Elaborate sets, costumes and lighting were not the name of the game at Waterspout Theatre's first production on Wednesday night.

The Rock Island Coffee lounge was transformed into a theatre with seats forming a semi-circle around the floor space set aside to be the stage for the group's performance of Sandra Alland's play The Man.

Although crowded with 30 people in the audience and nine cast members, the setting was also intimate and the audience could not help but be drawn into the story as it was sitting so close to the action. The play began with the end of the story and then went back in time to show how events unfolded.

Confused at first, the audience sat watching and waiting until it all began to make sense.

And as the plot laid by Venganza, the character played by Rock Island Coffee owner Lisabet Outerbridge, became clear, the audience then began trying to predict how the story would wind its way to the ending.

When Adam Goodall entered as The Man, his strong European accent left all confused for a moment but as he got into the role it became unnoticeable.

Although the cast began tentatively, they grew into their roles through the course of the play.

And the chorus, hidden off to the side of the stage for most of the evening, helped build the tension with choral speaking and chanting of key lines, rhythmic drumming and the occasional fit of laughter. A single light over head and a few candle lanterns helped to create the dark mood of the play.

Meanwhile some sprinkled straw on the floor and a table were all that was needed to create Venganza's home.

At the end of the production, the audience all sat quietly for a moment but when the nine person cast and chorus came forward for their curtain call the room roared with applause and calls for a speech from director Andra Simons.

Simons thanked everyone for making the night a success and said the group's next production would begin in May. A pleasant twist to the evening was a collection of poetry readings by producer Alan Smith and members of the chorus before the play began.

The $10 ticket is well worth the evening. The Man will continue playing at Rock Island Coffee until tomorrow evening.

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