Neville's Island

To our surprise, this isn't a new play - its over 20 years old, just a new production. It has gone for the trick of using a big name cast, at least if you like comedy - Neil Morrissey, Adrian Edmondson, Robert Webb and Miles Jupp. And because it was at the start of its run it gave me the opportunity to both watch the play "cold" as it were and then read the review of it in the Standard on the Tube home.

Anyway, we loved this, the reviewer did not. But at least I could see where the reviewer was going wrong. He had seen this as taut psychological drama, and so picked holes in the plot and characterization, and concluded that none of the characters were like
able. All true and if I had gone in expecting dramatic tension I would have done the same. Of course what it actually is is a farce, and an extremely funny one, especially in the second half.

The premise is a group of middle-aged middle managers being sent out to the Lake District on a team bonding exercise. We start with them being washed ashore on a small island, their boat having hit the rocks. I should point out at this stage that the set is quite amazing - it gives a perfect impression of a rainy tree-lined island, right down to the rain itself.  They are literally soaked. (The front row of the theatre were issued with macs too - a lot of splashing potential.)

Their captain, and cryptic crossword specialist, Neil Morrissey, explains how he found the island from the clues given to them, notably the requirement to find the Plough and how this island was in a little group in the shape of the Plough. Robert Webb, the ever so pleasant born again Christian helpfully mentions, just to be helpful, that by coincidence the Plough was also the name of the pub in the village, and it soon transpires that the clues weren't clues at all, just directions. Of course everything spills out into a more farcical situation as they fail to get rescued, night descends and they fall out. The sharing out of a single sausage swiped from the breakfast table was brilliant. Anyway, I was nearly in tears by one stage in the second half.

Best of the good task was Adrian Edmondson as the ever sarcastic, ever unhelpful Gordon. I couldn't help feeling that if I was in that situation I would be most like him.

Definitely a play to be enjoyed, provided you remember its not a documentary about male relationships. Its just a laugh.