Review: Youth And Growing Up Are Explored From The Perspective Of The 13 Year Old MOONCHILD

Friday 12th August 2016, 7pm, ATYP Theatre, Walsh Bay

MOONCHILD, presented by We Make Theatre is an honest expression of the concerns of youth, created by those who are still living it. Presented as part of ATYP's (Australian Theatre For Young People) Cameo program, friendships, families and a sense of wonder are examined as a young girl's life is turned upside down.

Upon entering the ATYP theatre the audience's focus is immediately drawn to Georgia Hopkins' (set and costume design) circular patch of lawn and the hills hoist complete with washing and baubles representing the solar system. The lawn is scattered with children's toys and a dogbowl.

The premise of the work centres on the 13 year old Moonchild, portrayed by the 13 year old Scarlett Waters, a smart child with a fascination with space exploration. Through the course of the one act play Moonchild is joined by her best friend Shannon and her mother, both played by co-creator, 23 year old Julia Patey, as her seemingly simple life gets turned upside down by parental problems and fallouts with her BFF. As she grows up and is confronted with these issues along with her beloved dog going missing, she maintains a sense of wonder and ambition through her interest in the space race, in particular, first woman in space, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. In overalls recognisable as those worn by astronauts and cosmonauts, pigtail plaits and heavy rimmed glasses, Moonchild comes across as a somewhat nerdy child as she plays with friend Shannon, who also wears a cosmonaut sweater but proves to be more of a girly-girl than Moonchild.

Patey and Waters have managed to fit in a lot of events into the 55 minute work allowing the audience to see how Moonchild's life is affected by her parents fighting, her beloved dog Mostoff going missing and a falling out with best friend Shannon. These events are focused around Moonchild's fascination with space, finding inspiration in Valentina Tereshkova's mission in orbit in 1963 which is a distinct contrast to her best friend's obsessions with boys and Wuthering Heights. They have incorporated monologues of self reflection and narration, dialogue, one sided conversations, dance and song into the work that still requires a little polish to reduce the appearance of self-consciousness, particularly with regards to the choreography but conveys an interesting message and expression of childhood. Whilst many other shows for children, about children are written and created by adults, the collaboration between the two captures a more real understanding of the emotions Moonchild would be feeling.

MOONCHILD is an interesting new work that would appeal to other children and those that may be interested in tapping into the mind of the next generation.

MOONCHILD

ATYP Theatre, Walsh Bay

10 August - 20 August 2016

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