Out There

Out There is a charming 45 minute one act play that deals with the issue of the dead, where they go, how we should remember them and why we shouldn’t feel forever sad about their passing.

Aimed at primary school children, the play nevertheless has much to say that is relevant to all ages and by combining the use of puppets, shadow theatre and actors there is always something to keep the attention.

The whole play is set in Mexico and has a Spanish flavour from the beginning due to the Spanish guitar accompaniment. The dialogue is also peppered with Spanish phrases that lend some additional authenticity to the piece.

A very simple set that consists largely of coloured material and a white central cloth, for projection of the shadows, is augmented by colourful costumes and the wonderful make-up of the dead people.    However, rather than appearing to be cadaverous they have beautiful painted faces.

The addition of three puppet skeletons adds extra fun and fascination.  The cast was small but talented and the two main characters, Sammual (James Christie) and Sofia (Leanne Johnson), although very different in personality, brought fun, fantasy and realism to the piece.

This play was strangely moving at the end, as Sofia discovered that Sammual had remembered her and Sammual decided that he would like to visit his Grandma’s shrine after all.

I liked the fact that while a real event, The Day of the Dead (that has significance to Roman Catholics particularly in Mediterranean countries) was the focal point of the production, there was no slavish insistence on doctrinal consistency.

The side by side use of religious, folklore and fantastical themes should mean that everyone can enjoy and appreciate the production and its message without getting bogged down in religious meaning

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