Fly Me to the Moon: Greed, Guilt, and Underpaid Workers.
sean Hughes
Fly Me to the Moon is Marie Jones’ dark, farcical comedy which reflects on themes of greed, guilt and underpaid workers. Jones’ play opened in Belfast in 2012, but has since been staged in America, Canada, and beyond. The black, colloquial comedy returns to the Grand Opera House in Belfast before beginning a tour of the Island of Ireland.
Fly Me to the Moon follows Loretta Mackey (Abigail McGibbon) and Frances Shields (Katie Tumelty), two struggling care workers who are faced with a difficult and tempting situation when one of their patients, the Frank Sinatra-loving Davy Magee dies on their shift. Faced with the prospect of the financial benefits of Davy’s death, the two try to manage this increasingly absurd situation.
On paper, this scenario sounds especially grim but Jones’ organic dialogue and relatable characters alongside her ability to weave humour throughout the show imbue the story and its characters with a likeable and relatable air. The play follows Loretta & Frances over the course of the day as they attempt to hide Davy’s death, and cash in on his pension, all while competing with their own increasing paranoia and mistakes. The plot acts as a vehicle for the jokes and this is both a strength and a weakness, it means when the show is at its best, the laughs hit back to back. However, toward the end certain moments feel contrived to tell a particular joke and it shows.
The production evidently rests heavily on the shoulders of its only two actors, and McGibbon and Tumelty certainly do not disappoint. The pair play off each other fantastically and their natural chemistry really accentuates the likeability of these characters. The play is certainly funny and the first act is especially tight and packed with hilarious jokes and while the second act struggles and lags toward the end, the two leads carry the show superbly.
The show is well staged and relatively minimalist, which easily conveys the cramped nature of Davy's home. Interludes set to famous Sinatra songs followed by monologues from the two care workers explaining their activities when leaving the house and their inner thoughts on their worsening situation. These moments heighten the show's unique heart and personality.
As a whole, the show is a mixed bag, the first act is very funny but jokes don’t always land and this is increasingly evident towards the end. Similarly, the plot becomes slightly over wrought and repetitive toward the end. This is not to say the show is not fun, Jones has crafted a dark farcical comedy which strikes a good balance between light hearted humour and black comedy, all of which is enhanced by the strong cast. A strong show with good humour which struggles at points but is certainly a fun night out.
3/5 Stars
This review is based on the January 21st performance of Fly me to the moon by Marie Jones. Fly me to the moon is being staged at the Grand Opera House until January 26th and tours around Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through to February 23rd.