The Curse of Isla Tormenta

Maulden Players have a history of writing their own scripts for Pantomimes, but this is the first time I’ve seen them venture into full length play territory. And, I believe I’m right in saying it is also the writing debut of the Edward Frizzelle, who has appeared in many a production for the Players, but this time leaves the acting to others to be both writer and Director.

The basic story set in 1996 involves a film crew and cast arriving on the remote tropical island of Isla Tormenta, off the coast of Ecuador, which is only accessible by boat, to film an ultimate adventure movie, ‘Passions to Treasure.’  However, a storm brews up trapping them on the island and while fragile egos bicker with each other a body is discovered. However, the island has a mysterious history, and nobody is sure if it’s the island itself or one of them that is responsible for the death. A very good who done it with lots a clues and red herrings along the way. There was even a slot in the excellent accompanying programme to write down the clues as we went along.

We started with a very clever and highly amusing short prologue, played in front of the tabs involving the crew of the boat taking the cast and crew to the island, where we the audience were also treated as passengers. The Captain, a convivial man played by Roy Pollard setting the scene and also giving out the obligatory theatre, I mean ship’s safety notices as to exits etc. Chief Officer Samantha, a much more officious character played by Vikki Summerfield, and an obvious newbie with little experience. Ordinary Seaman April, who was always being corrected by The Chief Officer, played by Stephanie Slater. Good original start.

The main set, designed by the author and built by Marion Hynes, Philip Allen and David Joy was a superb painted fauna jungle backcloth giving us a clearing on the island where the cast and crew had made camp, complete with table and chairs, a kitchen area and a striking realistic firepit, or firestone made by Marions Hynes, very effectively used in the night time scene and large boulder constructed by Ashley Bryant and Joyce, Matthew and Freddie Frizzelle.  Each scene was followed with one in front of the tabs where one character visits another’s tent, with Bret’s, Maddie’s and Peri’s tent depicted by simple props such as a chair or blowup bed. For the second act depicting the storm the whole stage had be turned into a giant tent for all to shelter in when the storm arrived. The plot in scene three in the second act required the characters to view a VHS (or Betamax) tape, which was neatly done with a video screen for the audience to also see the film. And finally, the set was very well dressed in paraphernalia for the film shoot by Marion Hynes.

Lighting by Nick Endacott finished the set off well with the appropriate washes from a clear golden sunshine tropical paradise, night-time round the campfire to the dark foreboding clouds of the storm with atmospheric sound added by Mark Sheppard. It all worked very well indeed.

Costumes by Alison Struthers, Helen England and the cast themselves completed the atmosphere of a tropical island.

When Edward Frizzelle was writing this for The Players to perform he did have the advantage of knowing who in the group was capable of playing which character and I take my hat off to him in so far as he really did take advantage of that and the net result was he pulled some really good performances out of his available cast of characters.

We had the backstage crew of: The uptight Director, Peri Luxon, very much up himself, always looking for the best shot, played by Simon Jeffery, Maddy Anderson sent by the insurance company to make sure all worked well, played by Helen England. The first aid crew member, Jess (always mispronounced ‘Chess’ by the other characters), played by Tayla Blackman. Dale Coughlin the grip, played by James Struthers, bemoaning his lot and the attitude of his fellow cast and crew with some amusingly cutting but spot on observations. Iseabal ‘Ish’ Darling, who was full of superstitious stories about the Island and how it should be protected, played by Kelci Vickors

On the performing side we had Felicity Fox, a “has been” actress who has had her day, taken time out to have a family and is now looking to return to stardom, played by Lauren Chimes. Bret Lawrence, the star of the moment, which sadly doesn’t quite work out for him, played by Christopher Herman. And finally, Bob Lee, a completely over the top, larger than life method actor who ideas and excesses are completely out of order, annoying and bewildering to the rest of the cast and crew, and loved by the audience and absolutely hilarious, played by Zep Tocco.

The best way to judge any play is of course by the audience reaction. And this audience loved it, clapped raucously at the end of every scene and laughed at every opportunity. Personally, I thought the script was really rather clever and quite deep. The general interaction between the characters in conversation, especially the ones who had history with each other was particularly well fleshed out. And he has invented a larger-than-life character in Bob which really did make this show.  I think Edward Frizzelle can now call himself a budding playwright! He certainly has the imagination, and I hope this spurs him on to write more in the same vein.

So well done to the writer/director and his cast and crew, especially Elaine & Mia Impey, Liza Van Duzer and Phil Allen without whose help on the production side Edward tells me couldn’t have done without. An excellent evening’s entertainment.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.