Neville's Island

Our first glimpse of the stage was an open set featuring trees, boulders, logs, and pebble foreshore.  Writtle Cards had made the most of their small stage with the added thrust making it seemed a lot larger than it really is. Full marks to set designers Pete Harris, Nigel Rushbrook, Joshua Looney and Steve Williams.

This set created the perfect backdrop for the four middle management men stranded on an island whilst on a team bonding course.  Dragging themselves out of the water, absolutely soaking and wringing out their clothes on stage, I was completely taken with the lengths that these four actors had gone to.  With no food except a cold breakfast sausage kept by Angus for later and only enough battery for one phone call to get help, tensions ran high throughout the play.

Each of the four male actors were excellently played and had got to grips with their characters and gave well rounded performances, showing character development as the play progressed. The director Jodee Goodwin had definitely got the mood of the play and her hard work paid off with all the cast.

Jerry Thomas as Neville was the well-meaning team captain, but quite inept leader of the group, who has decided that the instructions given to them were in the form of cryptic clues, which lead them to the Island in the first place. His position as leader was totally eroded by Gordon, with his overbearing attitude and determination to see the worst in everyone.

Kenton Church made the most of this sarcastic bully although in the end I did feel sorry for him in Angus’s oversized dinner suit, with his arm in a sling thinking he had sent Roy to a suicidal death.

Chris Rogerson as Angus was the complete contrast. He was a quiet unassuming man who loved his wife but was totally exploited by Gordon who infers that Angus’s wife has not come to their rescue as she is having an affair. This breaks Angus who having come totally prepared with expensive camping equipment is not prepared for the vitriol that Gordon throws at him

Last but not least is Roy excellently played by Martin Warner.  Roy is recovering from a nervous breakdown and finds comfort now in his Christian faith.  Martin’s demeanour of naivety and belief just lit up his face and I was totally drawn to his character. 

Commendation to the Props (Janet Osborne Williams) for the huge amount needed and found.  The cooking of the sausage in front of us and the lighting of the simple fire were very effective.

Lighting and sound were covered well by Nick Caton and Paulette Harris although I wasn’t sure about the constant use of thunder after most scenes.

The changes of light throughout the day and night combined with smoke to give a fog effect were good , the disco boat passing the island, the helicopter, the firework effect, all helped create each situation as it arose; also the accompanying sound effects were well synchronised adding to the show.

At the beginning of Act 1 it would have been helpful if a black tab had been placed behind the auditorium door stage right to hide the Green Room. This tended to destroy the suspension of disbelief.

Maybe it would have been nice to have lowered the lighting down more at the end of each scene as this did spoil the illusion sometimes and at the beginning of Act 2 the actors should have been aware of their head lamps streaming out of stage left, before they came on. The Stage manager should have made sure that they did not turn these on until the very start.

Still this is nit picking in what was an excellent production by all the cast and crew. A very funny thought provoking play which had the full house laughing out loud.  Congratulations to you all for a great evening out.

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