Treasure Island, National Theatre ****

The problem with the dates in February and March are that they are exactly the same. This means that a cheeky Monday night in half term becomes a rather extravagant Monday night out in term time due to a mistake in booking tickets to Treasure Island. When you enter the olivier, you know that this will become memorable. It is visually stunning with the designer Lizzie Clachan making full use of the drum roll to astound audiences with a full ship interior, a small inn and a cave to great effect. However the show is made by the performance from an actress who has had a dramatic rise to fame. Patsy Ferran, with this being her third professional theatre engagement, is just about to play Portia in Stratford after she delights the younger generation by holding the show together. She portrays an innocent yet intelligent Jim, making very little of her gender. The much criticised Darvil is surprisingly charismatic, after being described as bland by others. Perhaps these critics are surprised that this production isn't the Lond John Silver show. It certainly doesn't do anything in half measures, with special effects galore, the pinnacle being an animatronic parrot. The play itself is not condescending in any way to it's audience, at times being extremely dark, requiring a few leftover blood packs from Titus last year. However, it has plenty of gems which had many children in fits. It is great to see Joshua James again after his performance as a stroppy prince in Gabriel and Ferdinand in the Tempest at the Globe. His Ben Gunn is hilarious yet pathetic and is among equally strong ensemble performances. This is yet another magnificent display from the National and, whilst only one production has received an Olivier nomination, the criticism levelled against it by some shows a lack of respect for what this institution is aiming to achieve. I have only seen one play here that has been lacklustre in the past year and it is constantly trying to find new audiences to experience the magic of theatre. Let's hope that Norris is similarly adventurous although, looking at his first set of shows, this is unlikely.