Grief is universal, and in Lucy Hill’s emotional new play, One More Star In The Sky, a daughter is allowed to take a pill and spend time in the past with her mother.
It’s 1985. Goldie is 25, carefree, and having fun with her brother Steve and friend group (Clara, Billy, Colin). Flora arrives with a secret her mum doesn’t know, but they click as mates from the off.
It isn’t Back to the Future. Flora cannot influence matters, and Goldie recognises her immediately on her arrival. But there are gaps around the person of ‘dad’ and as fifteen years pass the premise feels a little unlikely.
However, Hill’s writing has a maturity that recognises how familial relationships can develop and bond, while each actor brings a focus and skill to their role.
Daisy Moody is Goldie, and although her look doesn’t change over the time depicted, her manner does as she approaches marriage and motherhood relatively late.
Hannah Grigg’s Flora is bouncy, thoughtful, and touching, navigating a dating minefield and the burden of keeping a secret close.
As the friends, Arthur Huntington inevitably gets the butt of the jokes as terminally dull and awkward Colin, but he’s a gifted comedian.
Conor Doran’s complcated Steve perhaps turns his life around too quick, but his buddy friendship with Archie Atkins’ affable Billy is nicely noted in a scene between the two.
Finally, Millie Hack plays clever Clara, the only one to wonder why Flora never looks a day older (doesn’t she wonder about her family, job, or even where she lives? I did!).
One More Star In The Sky is a play of both emotional heft and considerable maturity that will resonate with anyone who has lost a parent and wants to reconnect with the younger them.
With good use of period musical motifs (and one song performed live and in character by Moody), this play conjures up the decade that taste forgot while offering a window on to one mother-daughter relationship.
It was enjoyable, solid and sweet.
3.5 stars.
You can see One More Star In The Sky at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre until 6 Aug with tickets here.