By: Mary Beth Volmer
The doors opened to the sound of water crashing on the shore and gulls screaming in the wind. The small theatre was packed with about 30 people awaiting to learn more about Pilot Island & Her Keepers. I was sitting there incognito, as I already knew the story. The actors appeared the told of this desolate island ‘that affords about as much independence and liberty as Libby Prison’ – a quote from Victor Rohn one of the early lightkeepers, whom we soon meet.
The narrator asks the audience, ‘If you could bring three things to the island, what would they be?’ As we pondered the question, an actor appears on stage as the spirit of an ill-fated voyage.
In the next scene we find keeper Rohn telling the next keeper, Emmanuel Davidson all the pleasantries of the island, such as the siren (aka ‘the beast’), the fog, picnics, and how much he will miss seeing the horizon at every sun up and sun down. The playwright did an amazing job getting in the head of the complicated assistant keeper, John Boyce. Equally amazing was the depiction of the lightkeeper / hero, Martin Knudsen who was ‘born for this’ life; but let’s not forget those who inspired him! Enter Nellie the cow, played by an actor carrying an accordion. The troupe sang of the hilariously harrowing event in bringing Nellie over to Pilot Island.
I listened intently to the audience as they departed and heard them talk about the wonder of this troupe in delivering the story which made them feel like they were witnessing history in the making.
I agreed and then questioned myself,
"What three things would I bring to Pilot Island?"
Listen to this quick interview with the playwright and one of the actors of this phenomenal play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8aIqtxfPS0.
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