Laika And Wills

Laika And Wills retells the story of the first dog in space and the intrigues that surrounded it, set against the backdrop of an Indigenous boy's homecoming. Sounds complex, but it's well executed. Seanna van Helten has written a careful, affecting and poetic script that occasionally flops into dull exposition, which is a shame 'cause parts of it are incredibly beautiful. The monologues from all actors are well-crafted and realised. The dialogues, on the other hand, are non-events, partly because of the scripting, and partly because of the uncohesive acting styles. The hyper-reality of Needle (Leila Rogers) and the conversational world of William (Ian Michael) don't gel. And the relationship between Needle and her father Scott (Michael Wahr) is empty. The sound design is poor and distracting. The set design is ugly. I understand that it needs to be packed down at the end of each show, but an alternative is better than a compromise – the alternative in this case being no set. The story and acting are great enough to hold our attention. The way the script weaves delicately between the three worlds is deft, and there are moments of genuine poignancy. But goddam that squeaky stage.