Prophets is a two-hander drama exploring the power of religion and the effect it can have in isolated communities. After researcher Kerris (Rebecca Wilkie) arrives on the fictional remote island of Saint John, a British territory in the South Pacific whose population is largely descended from mutineers, she discovers a religious movement that all of the island’s population, of 48, seem to be following and becomes determined to find out more. Buoyed by convincing performances by Wilkie and her counterpart Xander Cowan, playing multiple characters, Prophets is a tense and atmospheric thriller.
However, its writing lets it down. The show’s pacing is poor, with a slow start that then rapidly accelerates towards the end, leaving it feeling rushed and the big moments unearned. Loose ends are left untied, such as brief scenes that suggest some kind of secret government plot that never comes up again. The story bares similarities to real events that took place on Pitcairn Island, a remote British island territory with a population of around 50, a large portion of whom are descended from mutineers. If Prophets drew inspiration from this story, it doesn’t do it justice.
Cowan’s use of accents makes his characters feel more like caricatures, with each one taking on a cartoonishly stereotypical voice. In addition, his principal character Joe’s accent slips from Kiwi into South African at points. We are told Saint John has some connection to New Zealand, so it’s not as if the actor using his usual accent would ruin immersion—if anything, the use of a Kiwi accent just reminds you that you’re watching a piece of theatre. Further, Cowan’s portrayal of the eponymous Prophet is cartoonishly evil, somewhat lowering the stakes of a scene that is intended to be one of the more climactic.
It should be said that Prophets maintains a strong atmosphere throughout. Its use of cold, harsh lighting and overpowering sound design fills the intimate space well. This creates a tension that grows as the story progresses and the audience, alongside Kerris, start to get lost in the mystery of Saint John. Ultimately though, the narrative doesn’t reach the heights this promises, culminating in an anticlimactic final conflict that left me feeling disappointed. Despite such a promising premise, in my view, Prophets falls short.
Prophets is running until 31 August (not 24) at Roxyboxy at Assembly Roxy.
Buy tickets here.
Image by Gallusness, provided to The Student as press material.
