Charles Way's Pirates! A Boy at Sea
Balances Broad Comedy with
Genuine Emotional Resonance

Pirates! A Boy at Sea stars (clockwise from top left) David Holt as Captain McGovern, Akili Gathers
as Captain Freely, Lydia Sayers as Harry, Devin Jacobs as Jim Watts, and Bryan Squires as Sneep
(photo courtesy Switch Theatre Company)

Pirates! A Boy at Sea by Charles Way recognizes that children are capable of wrestling with difficult emotions when they are given the right story through which to explore them. Produced by Switch Theatre Company and directed by Lindsey Womack, the current production played July 18th and 19th at the historic Murphey School Auditorium, home of Burning Coal Theatre Company in Raleigh, before moving to The River Church in Durham for performances on July 24th and 25th. Presented with a "pay-what-you-can" ticket model, this engaging production offers families an entertaining afternoon or evening while gently opening the door to meaningful conversations about divorce, forgiveness, and emotional healing.

The protagonist is an 11-year-old mixed-race boy named Jim Watts, played by 11-year-old Devin Jacobs. Jim is struggling with the prospect of reconnecting with his mother and his half-siblings after years of separation following his parents' contentious divorce. Faced with an early morning appointment with his mother that he would rather avoid, Jim retreats into the comfort of his imagination. Much like Dorothy's journey in The Wizard of Oz or Max's voyage in Where the Wild Things Are, Jim leaves the conflict of his bedroom behind and enters an extraordinary fantasy world inspired by the pirate toys and posters that surround him.

Jim's imagined voyage is a mirror of the uncertainty and shifting loyalties that define his real life. The treacherous seas that he navigates become a metaphor for the emotional waters of his fractured family, forcing him to confront difficult questions about identity, trust, and belonging.

The majority of the play unfolds in the imaginary pirate world, where the fearless pirate Captain Freely, played with notable authority by Akili Gathers, is locked in perpetual conflict with the determined Captain McGovern of the British fleet, portrayed by the talented David Holt.

The production's set is a clever combination of Jim's bedroom and a pirate-themed playroom, enabling natural overlap of fantasy and reality. At The River Church, the intimate white-box theater places the audience at eye level with the performers, creating an immersive experience that invites children directly into Jim's imaginative world.

The pirate escapades are clearly designed with young audiences in mind, but the script is sprinkled with enough clever one-liners and visual humor to reward the adults in attendance. The production never talks down to children, nor does it rely solely on slapstick. Instead, it balances broad comedy with genuine emotional resonance.

Among the supporting cast, Lydia Sayers proves consistently entertaining in her multiple roles as the pirate Harry, English Sailor #2, and Shark #2. Above a laughably weak mustache and goatee, Sayers’ expressive eyes shift between dutiful obedience and absentminded playfulness as she delivers a delightfully scatterbrained performance that calls to mind the hyenas from Disney's The Lion King.

Bryan Squires is equally enjoyable as Sneep, English Sailor #1, and Shark #1. His instinctive comic timing and wholesome energy evoke laughs without ever feeling forced.

Devin Jacobs as Jim brings sincerity and vulnerability to a role that demands emotional honesty. Although Jacobs convincingly portrays an anxious preteen caught between two worlds, there are moments when slowing his delivery, projecting more consistently, and ensuring that he is facing the audience would improve intelligibility.

The undeniable standouts of the production are Akili Gathers and David Holt. Both actors ground their caricature pirate characters in surprising realism. Their accents are authentic without becoming distracting, and each commands the stage with confidence. Reminiscent of Whoopi Goldberg’s impersonations, Gathers delivers her lines with commanding presence and convincing passion. Her facial expressions and vocal projection are at once prevalent and organic, so that she is always heard and understood without being overbearing. Holt provides an equally worthy counterpart, bringing sincerity and conviction to Captain McGovern's relentless pursuit of justice.

If there is one staging element that could be refined, it is the underwater sequence, featuring Sharks #1 and #2. Draping the actors' bodies in blue or black cloaks or sheets during this scene would help minimize visual distractions while enhancing the illusion of movement beneath the sea.

Ultimately, Pirates! A Boy at Sea succeeds, because it understands that children's theater can be both entertaining and emotionally substantial. The play provides an excellent springboard for parents to discuss divorce, reconciliation, forgiveness, and the complexities of family relationships with their children. One can easily imagine this story adapted into a Paperhand Puppet Project production, where giant puppets, shadow work, and live music would bring even greater magic to its imaginative pirate world.

There are two remaining performances at 2 and 7 p.m. today, Saturday July 25th. With the high-quality acting and "pay-what-you-can" ticket price, Durham parents without scheduling conflicts have no excuse not to take advantage of this opportunity for a meaningful family outing with their young children.

Charles Way's PIRATES! A BOY AT SEA (In Person at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25th), directed by Lindsey Womack and starring Devin Jacobs as Jim Watts, David Holt as Captain McGovern, Akili Gathers as Captain Freely, Lydia Sayers as Harry, and Bryan Squires as Sneep (Switch Theatre Co. in the The River Church, 4425 Ben Franklin Blvd., in Durham). STC VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/@switchtheatreco. PRESENTER: https://switchtheatreco.org/, https://linktr.ee/switchtheatreco, https://www.facebook.com/switchtheatreco, https://www.instagram.com/switchtheatreco, https://bsky.app/profile/switchtheatreco.org, and https://www.youtube.com/@switchtheatreco. VENUE: https://www.theriverdurham.com/, https://www.facebook.com/theriverdurham/, and https://www.instagram.com/riverdurham/. DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/. PIRATES! A BOY AT SEA (2010 Welsh play): https://www.charles-way.co.uk/play-details/pirates/. CHARLES WAY (Welsh playwright): https://www.charles-way.co.uk/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-way-a15382103/. TICKETS: $15 ($10 students and children, plus taxes and fees, or Pay-What-You-Can tickets. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-926-9906 or info@switchtheatreco.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Switch Theatre Co.. Jeff McDermott's Triangle Review Review Permalink.

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