One Small Step is an original play written and directed by Takuya Kato, unfolding with an argument between a Japanese couple who are both research scientists. The story may seem far away from people's daily lives, but it is actually very relevant to them. In the not-too distant future, mankind is preparing to live on the Moon. The main characters, Narumi and Takashi, are a married couple who have been carrying out research into building and breeding on the Moon for a long time. However, just as they are about to land on the moon to continue their research, something happens that affects their decision.
When the audience walks into the theatre, they are already in the midst of a story of two people. The two are on a white circular stage, Narumi sits on the edge of the stage while Takashi searches for information amongst the papers that litter the floor. The design of the stage (Milla Clarke) is quite simple, with only a detached bathroom and some daily necessities, such as a bag, a printer, a coffee maker. The lighting of the play (Andrew Exeter) is very cold, with no warm colours present. During the play, the stage rotates at a slow speed. This entire environment gives a feeling as if the two people are already on the moon, with a hint of loneliness.
Apart from a phone call at the end of the play, Narumi and Takashi are the only two people interacting with each other throughout the play. While the story progresses, there are real-time cameras filming Narumi from both sides, projecting close-ups of her onto two screens over the stage. This effectively centres the audience's attention on Narumi, reminding them that she is the very centre of the story. However, when the fact that Narumi is pregnant is revealed, the camera begins to film her stomach and legs. While it may just be a way to show that something important is happening to her, it gives the impression that Narumi is being gazed at. But on another level, it does demonstrate the issues that women face today. Now and then, as the story progresses, a train would pass over the theatre, and the rumbling sound seems to become a part of the play as well, reinforcing the tension between Narumi and Takashi.
Susan Momoko Hingley (Narumi) and Mark Takeshi Ota (Takashi) delivered a very life-like performance. The transition from calm conversations to sudden outbursts of meltdowns and anger and then to calmness again was very natural. Around the main conflict of the story, the audience also gets a slight insight into the status and pattern of the two people's lives from their dialogue. However, because the entire play revolves around the central conflict in the form of a discussion between two people, while this makes the production thematic, it's also slightly monotonous and repetitive, which can be a bit tiring at times.
The origin of the story's conflict may seem like an issue that people do not currently deal with, but in fact, issues like this exist in everyday life. It may not be every day that a human being has to decide whether to go to the moon or stay on Earth, but it is always difficult for women to balance having children with maintaining their old status in life, and many of them are even forced to go down this path even though they do not want to have children. So even though there is still room for this play to get better, the discussion it makes is very meaningful. In this story, it may seem like two people only have to make one choice, but the step of that choice is enormous.
One Small Step is running until 9th October at Charing Cross Theatre. For more tickets and information, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Mark Senior
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