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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Neville's Island
Verdict: Middle-management adventure comedy
Sunderland - Royalty Theatre - 19.30 (2hrs 20mins) - 1-6 Nov 04
Four middle-management types sink their boat in the middle of Derwentwater. It is just the start of their problems (writes Peter Andrews). Neville (John Sumner), the leader of this disparate group, attempts to impose his authority. They land on Rampsholme – an inhospitable, foggy island.
The set is wonderfully convincing, from the muddy pool through which they make their first entrance to the look-out point. Between are realistic rocks, bushes and trees.
What starts out as a team-building exercise quickly becomes a strange and quirky quest for survival. From the moment they crawl wetly ashore, the laughter follows. The comedy comes (cruelly at times) from the breakdown of normality and the characters involved.
Neville blusters but doesn’t really know what to do. Roy (Billy Towers), a naïve Christian convert, looks to be forever on the verge of his second nervous breakdown. The bully Gordon (David Farn) points out the shortcomings of the others. He demonstrates his own total lack of any emotional or spiritual maturity. Angus (Jeff Page) spends his time worrying about the state of his marriage and lifestyle.
As these four make their moves, power changes hands and ends up in some very strange and dark places. The chances of rescue repeatedly recede before hopes are raised again.
This performance on Bonfire Night adds much to the atmosphere, as sound-effects of fireworks on-stage are echoed by real ones in the world outside. However, there is a problem with the sound. The fireworks are fine, but the creepy noises which lead into each scene are unsubtle and too loud.
Some of the lines are delivered at the wrong pace - the actors do not seem sufficiently aware of the audience reaction – but there is a lot of laughter.
The overtones of blood sacrifice in the final scene are a little unexpected and not effective. This is perhaps a fault with the writing rather than the performance.
Neville’s Island is a comedy with tragic possibilities. Overall the comedy is convincing but the potential for tragedy is not.
***
Cast Credits (alpha order): David Farn – Gordon. Jeff Page – Angus. John Sumner – Neville. Billy Towers - Roy.
Company Credits: Writer – Tim Firth. Directors - David Farn, Frank Ditchburn. Assistants – Maria Reed, Laura Pendlington, Norma Dougherty. Stage Manager – Peter Talbot. Assistants – John Bailey, John Bailey Jnr, Dave Burton, Peter Dearns, Russell Hamilton, Ralph Phillips, Peter Reynolds, Kevin Smith, Don Tait. Scenic Artists – Lauren Macrae, Gary Taylor, Jessica Powers. Properties – Christine Appleton, Caroline Chapman, Pat Worthy. Sound – Julia Emmerson. Wardrobe – Laura Pendlington.
END
(c) Peter Andrews 2004
reviewed Friday 5th November / Royalty Theatre, Sunderland
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
