BWW Reviews: Wilma's UNDER THE WHALEBACK -Not Such a Great Catch

This is the North American Premier of the celebrated British playwright Richard Bean directed by Wilma's Founding Artistic Director, Blanka Zizka. Billed as a "dark comedy, savagely funny" is an understatement for this uncomfortably vulgar, profane-laced production.

The whaleback is the sloping deck of a fishing trawler. The action is set in the cramped cabins of three different fishing vessels and gives a real feel for the lives of the men who make these their homes for weeks on end doing "the worst job in the world".

The colorful characters are as follows:

A well intoxicatEd Cassidy, played by Pierce Bunting, is a somewhat of a legend in his lifetime with many staggering stories of his exploits, who joins the crew of the Kingston Jet in 1965 with a young seventeen year old lad called Darrell, played by Brian Ratcliffe. What takes place from their meeting has an impact on the young lad's future life.

1972 Darrell, now twenty four, joins the James Joyce and continues his encounters with more members of the fishing community, experiencing their way of life, which is mostly more "cussing' and squallbling like sailors" of course. This time he meets Norman, played by Keith J. Conallen, the new young scoundrel who is aggressively freaking out and cussing "for a cup of coco". Bill, played by H. Michael Walls; a salty old seaman, is slightly more settled in his ways and carves his way through his voyages and is perhaps the more tolerable character in this menagerie of madness. Rock, played by Ed Swidey; a tall, mild manner, slow thinking sailor who just wants to get married seems ill-suited with the rest of the nautical numskulls .

New situations arise and new things are learnt from one another as they endure the voyage. All this leads to the Arctic Kestrel, a museum ship as an exhibition of life on board a fishing vessel. Darrell the curator, now played by Pearce Bunting, now fifty four is setting the boat up when he is joined by Pat played by Keith J. Conallen, a mixed up adolescent who has heard of Darrell's exploits at sea. What ensues is shockingly typical of today's view of life.

Director Blanka Zizka traveled to England to meet the playwright, interviewed the fishermen and their wives. There is little doubt that this play is a realistic snapshot of the life of a merchant fisherman. Nonetheless, the cast of characters have one thing in common in that they are vulgar, crude and come from a seedy background. The plot is more realistically revolting than entertaining.

The saving grace for this production is set designer Matt Saunders ability to transform the mid size stage to a full sized inner sanctum of the sleeping quarters in the bow of the trawler. The audience realistically experiences the sights and sounds of the roaring storming sea surrounding the theater. Allen Hahn's Lighting Designs and Daniel Perelstein's Sound Design are equally brilliant.

Every so often a play makes a social comment and has a story to tell that makes for an unforgettable evening at the theater. Wilma's Under the Whaleback is NOT for a general theater audience, which is typical for the popular edgy Wilma Theater company.

Under The Whaleback plays at the Wilma Theater, 213 S. Broad St. Phila. Pa March 6-April 7, 2013
For tickets and information visit www.wilmatheater.org or call 215.546.7824

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