Review: NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, The Watermill
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
In 1995, John Major was Prime Minister, Robson & Jerome had the best selling single of the year, and Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson was first published by Doubleday. Since then, the book has sold over 2 million copies and in 2003, was voted by Radio 4 listeners as “the book that best represented England”. Tim Whitnall has now adapted this much loved travel journal for the stage, in a production that lovingly evokes images of Britain in times gone by.
American Bill Bryson first visited the UK in 1973, which is where we first meet our protagonist, as he arrives on a ferry from Calais. After a short exploration of the country, he becomes infatuated with our Small Island, and takes a job in a sanatorium in Surrey in order to stay in Blighty that bit longer. Here, he meets and falls in love with his wife-to-be, Cynthia, marries her, and after a short hop back to the states to complete his education, returns to England to start a family, work as a journalist, and celebrate his adopted homeland. Whitnall’s highly amusing script allows us to join Bill on this journey during Act 1, meeting a whole host of different characters along the way. This seven-strong cast could offer a masterclass in multi-rolling, as only Bill Bryson (Mark Hadfield) remains as himself throughout.
Act 2 is a whirlwind of adventure as Bill retraces the journey he took in 1973, with the view to writing a book about it. However, he finds many differences in 90’s Britain, and not all of them are favourable (in fact, barely any are!) The second half of the show is much more comical, faster paced and as such, feels a little chaotic in places, but this enhances the sense of time passing and the world around moving on.
The cast of the show are truly phenomenal. Bryony Corrigan, Wendy Nottingham, Anne Odeke, Steve Pinder, Akshay Sharan and Hayden Wood portray some 80 characters between them, and it’s through these comical vignettes that much of the audiences laughter is drawn. The costuming is exceptionally clever, with lots of layering and small touches which really define each of these individuals. Katie Lias has created another marvellous set, making expert use of the small playing space at The Watermill, while remaining aesthetically pleasing and wholly functional to the needs of the production. Projection design by George Reeve adds a beautiful backdrop to the performance, as well as some handy geographical reminders as to where in the country we currently find ourselves!
Notes from a Small Island is now nearly 30 years old, and Bryson’s Britain of 1995 feels as far removed as his original comparison from 1973! One can’t help being reminded of the cost of living crisis, Brexit, the pandemic and the significant technological advancements which would make Bill’s journey a very different adventure if embarked upon today. In many ways, this is a very timely premiere of the show. It ignites an unexpected surge of patriotism, because as Bill says to Cynthia in the closing scene: What a wonderful place this is. Crazy as f**k of course, but wonderful.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by Sarah Brown
Notes from a Small Island runs until 18 March, with further information available here.