BELFAST — Auditions were held in early August for Belfast Maskers' next production, a staged reading of a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Director Suzanne Ramczyk, who adapted the beloved adventure for the stage, has cast the following actors: Cassidy Small as Jim Hawkins; Scott Anthony Smith as James Hawkins and Israel Hands; Robert Smith as Dr. Livesey; Cory Burns as Squire Trelawney; Peter Conant as Long John Silver; Greg Marsanskis as Captain Smollett and Billy Bones; Beverly Mann as Ben Gunnand Arrow; David Rynerson as Black Dog, George Merry, and Job Anderson; Brian Ross as Pew and Hunter; Monique DesChamps as Redruth and Mother and Dick; April Rejman as Mother, Tom, and Pirate in Red Cap; and André Blanchard as Father, Supervisor Dance, and Tom Morgan.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s most famous novel follows the fantastical journey undertaken by the young Jim Hawkins, embracing all the excitement and adventure of a quest for pirates’ “booty” buried on a deserted island. Ramczyk's adaptation embraces not only the swashbuckling and vigorous aspects of the original novel, but also the torment and tragedy that Jim Hawkins must confront and engage with in his fabulous journey. This includes his exposure to the multiple deaths/murders — not only of his enemies, but also of those close to him.

In a Maskers news release, Ramczyk said of the project: "Major stage and movie interpretations have maintained the action-packed, swash-buckling, even gruesome moments, during which at least 14 men are killed during the course of the piece—a startling manner in which to 'come of age,' at the very least. Thus, the multitude of 'children’s' versions have edited out most of this more contemporarily-sensitive material, resulting in the present-day genre of 'family entertainment.' Indeed, it is a coming-of-age story in which the young Jim is thrust into the adult world of intrigue, death, disaster, and emotionally challenging situations."

"Treasure Island" will be presented at the Basil Burwell Community Theater, 17 Court Street in Belfast, on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 8 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday matinees on October 2 and 9, at 2 p.m. Tickets, and more information about this and other Belfast Maskers events, will be available online at http://BelfastMaskers.com/events