ISLAND Trestle Theatre Co
Now touring in 2003 till 24 May: tour details to follow shortly or visit trestle.org.uk.
island: devised by Trestle Theatre Company
Runs: 2h 5m, one interval, tours till 9 May 2002
Review: Rod Dungate, mac Birmingham, 18 March 2002
A complex, poetic tale of one ordinary individual told in an extraordinary way: builds to a remarkable climax
Trestle has based their present show on a dark, short news item from 2000 the two month old remains of an old lady were found on a traffic island not far from Birmingham. Police could not trace who she was, noone had reported her missing. While ISLAND is built upon this news fact, the poetic and moving tale Trestle has devised is not about the woman's death, but rather about her life. Toby Wilsher, who directs, is anxious to show through the story of his imagined Mildred that all of us has a life full of event, happinesses and sadnesses, opportunities gained and missed: that we are all of value and mean something. This is a story of one ordinary individual told in an extraordinary way.
Although only five in the acting company and although no words, the story is far from simple. Mildred ends up on her traffic island after a burglary that leaves her confused. Once on the island she can't get off because of the vehicles which circle endlessly (much fun here the whole gamut of driving is wittily on show.) The island then becomes a place of fantasy and recollection Mildred's life rolls before us as we imagine it rolls before her. Wilsher's set is simplicity itself, but immensely flexible: including the most versatile of road-workman's tents.
Trestle's reputation is built, in part, upon their masks. Gone in this production are their trade-mark large masks: ISLAND uses full masks that hug the actors' faces. As ever they are sensitively created enabling them to work beautifully for the actor in performance. The actors, combining detailed physical control with their mask use, express a complete range of emotions and communicate subtle changes of age and mood. Nicky Fearn, Mildred, exemplifies this as she adds and shrugs off years seemingly in the blink of an eye. Hers is a mesmerising performance.
Up to the interval ISLAND lacks the emotional layering that is another Trestle hallmark and an episode with Mildred on her traffic island with a hitch-hiker, while witty, muddies the main narrative thrust. However, the second half, building on the first, brings emotional engagement to the fore, and the whole builds to a remarkable and satisfying climax.
Cast:
Mildred aged 75: Nicky Fearn
Mildred aged 19, Grace, Edith: Sarah Thom
Hitchhiker, Mildred aged 13, Grace aged 10: Karina Garnett
Workman 1, Matthew, Owen: Jason Webb
Workman 2, Sydney, Frank: James Greaves
Directed and Designed: Toby Wilsher
Masks: Mick Chase (The Mask Studio), Russell Dean
Costumes: Fiona Hankey
Lighting: Paddy Dawson
2002-03-19 18:06:43