one4review | On 23, Aug 2019

The cast, in ‘NASA’ boiler suits, ask the younger audience members to draw what they want to be when they grow up.

Then the lights dim, and with a few simple props and a puppet, we’re transported back to 1969, and the life of Maisie Robinson. She wants to be the first girl on the moon, and to travel among the stars. Her dad supports her dream, playing and having fun together to the end.

When he dies, she is forced to go and stay with her aunt, at a school where they mock her dreams. The cast of five, between manning the puppet and playing the other roles use simple props for these different characters – dad has a flat cap, the school girls straw boaters. A simple system, but works well.

Maisie tries hard to keep the dream alive, but when she hurts herself, and breaks her aunt’s precious clock, she finally reads the letter her father wrote her.

It’s an emotional, uplifting tale, and the children skipped out, inspired.

****
Reviewed by Gill
Underbelly Cowgate
10:50 (until 25th)