Moon with a View | Calum Johnston
On July 20, 1969, the world witnessed one giant leap from mankind when Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin etched their names forever in history, but what if there was a fourth person… an astronaut named Arnold? Calum Johnston’s performance of Moon with a View tells the story of an unlikely astronaut that made his way onto the team and his journey to fulfil his grandma’s final request in delivering her ashes to the moon.
While it’s a fictional story, it’s also story that is born out of a real place and its themes of loss and grief taken directly from Calum Johnston’s personal life. It’s a whimsical one-man performance filled with self-awareness, self-depreciating humour, a puppet, space monsters, good music and offering plenty of laughs. His versatility in acting, comedy, puppetry and clowing are all on display.
It’s minimal in set design, which I liked, and was able to pull off a good atmosphere with its use of lighting and sound. Along with the crowd interactions and breaking of the fourth wall, it made for a fun dynamic that added to the intimacy of the show. The use of digital media and animation were done to great effect, and it never felt like it got in the way. The digital elements were either used as transitions for the next live scene to begin or in conjunction to enhance Calum’s performance on stage.
Calum is great as Arnold the Astronaut. With most of the performance being built around the one person, having a likeable and memorable character is essential and we got that in Arnold. He does a wonderful job at playing the loveable fool with a big heart and the right amount of charm.
Moon with a View has that classic B-Grade science fiction vibe to it, like something you might see on Mystery Science Theater 3000, however the story of losing a loved one never got lost in the comedic nature of the show. For me this is what made it special. Beyond the fun, silliness and at times absurd, there was still a beautiful heart-warming tale of a relationship between a grandson and his grandma that was inspired by Calum’s personal life. This added a deep human aspect to Moon with a View, being something that we’ve all had to confront and will continue to confront.
As the show ended with Arnold sitting on the moon and gazing down at earth, I was overcome with emotions as I thought about my great grandmother and my relationship with her, and the inevitability that those close to us and even ourselves will someday no longer be here. But those themes of loss never felt exhausting. They’re there, but the whimsicalness of the production brings light-heartedness to this difficult subject. And as Arnold embarks on his journey to the moon with his grandma’s remains by his side, there’s also a sense of celebrating life as he sets out on one last epic adventure with his grandma.
Fans of science fiction and comedy will appreciate Moon with a View, but its themes give it something that everyone can connect with in their own way. Calum and the team intend to take the show on the road and present it at various festivals, so be sure to look out for it. I am looking forward to revisiting it again.
