few novels have shaped our collective image of pirates as indelibly as Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure novel Treasure Island. Terrifying pirates with peg legs, passionate quests for buried treasure, mutiny on the high seas, and the magnetic menace of villainous brigand Long John Silver all trace their lineage to the Scottish novelist’s historical tale. Originally titled The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys, Stevenson’s action-packed story was first published in 1883. Set in the mid-18th century, and journeying from Bristol, England, aboard The Hispaniola, to a mysterious island in the Caribbean, it relates the thrilling exploits of young Jim Hawkins who gets swept up into the world of “buccaneers and buried gold.”

With her new stage adaptation, Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer embraces the novel’s spirit of excitement and discovery while uncovering the deeper coming-of-age story at its heart. Although Stevenson never states his exact age, the central character of Jim Hawkins is generally understood to be a naïve and eager boy about 12 to 15 years old. We stick with Jim as he embarks on a transformative journey that tests his courage and moral judgment. Importantly, Jim represents a young person standing at the threshold between innocence and experience, learning who to trust in a world full of conflicting role models, especially the duplicitous Long John Silver.

Tested at every turn, young Jim Hawkins (played by newcomer Ruben Jones, who does well with the weighty role) faces each challenge with courage, trusting in a moral compass strong enough to triumph – and to discover the true treasure: a life lived with integrity and purpose.

From the press release:

“The story opens at the Admiral Benbow Inn, run by Jim Hawkins’ mother (Willow Geer), where a mysterious former pirate, Billy Bones (Jeff Bergquist), has taken up residence. His uneasy stay is shattered when a fellow pirate, Black Dog (Daniel Kean), arrives seeking a treasure map in Bones’ possession. Soon after, the ominous Blind Pew (Ethan Haslam) delivers the “Black Spot,” a chilling warning that Bones’ time is running out if he refuses to surrender the coveted map. Before the threat can be carried out, Bones dies suddenly of a stroke. In the aftermath, Jim discovers the hidden map and brings it to Dr. Livesey (Aaron Hendry) and Squire John Trelawney (Steven C. Fisher). Determined to claim the treasure, they quickly organize an expedition. They set sail aboard the three-masted Hispaniola, led by the capable Captain Smollett (Arthur Hankett) and a hastily assembled crew (Sam Cowan, Jesse Corwin, Tim Halligan, Nik Moradieh Kashani, Matthew Pardue, Ethan Ricks, Andy Stokan). Among them is the charismatic and enigmatic one-legged cook, Long John Silver (Gerald C. Rivers), whose true intentions may prove far more dangerous than they first appear.”

Facing off against our plucky boy hero stands Long John Silver, one of literature’s most enduring creations – here gruffly played by Gerald C. Rivers. Geer’s adaptation preserves the colorful character’s fascinating contradictions: charming yet dangerous, paternal yet manipulative, capable of both kindness and betrayal. Silver remains the gravitational force around which much of the story revolves, and his relationship with Jim provides the production’s richest dramatic tension.

This adaptation works brilliantly in the versatile outdoor setting of Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. The natural canyon landscape becomes an extension of the storytelling, transforming effortlessly into docks, ship decks, and the shadowy island itself. The staging makes excellent use of the environment, allowing the audience’s imagination to fill in the spaces between reality and adventure in much the same way Stevenson does on the page. As the sun sets, the nearby sounds of insects chirping and frogs croaking supports the atmosphere onstage.

While the play is, at times, bogged down by slower, dialogue-heavy scenes, the action sequences certainly deliver all the swashbuckling pleasures audiences expect. Daring sword fights, sea shanties sung with gusto, chaotic mutiny, narrow escapes, and shifting alliances keep the pace lively for the most part. The ensemble company’s commitment brings energy and momentum, featuring decent performances from the young children as well as the adults in the large cast. Importantly, the production never loses sight of the human stakes beneath the drama;  the treasure itself ultimately matters less than the choices the characters make in pursuit of it.

What distinguishes this adaptation is its balance between family-friendly adventure and thoughtful storytelling. Younger audience members will enjoy the larger-than-life pirates, battles, and excitement, while adults may find themselves drawn to the play’s reflections on greed, leadership, and the challenging transition from innocence to experience.

Geer’s Treasure Island succeeds by preserving the novel’s compelling story, its vivid characters, and its abiding belief that adventure reveals who we truly are. This production offers exactly what a summer theatrical outing should provide – romance, danger, humor, excitement, and the timeless thrill of setting sail for unknown shores.

The 2026 Repertory Season at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum:

While the company is best known for Shakespeare, this summer’s repertory season combines:

• Romeo & Juliet
  by William Shakespeare
  June 6 – September 26
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  by William Shakespeare
  June 7 – October 10
• Treasure Island
  Reimagined by Ellen Geer
  From the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
  June 20 – October 3
• Waiting in the Wings by Noël Coward
  July 11 – October 3
• The People of Pompeii
  by Bernardo Cubría
  August 1 – October 4

Unlike most companies in L.A. that stage continuous runs of a single play, Theatricum operates in true repertory. Each of the five mainstage productions opens in rapid succession and is added to the rotation. By August, all five plays are in performance, making it possible to see the entire season over the course of a single week.

Treasure Island 

Novel by Robert Louis Stevenson; stage play adapted & directed by Ellen Geer.

Purchase tickets here.

Performances: June 20 – October 3, 2026

• Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, July 19 at 3:30 p.m.  
• Sunday, July 26 at 3:30 p.m.  
• Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3:30 p.m.
• Monday, Aug.10 at 7:30 p.m.*
• Sunday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
*The performance on Monday, Aug. 10 is Pay-What-You-Will; a 30-minute pre-show discussion with the cast will begin one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m..

Please note early curtain time!

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga CA 90290
(midway between Pacific Coast Highway and the Ventura freeway)

TICKET PRICES:
$15-$63.00
• Pay-What-You-Will at the performance on Monday, Aug. 10  (tix available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door.)

Purchase tickets:
theatricum.com
(310) 455-3723

Parking:
Parking lot – $10 (parking is free with a handicapped placard).

Or allow extra time to find parking on the road and walk into the theater.

OTHER INFORMATION:
• The outdoor amphitheater at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is terraced into the hillside of the rustic canyon. Audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating.
• Patrons are welcome to arrive early to picnic in the gardens before performances.

About the Company:

Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum has a rich history dating back to the early 1950s when Will Geer, a victim of the McCarthy-era blacklist, opened a theater for blacklisted actors and folk singers on his Topanga property. Friends like Ford Rainey, Della Reese, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie performed on the dirt stage, igniting both artistic expression and grassroots activism. Today, two outdoor amphitheaters sit within the natural canyon, offering audiences the chance to relax and enjoy nature during a performance. From May through October, Theatricum continues to be a haven for compassion, community and the wonders of nature. The theater is a beloved historical landmark and multiple award-winner, including the prestigious Margaret Harford Award for “sustained excellence” from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.