Review by Sophie Wilby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When it debuted in 2002, David Greig’s Outlying Islands won the Olivier Award for Best New Play. Now, over 20 years later, director Jessica Lazar is breathing new life into his words with this latest revival which is anything but fowl.
Set in 1939, as Britain stands on the precipice of war, two young ornithologists are sent by the ministry to conduct a survey of the birdlife on an island whose lease is held by a grizzled Scotman, Kirk and his niece, Ellen. Though driven by their desire to study the Fork-Tailed Petrel, they soon learn that there is a darker side to their work and it is this revelation which is the catalyst for tension and tragedy.
Yet amongst this tension and tragedy are real shining moments of humour - a blend of wit and slapstick that undercuts the drama well. Greig is undoubtedly an incredibly talented playwright. His writing is unpredictable and engaging, offering real moments of reflection for the audience. In the first act, he focuses on the battle between human beings and nature, as well as the internal battles of longing and isolation. He captures the oncoming threat of war well, offering conflicting viewpoints from his two protagonists.It is a shame that some of these interesting themes drop away slightly in the second act, as the focus shifts onto the relationship between Robert, John and Ellen. It becomes easy to forget the ornithological beginnings, the moral dilemmas and the complicated wartime background as the play switches focus from the battle for the rights of the natural world, but to a battle of romantic affection.
It is, perhaps, a lazy comparison, but Robert (Bruce Langley) and John (Fred Woodley-Evans) can be somewhat likened to William Goldings’ Jack and Ralph from Lord of the Flies. As Robert, Langely oozes a boyish charm, somehow endearing despite his impulsivity and disregard for consequences. He is effortlessly charming, despite his underlying cold detachedness as he views the world through a narrow, scientific lens so that even a corpse elicits no real emotional reaction. The same can be said for his attitude towards women and sex, reducing it to a meer biological impulse. Yet still, there is something about his passion and intensity that draws you to him, and as John, Woodley-Evans encapsulates this perfectly. It is clear to see his internal battle over his friendship with Robert as he struggles to marry together his more reserved, gentler and emotional disposition with the excitement that Robert brings. His performance as such is incredibly strong, especially considering Outlying Islands is his professional debut and I have no doubt that this will be one of many feathers in his cap to come (sorry). Together, Woodley-Evans and Langely are an electrifying duo, bouncing off each other with ease.
They are supported by a similarly captivating performance by Kevin McMonagle as Kirk, a grizzled Scotsman who purports Christian values whilst focusing on his own self-interests and monetary gain. He is fundamentally unlikeable, and yet his dry humour never failed to send laughter through the audience and it is a shame that we did not get to see more of McMonagle in this role. His niece, Ellen (Whitney Kehinde) changes dramatically over the course of the play. Initially, a timid, nervous and plain girl, she comes alive at the mention of cinema as we learn of her love of Laurel and Hardy (in particular, Laurel). Her time on the island is transformative, as she uses their time in relative isolation to go on a journey of self-discovery, particularly so with regards to her sexuality. Comparatively, her character is not as fleshed out as Robert and John, and consequently she is harder to connect with. This also makes her journey feel rushed, rather than natural, to the point that her actions and descriptions of events feel somewhat jarring. She does have real moments of poignancy, such as her monologue to close the first act, and Kehinde delivers these well though her performance is not quite as dazzling as that of Langley and Woodely-Evans.
On a grey and dreary February evening in London, it isn’t too hard to imagine being on a remote Scottish Island. The intimacy of Jermyn Street Theatre is perfectly suited to encapsulating the feeling of remoteness and closeness shared by the four characters. Set predominantly in an abandoned chapel, centred around a single table and fireplace, the close quarters only add to the simmering boiling pot of tension that threatens to overflow on multiple occasions. A hauntingly beautiful backing set of dominating cliffs (Anna Lewis) adds to the atmosphere, with complimentary sound (Christopher Preece) and lighting (David Doyle) to mimic the changing conditions.
And if you have made it this far, then I am sorry to disappoint you at the last hurdle but I would be remiss to end this review without saying it, so here goes - Lazer’s production of Outlying Islands is quite simply, egg-cellent. Langley and Woodley-Evans shine as the two leads, navigating the tempest of emotions expertly and delivering cracking performances. I have no doubt that it’s short run will fly by, so don’t miss the opportunity to see these two in action.
Outlying Islands plays at the Jermyn Street Theatre until March 15th
For tickets and information visit https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/outlying-islands/
Photos by Alex Brenner