REVEIW: An Air Balloon Across Antarctica - Adelaide Fringe

The quote on the press release reads, "You’d have to be a very jaded fringe goer not to be touched by this fresh, talented production…”- Broadway Baby.

Well then, I must be a very jaded theatregoer because An Air Balloon Across Antarctica did leave me a little cold.

The play is essentially about a couple dealing with the accidental death of a child and uses Antarctica as a metaphor for the state of the grieving heart. It is a geographical and emotional exploration of the different responses to overwhelming grief.

This is a solid and spirited presentation of this script and the cast do everything in their power to bring this story alive. I do think that this has proven to be difficult material for a young cast to perform in terms of emotional access to the subject matter in some cases.

Having said that, especially strong in this production is Paul David-Goddard whose rendition of the older James is fully embodied. His voice, presence and connection with the material are wonderful. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and I can’t wait to see him onstage again. Sophie Lampel who played the part of Ham, the hamster who acts as comic relief and narrator to the story, gives an energetic and compelling performance. Less compelling is Claire Glenn who plays the protagonist, Caitlin. Her performance was in general, a little shrill and I found myself wanting to see more emotional texture in her manifestation of grief and anger.

My main reservation about the direction of the piece, and this could be a convention stated in the script, was the use of doubling the actors in the roles of ‘young James and Caitlin’ and ‘older James and Caitlin’. I found this convention at first confusing and then a technique that distanced me from the arc of the couple’s story. I would have preferred to see two actors transform in age and time rather than the awkward convention used in this production.

The set was effective and the incidental music was lovely and well utilized by the director.

I want to commend Three to a Room for showing such energy and passion for theatre. I’m looking forward to seeing the next show by this enthusiastic, young company.

An Air Balloon Across Antarctica is part of the Adelaide Fringe.