One Small Step
Seen at the Charing Cross Theatre
This play is quite frustrating. It is based on an interesting idea, but is underwritten and over-produced. Written by Takuya Kato but translated by Andrew and Mika Eglinton, it has lost drama under the direction of the playwright and the work of the dramaturgs. At some time in the future, a married couple are involved in plans to be amongst the first to migrate and live on the moon’s surface. They have a challenging decision when she becomes pregnant. Would pregnancy and childbirth on the moon be dangerous for mother or child? Can she still make the trip, or does it spell the end of her career? Although the physical risk does not apply to the husband, can he deal with the emotional test? Can biological difference allow equality for women and men?
The traverse stage has a white circular wall around a central revolve. There is a toilet enclosed in a glass box, which along with the rest of the performing area, slowly circles throughout the show. Two camcorders project live images to screens above the stage. I found this technology distracting and unnecessary. The cameras only showed the woman: okay, but it’s a slightly clumsy way to emphasise that the focus is on her. The revolve and cameras reduce the freedom for the actors to work the space, meaning the piece seems always inward looking for its 70 mins. The actors play it low key. Susan Momoko Hingley as Narumi works hard to portray the frustration of her character, while Mark Takeshi Ota as Takashi repeatedly asks that they talk. These two supposedly intelligent characters talk so much, yet fail to communicate. Despite the actors’ efforts it is hard to sympathise.
The text has little shape, and lacks dynamics. Having the final twist revealed via an unseen video call lacks excitement. The science is disappointing, I was unconvinced by the dialogue and found the arguments lacked passion. For me, the play lacks drama and dynamism. The dialogue is pedestrian. It is not helped when the woman retires to the toilet for the main confrontation leaving the man isolated outside: symbolic, but unsatisfying for the audience.
Derek Benfield