They each tell stories of what happened to them in Orford. Each monologue stands alone, yet is linked to the others, and as the play goes on we find out that the characters are connected in more ways than just through their setting. The monologues move between the characters, and there is only interaction between them once or twice throughout the play.
Mab, (played with charm by Jessica Carrol), is a servant at Orford Castle during the twelfth century and tells us her fascinating story of the Wild Man of Orford. Brett Brown is hilarious as Ben, a 28 year old Australian professor in 1973 with a guilty secret hanging over him, sent out to Orford Ness to fix the island's radar system. Meanwhile, Mog, a teacher in 2003, is just turning 30 and is confronted with a difficult decision.
The format of the play means that the focus is entirely on the writing and acting, both of which were first-class. |
The theatre itself, Park 90 (one of the stages in the Park Theatre), was the perfect place to put on this show. The intimacy of the space brought out the story telling quality of the writing beautifully.
I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. It is an unusual choice maybe, but a choice worth making.