IT'S that time of year when, at the Angles Theatre, the Isle College Performing Arts students reach for a mixed bag of goodies from their Selection Box - a box which this year comprised extracts from a variety of plays written during the last 70 years. Th

IT'S that time of year when, at the Angles Theatre, the Isle College Performing Arts students reach for a mixed bag of goodies from their Selection Box - a box which this year comprised extracts from a variety of plays written during the last 70 years.This protracted Nine Lives Theatre production proved a useful yardstick to measure the youngsters' potential, but also proved a morbid collection. It needed some comedy to lift the gloom.Antigone, one of Anouilh's 'black plays', manifested their sensitive awareness of the dramatic pause, the immense potential, superb diction, and delightful mezzo register of Natalie Stafford, and the intense sensitivity and above-average talent of Harriet Crowe as Ismene.Neaptide, a lesbian play by Sarah Daniels, was preoccupied with inter-family wrangling, and incorporated one or two promising performances. Diminutive Helene Oliver was an effervescent young granddaughter, whereas Sarah Sneden was delightful as the cantankerous, cockney gran.The occasional 'masking' in Lorca's House of Bernada Alba was slightly irritating, but compensated by Rachel Mansfield's portrayal of the despotic Bernada, contrasted by Leah Stevens' quiet, but technically good, Martirio.The final extract, Mother's Day, by David Storey, was highlighted by two good performances - Hollie Garrod as Mrs Johnson and Ben Curtis-Bridges as psychopathic Gordon.REX MOUNTAIN