Sheila's Island

For those unfamiliar with Tim Firth’s play the story takes place over a weekend in early November 2022 on Rampsholme Island, a tiny Island located in the centre of Derwentwater in the Lake District.  The Pennine Mineral Water Limited Company has sent three teams of their middle management on a team-building outward bound weekend.  Team C consists of Julie, Denise, Fay and their elected captain, Sheila.

We meet the cast as they are individually washed up on the shore.  Soaking wet through and in various states of disarray.  First to enter on her hands and knees was Sheila played by Melanie Murray.  From the outset Murray showed that despite being a reluctant Captain of the now sunk rowing boat she was prepared to embrace the challenge.  Her description of her ability to solve cryptic crossword clues was captivating, even if the skill was total unnecessary as the clue was potentially far more straight forward than she’d led the team to believe.  Murray played Sheila as a ‘tryer’, someone prepared to give it a go and to continue doing their very best regardless of their circumstances and in spite of what other team members threw at her.  Although clearly hurt by the repeated attacks relating to her failure to keep the boat afloat, she carried on doing her best for the team, with common sense whilst trying to find positive solutions.  Murray’s portrayal gave a real strength to this stoic and decent character who really did deserve to be the Team’s Captain.

Next to come ashore is Denise, confidently played by Michele Stevenson.  Having worked her way up from being company receptionist Denise is determined to make her mark and to ensure that everyone in the team understands her point of view which is never without sarcasm.  Stevenson was hilarious throughout the show with excellent delivery of some very cutting and acerbic lines.    She really demonstrated the cynicism of this character who was probably the most in need of a team building exercise.  Fantastic characterisation.

We then meet Julie (Rebecca Ford) and can almost instantly see that despite her high-quality walking gear and extensive ‘kit’ that she really doesn’t have a clue.  Ford had the audience in stitches on many occasions talking about anything and nothing,  and particularly when she starts to be concerned about what ‘Angus’ (the husband she left at home) is doing – thanks to some wicked suggestions about his activities on the bread counter at Aldi by Denise .   Ford’s delivery was perfect and her acting ability to show the slow descent into a heightened state of anxiety and tension was spot on.

Georgina Appleyard completely captured the sweet, quiet, and practically useless Fay who never failed to amaze with her patience and resolve in the face of some terribly cruel comments, particularly from Denise.   Appleyard had some of the most demanding narrative and challenging scenes.  She coped eloquently with sitting in a tree in her underwear, singing random lines from Musical Theatre and distributing the bloody innards of the bird she had fawned over for the last 24 hours.  Great acting!

All the actors came onstage soaking wet and managed the difficult situation incredibly well – some cast costumes were changed realistically whilst still onstage.  The ability to cope with some demanding themes and intensely challenging scenes shows the competency of the cast.    The play was hilarious, touching, hard-hitting and thoughtful with a talented cast more than capable of making their characters utterly believable. 

The publicity described the play as The Office meets Lord of the Flies, but this intensely intimate comedy was more than that and the team at Huddersfield Thespians had done a great job in bringing it to life.    The casting was superb and the set was perfect having been creative in-house by the Narnia Business Team.  The use of the stage was strikingly affective with the atmospheric shadows of the trees and the floor covered with forest debris.  The use of light to change the times of day, the weather and the overall mood of the piece was excellently done as was sound.  Props and costume were fantastic and thoroughly believable.

Congratulations to Directors, Alistair Cheetham and Alex Watkins, along with everyone involved in the Production. 

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