Perth Voice Interactive

SOLITUDE and sustainability merge in writer, producer and director Scott McArdle’s Between Solar Systems, at the Blue Room Theatre.

If a bloke in a spaceship, alone but for a computer voice, sounds familiar, the sci-fi aficionado says although it’s been quite awhile since he saw 2001: A Space Odyssey there are elements of the classic in his work.

“It’s a nod and homage to where sci-fi came from,” he tells the Voice.

The bulk of the play was written travelling back from Sydney on the “red eye express”, the playwright inspired by the feeling of hurtling through space in a metal capsule.

Between Solar Systems is the story of Vincent, the sole survivor of a drowned Earth, who was placed on the space ship as a baby: “He doesn’t know who put him there, or why,” McArdle says.

Raised by computers, Vincent is more robotic than they are: “The computer has a bit of a sense of humour, but he is mechanical and dry.”

Vincent has just turned 25 and strange things are happening aboard the spaceship as photos of Vincent and a woman turn up, and post-it notes are discovered, “with the scratchings of a mad man,” McArdle says.

And then there’s the mysterious woman who appears and disappears, is she real or a figment of his imagination?

“Vincent is never sure,” McArdle says.

With rising water levels back in the news thanks to Peter Dutton’s questionable sense of humour, the play looks at questions of sustainability, while also exploring “being different”.

“What it was like to have been born out there, raised out there, and how the normal things for Vincent are strange for us,” McArdle says.

Jo Morris is computer voice Vi, while Emily David is the mysterious woman. Sophie Braham designed the space-age costumes, and the highly impressive sets are by Sara Nives Chirichilli. Drew Krapljanov composed the music, and audio visuals are by Warwick Doddrell.
By Second Chance Theatre, Between Solar Systems is on at the Blue Room Theatre until September 26.

by JENNY D’ANGER