Skylab

There was a lovely community feel at the opening night of Black Swan State Theatre Company and Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company’s co-production of Skylab. This World Premiere was introduced this a very warm Welcome to Country and a party atmosphere, very appropriate for a slightly irreverent, fun production that doesn’t take itself terribly seriously.

Set in July 1979 near Esperance, we meet a lovely Aboriginal family preparing for dinner. While Uncle Harv is definitely more than a little different, Jem, Nev and their kids have little idea that their world is about to change and that NASA’s Skylab station will fall to earth almost on top of them.

Described as "a contemporary Dreaming story with a whole lot of magic”, this initially slightly larger than life tale, takes a genre shift in Act 2 becoming a warm fantasy that draws heavily on the style of TV show Monkey Magic as well as Dreaming Lore.

Matthew McVeigh’s set design immediately gives us hints that this show will be less than conventional, with its slightly crooked little home. It reveals a myriad of surprises throughout the show, with some highly creative input from Mike Nanning’s lighting design and Mia Holton’s vision design. Dr Clint Bracknell’s sound design and composition is great fun.

Gary Cooper’s Uncle Harvey is an instant hit with the audience, with a dynamic creation of this literally tinfoil hat wearing eccentric. Highly energetic and almost manic, we are gradually drawn completely into his world. Rayma McGrath Morrison also brings a touch of magic in her brief appearances - our link to old magic and dreaming in her theatrical debut.

Strong performances from Allan Little (Nev) and Laila Bano Rind (Jem) as they create a believable parental team and really likeable characters, with some lovely layers.

The kids are simply delightful. Not just there to look cute (although they deliver cute in bucketloads) these are huge, demanding roles, especially for very young actors in their first speaking roles or even first time on stage.

On opening night we saw Juliette Laylan as Amy, Liani Dalgetty, as Sonia and Benjamin Narkle as Nate, (they alternate with Eva Bartlett, Donnathia Gentle and Jacob Narkle), who were very professional and impressive. Only the occasional sneaky glance at the audience and being a little hard to hear at times, revealed their inexperience, and I am sure that that will disappear during the run.

The biggest professional children’s roles in Perth this year - and they attack them with energy, enthusiasm and excellence.While some sequences run slightly long too and a touch of judicious editing could make the show stronger, this is a lovely, new, quintessentially Australian show, with broad appeal. I highly recommend grabbing a seat in Perth or during its brief tour to Karratha and Carnarvon. A show that deserves continuing development and further productions.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Dana Weeks.