Our Cosmic Dust at Park Theatre Review

Reviews

8 Jun

Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

This production contains strong language. It includes themes of death and grief. There will be use of haze, video and animation, including bright lights and flickering images.

Do we search the stars because we are seeking extraterrestrial life? How much do we search the stars for the loved ones we have lost? Or do we search them to discover ourselves? This philosophical conundrum lies at the heart of Our Cosmic Dust, where a young child seeks the soul of his departed father among the stars. Writer, Director and Set Designer Michinari Ozawa has created a truly phenomenal production that explores the topics of grief and the afterlife with nuance and precision.

Without revealing every detail, the play follows young Shotaro (Hiroki Berrecloth) as he explores his local area. He is portrayed as a sweet but deeply grieving child struggling to cope with the world around him, finding solace in the science of space, just as his father did before him. In contrast, we meet his mother, Yoko (Millie Hikasa), a grounded woman in a state of understandable panic for most of the show as she frantically searches for her missing child. During her search, we encounter Tara (Nina Bowers), Orion (Ian Hallard), and Alastair (Hari Mackinnon). Each of these adults grapples with grief and the loss of loved ones in their own way, investing in Shotaro’s quest for answers as a desperate yet hopeful attempt to find closure. All the characters exhibit subtly neurodivergent traits, with mannerisms and communication styles that reflect a spectrum of thought and emotion. This aspect is quietly radical and adds a powerfully authentic layer of inclusivity that feels both natural and intentional. The cast delivered refreshing, earnest performances, moving the audience to tears of sorrow or laughter in response to each event in the story.

The set was fabulously designed and brilliantly reflects the vastness of space and the emptiness of grief. Video Designer Eika Shimbo’s representation of the endless stars, childlike drawings and Shotaro’s emotions is shown in a beautifully accessible way. Puppet Director and Designer Mikayla Teodoro has meticulously crafted a wonderful puppet that embodies the whimsy of The Little Prince and the caring personality of a deeply layered character. It is rare to find a play where every detail is so finely tuned and beautifully arranged to give the greatest impact without being overwhelming. Susan Momoko Hingley’s translation of this play holds the distinction of being both faithful to the original Japanese and also seamlessly integrating English ideas. This is a difficult balance, but one that is walked well. The care and respect this show shows for the themes is a brilliant balance of heart, humour, and practicality. That this is achieved in a 90-minute straight running time is worthy of applause in its own right.

This is an incredible play that deserves its own place among the stars. It is bursting with compassion, humour, grief, and the fundamental curiosity that makes us human. This is a show with a profoundly heartwarming message that I think everyone needs to see, and it is an especially strong production for older children and teenagers, or would work well for a school trip. If you enjoy plays that focus on life after loss, humour in everyday ways, and finding the bright constellations amid the darkness, then this is the show for you.

Our Cosmic Dust plays at the Park Theatre until 5th July