Life’s hard in Belfast, especially if you’re only making £6/hour cleaning up after the elderly. But what if one of those patients, whose vital signs are questionable at best,  had come into some money recently? What’s a couple of poor gals to do? Written by Marie Jones and directed by Wayne Ward, Fly Me to the Moon is a dark comedy about the realities of life, death, and what happens when we try to make lemonade out of lemons. 

Francis and Loretta think that this is just going to be another day on the job, and they could not be more wrong. The two friends are personal support workers who are visiting their first patient of the day, Davey McGee. When Loretta arrives and doesn’t hear Davey in the bathroom, where Francis left him, the two begin to worry. Unfortunately, their worst fears have come true and how they have to figure out what to do with poor Davey McGee. Realizing that they’re entrusted with far more than just his care, like his debit card and dealings with his bookie (he likes betting on the horse races), other options begin to present themselves. Only once they’re deep into their little fraudulent schemes do they start to fear how this will all look once someone finally finds Mr. McGee. This morbidly funny piece is like watching the other side of your favourite crime drama, with two of the sweetest, and innocent, culprits imaginable.

The Red Sandcastle theatre has been transformed for this production: the walls have been painted, the back wall extended, and even the bathroom door has been changed to be part of Davey’s bungalow. This looks just like what you imagine a grandparent’s house looking like with the generic but lovely art on the walls, handmade quilt and crocheted blankets, and Frank Sinatra playing on the radio. We’re lulled into a sense of security and familiarity by Leslie Writght’s set design – nothing bad could happen in such a cute little house, could it? Francis and Loretta’s costumes suit their characters perfectly with their uniforms, practical shoes, and cozy outerwear. 

Melee Hutton and Sarah Evans are a dynamic duo as Francis Shields and Loretta Mackie. Hutton has a brash and bold way about her, except that she’s NOT going into that bathroom! Yet at the same time, we do see a softer and more heartfelt side to Francis, especially when it comes to her children. Evans’ Loretta likewise adores her children, and they drive the moments of determination we see from Loretta. Evans has such a sweet disposition as Loretta, and yet there’s a sense of quiet duty and longing which are just under the surface for her. Their height difference plays beautifully into this production: Hutton is quite a bit taller than Evans, so when Francis is trying to convince Loretta into doing something, or stopping her from something else, the power dynamic becomes immediately clear. This is used to create wonderfully comedic moments amidst the panic and plotting. 

When Francis and Loretta really think about it, the only things they really know about Davey is that he liked to bet on horse races, that he was retired, and that his favourite singer is Frank Sinatra. He was their patient, and he didn’t speak much, so they weren’t able to glean much more than that. Yet when they discover a bit more about him, they discover a life full of bright and dark moments, and a gentleman who knew that they truly cared for him. Fly Me to the Moon is a reminder that no matter how overwhelming and impossible life seems, things have a way of working themselves out.

Fly Me to the Moon runs at the Red Sandcastle Theatre until March 2. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.ticketscene.ca/series/1339/

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Cover Photo: Melee Hutton (L) as Francis and Sarah Evans (R) as Loretta. Photo by Lisa Kannako.

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