Silver's Striking Staff

Long John Silver in Treasure Island is described as having one leg (in our production a peg leg made out of what appears to be whale bone). To assist him he walks with a staff as well. This presented some truly interesting possibilities with regard to stage combat. You can see the full fight we describe below here.

Silver’s character is written as unpredictable and explosive. Generally, he works to get what he wants through lies and subterfuge, but there are a few moments in the text where his explosive anger comes to the fore shocking everyone. In one moment which we featured on video, his crew of cutthroats turns on him, attempting an attack on young Jim; Silver (Briar Fortkamp in our production) violently protects him and with equal rage subdues a physical attack from a second mutineer. Director Hardiman, wanted to have this moment a complete surprise: At the moment of the attack on Jim, Silver is technically unarmed. Silver with alacrity uses what he has about him. He uses, in order, his staff, his peg leg, his fist and again his staff. Seemingly, he breaks his opponents arm disarming him. Finishing the second mutineer, he uses his staff again to disarm and strike. At the end of the scene Silver has disarmed both mutineers and retains their knife and cutlass, which he subsequently carries throughout the remainder of the show symbolizing his acquisition of violent authority.

The crutch built for Silver was especially designed to be, effectively, a quarterstaff, and Director Hardiman and Assistant Choreographer John Osborne taught the use of the crutch the same way they would teach quarterstaff. (You may have seen a quarterstaff used in many places: by Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, or by the training soldiers in Disney’s Mulan, and it's even in Kung Fu Panda.) Revered by the old masters as the easiest and most dangerous weapon to wield, even a soft smack from this oak pole could break a bone or cause severe bruising, while the length of the staff keeps most swords and bladed weapons well out of reach. The length of the crutch allows it to be used in a long or short form just like with a quarterstaff, held in pike style and in thirds respectively. The key to success and safety with these fights ,where Silver does not use his staff for balance and movement, was the actor’s familiarity with the peg leg. Watch this video to hear how Silver got used to one leg!

Blind Pew also uses some forms of quarterstaff, so be sure to look for him in the show!