Perhaps islander's reason for not staging play (8)

I believe the answer is:

castaway

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'play' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for castaway that I've seen before include "Shipwrecked character" , "worthless" , "One stranded remotely" , "One abandoned eg from ship" , ""Captain Bligh"? - with 5d" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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