Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped

by Toni Jourdan (Adapter), Robert Louis Stevenson, Michael Sollazzo (Director)

Hoodwinked by a villainous Uncle and swept away into slavery aboard a ship bound for the Americas, a young man embarks on one of literature's great adventures. Befriended by a Scottish soldier running from the British crown, they fight off the ship's crew and escape, only to be accused of murder. Forced to flee across the Scottish countryside, their dangerous journey becomes one in which a boy becomes a man, learning the meaning of loyalty, friendship and honor.

Performed by the St. Charles Players.

Genres: Fiction

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1886

Reviews

[Catriona Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a compiled serialized novel can be a disorientating experience. Stevenson's adventure story follows seventeen-year-old David, a charming Lowlander seeking his inheritance from his aptly-named greedy uncle Ebenezer. The story's arch is an unsynthesized hero's journey where, over a three month journey, David doesn't undergo a true metamorphosis from boy to man. Still, Kidnapped is an enjoyable boy's adventure novel that plays on genre tropes and provides the readers with plenty of lovable characters to become attached to, even if the story was farcical at times.

[Frederick Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who works in historical fiction, I found it an interesting tale about 18th century Scotland told from a 19th century perspective. Stevenson assumes people are at least passingly familiar with the geography and social situations of the era, yet even without any knowledge the basic plot is enough to keep one entertained.

[Mati · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story brought long lost memories and this dramatization was made with care and the result was perfect. David Balfour, a young orphan, was sold by his uncle to the drunkard who happens to be captain of the small ship. David found out, that crew wanted to attack passenger named Alan Breck, who hapened to be the Jacobite dissident and hell break loose. David and Alan teamed up beat the crew and somehow survived the shipwreck and ran over the Scottish Highlands avoiding vile Englishmen in the process and meeting girl, whom later teamed up aka married David.