By Charlotte K. Jarmy

Courtesy of Bus Barn

Theater Review

Bus Barn Stage Company’s production of “Neville’s Island” presents a situation difficult to accept.

Four administrative employees of a large company make several mistakes in their company’s effort to assess its workers through problem solving. Their small team, shipwrecked, comes out of the sea soaked, stranded on a deserted rocky island. Angus (Geoff Fiorito) becomes the berated victim for losing all their food in the water. Does that sound like a reality program on TV? Who will survive?

The group, led by Jonathan Wayne as Neville, has no camping skills and little ingenuity. Fiorito does the best acting job, evolving from downcast, hapless victim to furious retaliation against his chief tormentor Gordon (John T. Aney), who overdoes the anger and frustration demanded of his role. His loud ranting and self-pity fill the stage with unrelenting noise.

The first act moves much too slowly as the men try to adjust to their misery. They continuously argue, even though ineffectual Neville says, “Calm is survival.”

Unfortunately, Wayne underplayed his role and allowed Gordon’s character to create a no-win situation.

The fourth man, Roy (Frederik Goris), carries a secret about his past. Everyone but Angus knows Roy had “time off” for a nervous breakdown. Roy’s weirdness and religious quirks - he thinks an angel spoke to him - creates tension among the others, adding to the mounting belligerence between Gordon and Angus.

It takes the entire first act for the plot to start the move toward its climax. Playwright Tom Firth has some dramatic shocks waiting in the wings, but he creates an imbalance as the second act moves from no action to explosion. We can see the conflict between Angus and Gordon verging on near disaster. While there are some humorous moments along the way, the humor comes in the bitter form of Gordon’s sarcasm and cruelty.

It takes a reversal of Angus’ humiliation, when Fiorito unleashes his beaten-down fury, to bring the play to the climax we expect. “We’re all wild now,” shouts Angus, reflecting the theme of the novel “Lord Of The Flies.”

Goris, as the mentally ill Roy, acts as the fulcrum where sanity returns. He causes the others to examine their own failings.

Fiorito gave the play the effectiveness the other actors lacked. His change develops Angus into the main character who becomes the center of the dramatic resolution.

“Neville’s Island” lacks the excitement of TV’s reality programming; we know who would be voted off the island. The plot leaves the characters mired in their own weakness and offers little room for sympathy, even for the pathetic Roy.

The play runs through Aug. 11 at Bus Barn Stage Theater, Los Altos. For tickets and information, call 941-0551.