Fails to take off.summary
Rating
Poor
One Small Step, written and directed by Takuya Kato, is the first of two new Japanese plays produced by Umeda Arts Theater to be staged in Charing Cross Theatre this autumn. It’s the not too far future and a team is working on a plan for a permanent moonbase. Takashi (Mark Takeshi Ota) and Narumi (Susan Momoko Hingley) are a young married couple working for the company planning this moonbase, but no-one knows they are married, nevermind even seeing each other. When Narumi tells Takashi she is pregnant, both their life plans and moon plans are thrown into chaos. Despite the semi-futuristic setting, One Small Step deals with themes of bodily autonomy, abortion, and the corporate response to pregnancy.
The relationship between Takashi and Narumi lacks any visible warmth; though we are told they are a couple, there is no real sign of it – almost as if they are hiding their marriage from the audience as well as their employer. Their dynamic is marked by a coldness and aloofness, leaving us emotionally detached. As a result, when Narumi’s pregnancy jeopardises both her role on the moon mission and possibly her entire career, it becomes difficult to be invested in their predicament.
It feels as though much is lost in translation; the dialogue is stilted and flat, lacking any natural flow. Though we see the two cast members putting in effort, with so little to work with, it gradually devolves into an almost mechanical back-and-forth – line, response, line, response – leaving nothing substantial to build upon. Their choices feel binary – either/or- with no nuance or room for compromise. While their decision whether or not to have the baby is pretty binary, are the choices about their future and their employer really so black and white? By the end, it’s difficult to care. There are no real stakes; we learn too little about the couple or about the moon project to invest in either.
The revolving set could show the couple in orbit, as the moon orbits us but all it serves to do is solidly reinforce the couple going in circles. Featuring two large screens hanging above the stage, there are two cameras focused solely on Narumi, but for reasons that are unclear. Beyond this and the rotating platform, there is a printer, coffee machine, smart home assistant, a couple of laptops, and a transparent toilet cubicle (which frosts when the lights are switched on). The only attempt at creating a futuristic feel is by making everything stark white, and the reliance on printed paper just feels anachronistic.
Charing Cross Theatre and Umeda Arts Theater deserve credit for bringing new international work to London, but this particular play is unfortunately nowhere near ready for its attempt at a moonshot.
Written & Directed by: Takuya Kato
Set & Costume Design by: Milla Clarke
Lighting Design by: Andrew Exeter
Sound Design by: Max Pappenheim
English Translation by: Andrew and Mika Eglinton
Casting Director & General Manager: Danielle Tarento
Produced by: Umeda Arts Theater
One Small Step plays at Charing Cross Theatre until 9th October. Tickets and further information can be found here.
