Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The new two-hander musical ISLANDER is a beguiling little creation that unobtrusively addresses environmental issues

• By drediman
• April 24, 2022
• No Comments

Last night, I attended a performance of Islander at Playhouse 46, a brand new off-Broadway performance venue in the heart of the Theater District that has given a new lease on life – which includes new management and a much needed overhaul of the physical space – to the former St. Luke’s Theatre. Conceived and directed by Amy Draper and performed by only a duo of singing actresses (the fantastic Kristy Findlay and Bethany Tennick), the new two-hander musical is making its US debut in New York after having completed acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London’s Southwark Playhouse. Islander tells the story of some of the last denizens of Kinnan, a small island off the coast the Scottish Mainland. Once tilled by farmers, Kinnan finds itself losing its inhabitants to the Mainland, presumably due to the drying up of the island’s resources.

And that’s just the beginning. In due course, the intimate musical eventually weaves in some some fantastical elements that takes the musical into some unexpected territory. First off, it’s always refreshing to experience a truly original musical, one that isn’t based on pre-existing material, whether it be a hit movie or a pop artist’s established songbook. Indeed, in terms of originality, Islander – with its inspired reliance on looping technology and live mixing to perform the show’s score and create its evocative soundscapes – may just be one of the most unique new musicals of the season. The book by Stewart Melton is a model of efficiency and elegant distillation, thankfully bypassing some of the regular pitfalls of many a book of a musical. Indeed, the storytelling is fresh and tastefully understated, especially in the unobtrusive way it addresses environmental issues. I was also impressed by the book’s organic and completely natural interplay with Finn Anderson’s gently driving, voice-orchestrated score, which is sweet but never saccharine.

With only a bare stage to work with, Ms. Draper’s direction is deceptively simple; every single moment and beat of the show has been carefully considered, resulting in a staging (with some superlative assistance from Simon Wilkinson’s expert, dynamic lighting design) that’s consistently compelling. Although both actresses are captivating and skilled actresses, Ms. Findlay in particular does an adept job of portraying a whole roster of characters with astonishing specificity while impressively eschewing caricaturization. Individually, their voices soar effortlessly (it’s thrilling to hear them in such intimate environs). And when they harmonize, it’s a true thing of beauty to behold. With the flash and hubbub of the spring theater season currently at its height, I encourage you not to let this beguiling little creation slip through the cracks.

RECOMMENDED

ISLANDER
Off-Broadway, Musical
Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Open run