LOON

Dates and Venue 18 - 23 November, 2014, 8pm (2pm matinees on Sat & Sun) | Historic Theatre At The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street

Director Andrew Phoenix Mask Design Kate Braidwood Performer Kate Braidwood as Francis

Reviewer Karen Fitzgibbon


What a delightful and refreshing performance! Loon is a story about Francis an old caretaker who is down because he just lost his mother. He keeps her ashes in an urn with the letters MOM. Francis is very lonely and waits impatiently to receive phone calls from his dating service.

Poor Francis finally makes a date on the phone and to his dismay she doesn’t show up. Francis was sad and at times the music took him back through memories of old romantic movies. Francis finds a book about travelling to the moon and starts to dream about going there. While reading his book by moonlight Francis falls in love with the moon.

Kate Braidwood creates a beautiful character in Francis. It was hard to believe it was a woman behind that superbly animated mask. Since his body is that of a shrunken old man it would make sense that a petite person would have to play the role. Braidwood takes us on a believable trip around the world like superman. When Francis arrives in India his East Indian dancing draws a great laugh. Braidwood is a terrific actress that draws us in to feel sorry for this melancholic old man. We started to love this senior gentleman.

The features of the mask are absolutely perfectly molded with a downturned mouth and a sad look in the eyes that melted your soul. At one point a miniature of Francis appears as a puppet. I find it amazing that Braidwood also designed the mask.

I loved the performance and Braidwood was impressive. The sound of old music and old movies clips was well done. A success it is!

© 2014 Karen Fitzgibbon