Ruby Moon

Basically, before the start of the play, little Ruby Moon had gone down the quiet cul-de-sac to visit her grandmother and she has not been seen since. What we, the audience, see is the devastating effects this has, on not only her parents but all the residents in this protected street. The story line is not logical, the characters are all uniquely different and the reasoning – if there is any – is challenging to the audience. Thus Ruby Moonhas all the necessary ingredients for an absorbing, challenging night at the theatre.

The director and the cast of only two have achieved a fluent production with the living room of the Moon house as the core of the set that became the other houses of the street with minor quick changes and additions to the various costumes. This worked well and director Susan O’Toole-Gridland has produced an entertaining and thought provoking staging of this play. Really, the dialogue and various characters were at the centre – as they should have been.

Gary Farmer–Trickett and Sandra Harman were the parents Ray and Sylvie Moon for the most part, but each took on the roles of numerous neighbours as they were questioned by the other parent. Both were outstanding in these cameo roles but both could have done with a bit more oomph and emotion as the parents, particularly in Act 1. Also, Gary Farmer–Trickett needed more clarity in several of his early scenes.  Still, overall, really well done.

As I followed the scenes, I began to have questions in my mind – as I am sure others did too – such as these. Who, of the neighbours, killed Ruby? Did one of the parents, or both, do the murder? Finally, I wondered if Ruby had ever existed.  Go to see this good production and discover if you can make sense of what had happened – if it did.  You will be glad you saw it.

William Davies