Review: 'Stars in the Morning Sky'

By Hana Teraie-Wood.

Before reading our review catch our preview of the production here.

With the London Olympics only round the corner, Stars in the Morning Sky can be mistaken to be both topical and relevant. Alexander Galin’s play is set during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, an event swamped in politics and extensive propaganda.  This is a habitual facet of the Olympics only taken to the extremes by the Soviet Union. The pseudo ‘evacuation’ of prostitutes from Moscow during the games can be taken as a theatrical trope (although based on true happenings) for every country’s political spins and facades spun during their time as Olympic hosts. Yet Stars in the Morning Sky feels like an outdated exposé, morphed by time from a contemporary and audacious drama into a historical commentary which relies on the strength of the production to pack a punch. It could be affecting and engaging, but sadly this Drama Barn production failed to breathe life into a play that dearly needs it.

The cast lacked the necessary confidence to command the content-heavy dialogue; Anna’s (Georgie Du Mello Kenyon) drunken warble was comic at times but incomprehensible and parodic for the most part. There was a lack of direction in Valentina’s (Harriet Myzak-Douglas) character, flitting unexplainably between acting cruel, caring and nonchalant, which was unfortunate for her role as the landlady requires a sturdy consistency in order to give the play its structure and backbone. The play’s drama and emotional impact depends on the delivery of the affecting monologues, and these lost their potency with mumbled lines and stuttering dialogue.

Saying this, the performances by Klara (Lucy Lesley) and Alexander (Patrick Forrester) were funny and at times enthralling, and it’s a shame that they had such small parts. The set was interesting, framed by two beds and sheets hanging from the Barn, but the lighting lacked creativity; staying on at the same level throughout except from the times that it awkwardly cut out to indicate the end of a scene.

All these critiques point to a shyness coming from the inexperience of the cast and crew, which, with first years across the board is both expected and understandable. However, Stars in the Morning Sky probably wasn’t the best play to choose. 


Catch our full audio review as part URY's weekly magazine YorWorld on the ((URY PLAYER)) here now!