“Gripping ‘true story’ thriller brilliantly acted – what’s not to like?”
Wickies: The Vanishing Men of Eilean Mor by Paul Morrisey is the thrilling new look at the enduring mystery of the disappearance of James Ducat, Thomas Marshall and Donald MacArthur.
On 26th December 1900, a small ship arrived on Eilean Mor to find its only inhabitants missing. Clocks stopped, chairs overturned, food half eaten and the light out – this is where we start our journey. What follows is a creative tale pieced together with moments of truth and lots of imagination, including direct quotes from newspapers and log books found on the island.
What is interesting about the writing is from the beginning we are told the men are going to disappear, with moments of narration jumping from present to past to break up the piece. The knowing actually creates a constant tension which is palpable throughout, the audience desperate to know what is going to happen next. There are a few moments where the cast are telling what would be their version of old wives tales where the language becomes a little flowery – particularly for the situation, but still lends itself well to the overall piece. Additionally even in moments of high tension and confrontation these weathered seamen and wickies were linguistically elegant. Other notable things about the writing is the recognisable form, reminiscent of shows like Women in Black, a ghost story where your imagination creates the drama.
The set utilises the Parks’ lovely auditorium perfectly, truly transporting the audience to the inside of a cold stone building. The wonderful touch of a spiral staircase hanging from the ceiling immediately adds height and allows the imagination to fill in the details. One pet peeve is they ‘eat dinner’ and miraculously have clean bowls, just something simple which pulls the audience out of the moment.
Lighting and Sound design is heavily exploited to compliment the experience, the constant ‘lighthouse’ background noise – the soundscape is really all encompassing and very impressive. Lights are cleverly used to darken moments which should feel intense and also to mark present and past.
The cast are really the lynchpins on which the story hangs, Graeme Dalling (Donald Macarthur) is the aggressive drunk, Jamie Quinn (Thomas Marshal) the ‘wet behind the ears bairn’ and Ewan Stewart (James Ducat) the tortured stalwart. All three are exemplary, listening and responding truthfully throughout, the relationships immediate and clear. Particularly impressive is the multi-roling shift with the only real change usually being a coat, but the cast transforms easily. Quinn often shines with his likeable innocence dramatically juxtaposing the others. Director Shilpa T-Hyland has clearly created an environment where these actors can shine.
With London theatres overrun with Christmas Carols, this is the perfect thriller for those looking for something a little darker.