Neville's Island, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, till 7th May

Birmingham

NEVILLE'S ISLAND
by Tim Firth

Birmingham Reperory Theatre To 7 May 2005
Mon-Sat 7.30m Mat 5 May 2.30pm no performance 2 May
Audiio-described 5 May
BSL Signed 6 May
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham_rep.co.uk
Review: Jan Pick 27 April

Crisis management Neville's way!Neville's Island

The stage of Birmingham Repertory theatre has been transformed into a cold, misty island in the Lake District surrounded by water, which worryingly, while waiting for the auditorium lights to dim, almost disappears in the rising fog - as do the front two rows! Fortunately as the play began this fog' clears and the audience settles back for acerbic wit mixed with poignancy, folly, and a bitter edge of darkness.

Neville's Island scores highly on the entertainment scale, but is also a perceptive exploration of how four men cope in a crisis and what they learn about themselves as human beings in the process of surviving a team building weekend, which starts badly and descends into nightmare.

An excellent ensemble turn in terrific performances, especially John Hodgkinson, as the angry and supercilious Gordon, setting himself up for the inevitable fall and ending up sadder and slightly wiser, and Les Dennis as the good-humoured and unfortunate Neville, trying to live up to the leadership qualities required to keep his disparate team of losers and misfits safe from the physical elements - and each other - until rescue arrived.

Paul Brown, playing the vulnerable Roy with gentle comedy, sensitive to the potential tragedy of his situation, and Stewart Wright as Angus, the perennial boy scout with his ever-prepared and seemingly bottomless rucksack, complete with enough equipment to sink the Titanic let alone a rowing boat on Derwentwater, are equally impressive.

The ambitious set design, which involves flooding the stage of the Rep, is complemented by a lighting design which not only effectively conjures up the cold, damp, miserable aspect of November in the Lake District, but also adds some beautiful touches such as a full moon floating above the trees or disco lights from a passing pleasure boat.

A hugely enjoyable evening providing both entertainment and food for thought.

Neville: Les Dennis
Angus: Stewart Wright
Roy: Paul Brown
Gordon: John Hodgkinson

Director: Paul Raffield
Designer: Simon Higlett
Lighting: Mark Jonathan
Sound: Dan Hoole

2005-05-02 03:22:01