Sheila's Island

At the opening of the curtains a murmur of praise for the set was heard in the auditorium. Along with great sound and lighting it set the scene perfectly for the excellent performance from the cast of four under the strong directorship of James Robb.

Sheila played by Brenda Reid was the leader of this group of middle aged, middle management women who were on a bonding weekend and mistakenly ended up on an island. Brenda gave this character the depth and sympathy needed to manage this bunch. Her quiet dependable presence shone through this portrayal.

Denise is the loud mouthed almost hysterical member of the team. She was played by Ruth McKay who nailed the character to perfection. Her rants were much enjoyed by the audience and were delivered with spot on comic timing.

Fay came over as the ‘keen to please’ Christian who always sees the best in every situation. Rhoda Burke was so suited to this role. She managed to show the different angles of this character with believable charm and strength due to her considerable experience and audience awareness.

Julie (Moira Paterson) was the last but not least member of the quartet. Moira portrayed this over sensitive, anxious woman with skill and understanding. The scenes where she faces up to the truth were memorable and moving.

No spoiler alert here as this play deserves its twist at the end, so you will have to visit a performance to find out what happens. If it is as good as this one you will be in for a treat.

Congratulations must go to everyone involved in this production.  Abbey Theatre continues to strive to put on shows which entertain. I know this is a team effort so I hope you all feel proud of what is being achieved.

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