“The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.” – Carl Sagan

“The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.” – Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Two men who both had major impacts on their respective space programs, two very different looks at humanity and our place in existence. The crux of Robert Lepage’s The Far Side of the Moon is just this: how can we come to see eye to eye with one another when we’re also faced with the mysteries of the universe. A solo show of epic proportions, The Far Side of the Moon is about the connection we seek with each other, as well as our mutual connection to cosmos which surrounds us.

After the death of their mother, Philippe and André are trying to clean up the last few things she left behind: some clothes, a few pieces of furniture, and a goldfish named Beethoven. André is working tirelessly to get his thesis approved by his university, while Philippe is a popular weatherman on The Weather Network. The two are consistently at loggerheads, even more so now that their mother is gone. But with André’s head always amongst the stars and Philippe’s career keeping him tethered, can the two of them find common ground?

Though the play itself takes place on the cusp of the new millennium, the true backdrop for The Far Side of the Moon is the space race of the 60’s. The brothers become proxies for the warring space programs, and the bits of video and facts which are included in the production illustrate this beautifully. The blending of the real and the fictional brought to mind the series “For All Mankind” which imagines a world where the Russians beat the Americans to the moon, causing a much longer and more fierce competition than even what happened historically. These touchtones in reality not only help ground the lives of the characters, but also provide more insight into the major events which have shaped André’s passions, leading to his thesis and the journey we witness.

In true Robert Lepage fashion, everything about The Far Side of the Moon is larger than life with his iconic filmic feel. Marie-Claude Pelletier’s set is a combination of moving parts which create seamless transitions from one scene to the next. The use of live video, another Lepage hallmark, creates both comedic moments as well as eerie ones as we navigate the world through these characters. The surprise aspect was the puppets, beautifully designed by Pierre Robitaille and Sylvie Courbron and puppeteered by Eric LeBlanc. The sweet little spacemen in their replica spacesuits are an interesting manifestation of André’s fascination with space exploration.

Olivier Normand tackles The Far Side of the Moon head on, performing for almost the entirety of the two hour runtime. Normand plays every character we encounter, from the deceased mother to the two brothers and beyond, and he does so expertly. Honestly, just the stamina alone to perform for that length of time with little to no break is astounding; the dream sequences which punctuate the show seem like they’d be the perfect opportunity for him to rest or change costumes, and yet he’s the main character in those as well! This is a tour de force for Normand and he makes the most out of every minute.

The last scene of The Far Side of the Moon is what will stick with me the longest: André, floating through space while he awaits his flight home from Moscow. The use of mirror and movement to create this stunning illusion is unlike anything I’ve seen on stage before. The Far Side of the Moon is a love letter to brotherhood, to space travel, and to the human condition which both bonds and inspires.

The Far Side of the Moon runs at the Bluma Appel Theatre until November 16. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.canadianstage.com/shows-events/season/the-far-side-of-the-moon

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Cover Photo: Olivier Normand. Design: Robert Lepage, Costume Design: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt Assistant Set Design: Marie-Claude Pelletier, Assistant Lighting Design: Bernard White, Puppet Design: Pierre Robitaille & Sylvie Courbron. Photos: Li Wang.

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