The Ensemble Theatre’s latest play, the intriguing and powerful LUNA GALE, opens with two meth addicts, Karlie and Peter, who are contained in a waiting room while their baby Luna is receiving medical attention for dehydration. Husband Peter is slumped on a chair, coming down from the drug, whilst Karlie is pacing the room, trying to wake him up by force-feeding him ‘Skittles’. Her bag is full of junk food.
Written in 2014 by American award-winning playwright and author, Rebecca Gilman, this cleverly constructed play can appear at first to be dealing with cliches, but scene by scene, it turns them upside down.
Karlie and Peter are in danger of losing custody of their child when they meet up with Caroline Cox – a seasoned social worker for the Department of Human Services for 25 years. Caroline is at first relieved when she meets Karlie’s mother, Cindy, who appears to be a stable grandmother from a wholesome, mid-west Christian home. Caroline, in trying to make the right choices to protect the baby, soon encounters doubt and moral ambiguity.
As the plot intensifies, the audience become involved in the moral dilemma and also don’t know which way to go. Caroline does not take to “Crazy Christians” kindly, and especially to Cindy and her companion and pastor, Jay’s “end of the world is nigh” theories, so she becomes somewhat alarmed when Cindy wants permanent custody of Luna.
The second act takes interesting twists and turns, explaining why Karlie has been affected by trauma and addiction. Caroline finds herself delving into her own past. We see Karlie and Peter desperately trying to become good parents and commit to rehabilitation. Caroline’s boss, Cliff, is at odd’s with her, pushing his own Christian ethic to influence her decision.
Georgie Parker portrays Caroline with endearing strength and conviction. It is the perfect role for her. Lucy Heffernan as Karlie and Jacob Warner as Peter give sterling performances and evoke both repulsion and empathy from the audience.
Michelle Doake also creates a colourful, 3-dimensional Cindy, fervent but also humorous. David Whitney is a terrific actor, bringing great charisma to Pastor Jay and Scott Sheridan is great at making his character, Cliff, so unlikeable. We meet young, vivacious Lourdes, played by talented young actress, Ebony Vagulans, who is one of Caroline’s former clients.
Director Susanna Dowling has done Gilman’s play justice, bringing fully rounded characters who defy cliche and keeping the audience involved.
The creative team are to be congratulated – Simone Romaniuk’s wonderful set and costume designs, Nicholas Higgins’ lighting design with its subtle changes and Marty Jamieson’s sound design enhancing the scenario.
LUNA GALE is a stimulating and thought-provoking play with a wonderful cast. Definitely worth seeing.
It is playing at the Ensemble Theatre until the 13th October, 2018.
Featured image – Lucy Heffernan and Jacob Warner play a troubled young couple in LUNA GALE at the Ensemble Theatre.