The Greenbelt Youth Musical, an annual Greenbelt tradition for 25 years, is presenting its 2024 show, Buried Treasure, at the Community Center on March 2, 3 and 9. This year’s cast features 23 young actors, ranging in age from sixth grade to college.
Buried Treasure is the story of three young high school students – Josh, Harriet and Miranda – who fall down an abandoned mineshaft into a mythical underground realm, where their treasured surface notions of themselves are challenged at every turn. The three become separated underground and their ensuing solo adventures entail some valuable, albeit painful, lessons.
Josh, who longs for a heroic quest like the dashing knights of yore, learns that true heroism is often unthanked and unglamorous, and that it begins with acknowledging that he is mortally afraid of the dragons he is sent to confront.
Harriet, who desires to possess the wisdom of a wizard, is abashed to realize that the intellect on which she prides herself is not superior to that of the open-hearted Dunstan, a handsome young gnome whom she teaches to read in hopes of decoding a book of magic spells.
Miranda, who seeks the path of perfection, believes herself to be a thoroughly good person, but as a gang of underworld urchins points out, although Miranda says she’s good, what she really thinks is that she’s better than others – a case where being better is far worse than being good.
Alternately touching and funny, the trio’s adventures all culminate in a climactic scene in the palace of the Golden Prince, who has usurped the throne of Sophia, the rightful queen of the underworld. But not everyone in the palace is who they seem to be, and the three chastened adventurers can set things aright only if they see beneath the surface.
Production director Chris Cherry, who also wrote the script and composed the songs, cites the show as a personal favorite. “The show is about the sometimes-painful process of self-discovery, about jettisoning surface notions in order to find what is deep down, what is true and what one’s treasure is,” said Cherry.
“I have a real soft spot for the three protagonists,” he added, “as well as for the character of Dunstan, who thinks he’s under a spell of ignorance, and even for the extremely snarky dragons, who tell some hard truths. I also love the score, which includes some of my best songs. I hope Greenbelt will turn out in force to enjoy these wonderful young actors performing them.”
Tickets are now on sale at the Community Center business office, where they can be purchased in person or by phone at 301-397-2208. Previous productions have sold out, so advance purchase is strongly recommended.
