David Greig’s 2022 play Outlying Islands gets a rare revival at the tiny Jermyn Street Theatres and places us on a remote Scottish island immediately prior to the declaration of war in 1939.
Two young scientists, Robert (Bruce Langley) and John (Fred Woodley Evans in his professional debut), have been assigned to count the wildlife (mainly birds) on the island by ‘the Ministry’.
However, it slowly becomes apparent that this is only a cover for a project that will be far more invasive to this ‘pristine’ sanctuary. In wartime, sacrifices can and must be made.
Billeted in the old pagan chapel, the two men become enamored of both the rare birds on the island and the only woman, Ellen (Whitney Kehinde), who has a fascination for Laurel & Hardy but is kept under the control of her uncle, Mr Kirk (Kevin McMonagle).
In a grey set (designed by Anna Lewis) that stands for several locations on the island, we see moments of comedy plus an early death and an awkward seduction scene.
All set to the sound design (by Christopher Preece) of storms and bird calls, we feel from the first scene that we are a long way from civilisation.
Although this is a very dialogue-heavy play that runs over two hours of performance time, the pace is generally good and despite the small stage, director Jessica Lazar conjures up a sense of mysticism that build into the final moments.
This is a cold play set in a cold place, for outsiders to play in. From the first moments the scientists take up residence in the chapel, breaking down the door and failing to start up a fire, things feel curious and tense.
Once the whisky starts flowing and money starts to rear its head, the stage is set for something serious to happen and for lives to change.
It’s a play that feels worth a revival – this is a solid piece of drama for four actors. I found Woodley Evans was excellent as the rather naive John, an innocent abroad despite only hailing from Edinburgh.
The island, set aside from the mainland with a boat only once a month, might as well be the moon with its sheep, puffin broth, and Christian traditions.
Langley allows Robert, an Englishman, to grow through self-absorption into something far more spiritual, and although it doesn’t quite come off, it is a strong performance.
The best of all comes from Kehinde, who gives Ellen a strange quietness that erupts unexpectedly at the most unlikely of situations.
She’s a calm centre in a storm, a bird whose wings flutter at the slightest breath of wind, and whose body shivers at the thought of making her own way in the world.
With McMonagle dealing with the role of Kirk as the archetypal dour islander with a light touch, this is a well-cast drama worth catching.
3.5 stars.
Outlying Islands continues at Jermyn Street Theatre until 15 Mar – tickets here.
Image credit: Alex Brenner