Presented by St Jude’s Players
Reviewed 8 August 2024
This year St Jude’s Players are celebrating their Diamond Anniversary of giving entertainment for 75 years to the community. Their second show this year is indeed a diamond and exudes excellence from all production aspects.
Lauren Gunderson’s 2015 play Silent Sky is a dramatisation of one of Astronomy’s oft forgotten pioneers, Henrietta Leavitt. Leavitt was a “human computer” at Harvard Observatory at the turn of the previous century in a field that up until her discovery had been comprised mainly of men. It was her discovery of how to effectively measure the distances between stars that led to a shift in our understanding of the scale and nature of the universe. Up until that time it was believed that our Galaxy was the only one in a small Universe.
This may feel like a dry, some what dull and highly scientific subject for a play. But Gunderson’s script is full of human interaction with lovely emotional and humorous touches dotted throughout, with just the minimum necessary science, to thoroughly entertain.
Director Lesley Reed gives us an excellent production that seems to move along at the speed of light. Reed is known for her meticulousness and precision when it comes to mounting productions and it certainly shows here with Silent Sky. From Don Oakley’s evocative set design that encompasses the stage with projections of stars and the cosmos through to the wonderful period costumes gathered by Rosemary Taylor, Anna Siebert and Jill Wheatley; and from the very period appropriate hairstyles by Taya Rose and Kathy Stephens through to the lighting design by Stephen Dean and the projection design and sound by Ray Trowbridge. Special mention must go to Dean Taylor for the design and construction of a fantastic replica of the famous Great Refractor at Harvard Observatory.
Reed also knows how to pick the right casts – this one overflows with brilliance from all five actors. Brittany Daw as Henrietta is outstanding. She manages to dominate the stage without overshadowing her fellow cast members. Daw shows us the drive and determination of Henrietta but maintains a lovely warmth to the character. Tianna Cooper as Henrietta’s sister, Margaret works well with Daw. Cooper gives us a very female of the period (work to keep the family together) but there is a compassionate strength about her that bonds beautifully with Daw. I have never seen this actor before, but hopefully we will see much more of her work over the years.
Wonderful comedy relief comes in the form of the ever reliable Joanne St Clair and Deborah Walsh as Williamina Fleming and Annie Jump Cannon respectively. These ladies shine as bright as the stars that their characters study. Theirs is a subtle, real life humour that is timed and delivered perfectly. Josh Van’t Padje plays the only male character in the play, that of Professor’s Assistant Peter Shaw. Van’t Padje shows the many aspects of the character clearly and concisely. His coyness and obvious like for Henrietta in later scenes is just delightful.
One of the things that points out Reed’s meticulousness and the cast’s brilliant attention to detail is the accents. All have perfect American accents, with St Clair doing an excellent and very accurate Scottish one.
Get your telescopes out and search for this Silent Sky at St Jude’s Players. It is one not to be missed!
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Photo credit: Les Zetlein
Venue: St Jude’s Players Hall
Season: Until 17 August 2024
Duration: Approx 2 hrs 30 mins (including a 20 min interval)
Tickets: $15 – $25
Bookings: https://stjudesplayers.asn.au/bookings/#howtobook
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