By james art The studio space at Birmingham’s Crescent Theater provides an intimate stage for this interesting exploration of a situation in which four middle-aged ladies involved in a team bonding exercise for the Pennine Mineral Water Company find themselves stranded on an island in the Lake District, forcing them to spend a November night in the fog without tents, food and lighters.
Tim Firth’s play is a tragicomedy as isolation and the sounds of the night play on relationships between business colleagues, revealing hidden feelings and secrets. Originally written for four men as Neville’s Island in 1994, the situation was rewritten for four women in 2022.
Sheila, played by Zeena Forrest, is the well-organized marketing manager chosen as leader who is so good at cryptic clues that she is able to pick out a hidden leader in a direct clue that sends them in the wrong direction to the other teams. She constantly tries to raise morale and take control, but is constantly thwarted by Denise.
Denise, the production manager played by Michaela Redican, is the reluctant camper, full of sarcasm and frustration, neither prepared nor willing to be a team player for the night. Her constant snide remarks antagonize the others and undermine Shelia’s leadership.
Julie, played by Deronie Pettyfer, is the insecure and nervous HR manager, uncomfortable in their position and the target of Denise’s jokes, but has a backpack full of brand new climbing gear. When she calls her husband Angus home, her insecurities are revealed as she imagines he won’t have an affair instead of arranging a rescue. Faye, played by Jenny Thurston, is the company’s accountant, a devout Christian and bird watcher with a hidden secret that has caused her to be absent from work for thirteen months. She seems the most vulnerable, though at least she takes the initiative to be an observer.
We meet them as the boat capsizes on the rocks and they stumble ashore, soaked through, and we follow their attempts to survive as their working relationship crumbles and tensions rise. Simply placed with small piles of rocks marking the shoreline and trees and bushes defining their camping area with enough smoke and sound effects to suggest their perched position.
The four performers do a good job of portraying the developing tensions within the group, but overall Tim Firth’s script lacks the sharpness and emotional engagement of his other works such as Calendar girls, our house and Kinky boots. The situation lacks any real danger and at times the pace seems slow. While the exploration of how working relationships are tested under stress has potential, we never doubt that rescue is imminent or care about the women or their plight.
The Crescent Theater has a long history dating back to 1923 and is a member organization of actors, technicians, designers and theater staff who produce up to 15 productions a year across its two spaces. It deserves the support of the local community. This production should be seen in that context, as a comedy, as part of a season of plays and a chance for its members to show off their acting skills.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
Sheila’s Island is playing at the Crescent Theater until 2nd November, with further information via the link below…
Photo credit: Graeme Braidwood