Moonfleece, the Political black comedy with no fleecy lining
Moonfleece is the darkly humorous story of Curtis, the stepson of the founder of the increasingly popular yet controversial political party Avalon. However, things don’t seem right with Curtis, he claims to have recently seen the ghost of his dead brother Jason. This sets off a series of events leading him to uncover the truth that has been hidden from him, sending him into disillusionment.
I went to see Moonfleece In November at the Bath Spa University Theatre. This highly thought-provoking, gritty production got right to the heart of some very relevant political issues such as Gay rights and immigration. The characters in this play were stereotypical representatives of different classes and groups in society. These characters provided a comic relief from the tensions of the heavy themes and also provided the audience with clarity when exploring each individual theme.
However, I was less impressed with the direction in some parts if the show. For example, upon entrance into the auditorium, the character Link, an illegal immigrant, was wandering around the stage staring at everyone as they entered. The intention with this wasn’t clear and in my opinion, set the incorrect tone for the play.
The minimalistic set for this play was very interesting and reflected well the state of Curtis’ mind. The walls were not complete and the wallpaper was peeling off of the walls. This effectively portrayed the dysfunction in Curtis’ life. At the end of the play, there was a fantastic use of UV lighting that displayed, in picture format, the ending of Jason’s life.
So, to conclude, the story of Moonfleece, with its gritty, controversial, stirring intentions, dark comedy and thought-provoking themes and incredible technical aspects, is by far one of the best shows I have seen in the last year. A four star recommended play.
