Lola Rose Wood
Disclaimer: In the spirit of ‘Think Less, Feel More’, what follows is a stream of consciousness to capture the feeling of watching this show. It is therefore an extended piece to suit this expansive form.
An alien-ish figure in a bright yellow robe and stockings with a lampshade where its head should be sits on a chair. I’m intrigued, and not just by the bright yellow stockings (Malovolio, eat your heart out). What does The Lady with the Lamp (shade on her head) want to tell us?
The lampshade alien speaks to us, with light instead of words. (Loving this alienation effect). They want to know if we receive. Do we receive? Do we receive? The only thing is, I’m not sure what I’m meant to be receiving…
Facts. Lots of facts – so many facts. Dates. Lots of dates – so many dates: the year Emilia Airheart died, the year the Challenger expedition exploded, the year Lindsey Barlag Thornton’s great grandma died, the year Marie Curie died, Something about Sally Rider, the first American Woman in space – my head is spinning, I don’t know what dots I’m meant to be putting together or why.
Things. Lots of things – so many things: A cassette tape, a pocket knife, a Big Bird record player, a record, a photograph, a slide projector, a metronome, a barbie doll, two tennis balls – are we going to watch Thornton unpack her Grandmother’s entire suitcase?? This is like a Youtube Unboxing Video if it was sponsored by Ancestry.com. A giant fan also lurks in the corner. There is so much stuff on this stage being under-utilised. The only thing that truly earns its place is the lampshade (a domestic object worth thinking about: it’s purpose being to diffuse light in space) which is both space helmet, space shuttle and alien head.
flights for future generations is an act of family archiving in action. My mum’s in the process of transcribing her Grandma’s diary from the year 1945; as interesting as that sliver of family history is, I’m gently relieved she’s not turning it into a one woman show. I’m buzzing for Thornton’s sky dive into her American family inheritance, but what does it mean for the rest of us?
Given the promise of the show’s title, I’d like to know what flights for a future generation might look like – should we all be learning to levitate instead of booking fuel-guzzling RyanAir cheap seats? This show doesn’t offer many answers, it’s gaze seems firmy fixed on the past.
For some reason, the entire play’s audio is pre-recorded. It’s strange to spend an hour in a room with a performer and not hear them speak directly to you once. Instead, Thornton is busy playing with dolls, dancing with lights and pulling her clothes on and off, all while lipsyncing to her own pre-recorded voice. Why doesn’t she want to speak to us? If this is meant to feel like a transmission on the radio airwaves, cool, but why not write it as a radio play? Did I need to wake up at 9am on a Sunday to be here in person, or could I have listened to it in the comfort of my own soft bed? Maybe I’m not a morning person.
What’s the connection between Emilia Airheart, Sally Rider, Big Bird and Thornton’s grandma? Other than the fact they all like flying, I’m not sure what deeper message I’m meant to be receiving here.
What’s the connection between Spiritualism and flying a plane? Both are an act of faith. Absolutely. I didn’t need to watch a one hour fringe show to tell you that. But maybe I should ditch my driving license and learn how to fly a prop plane instead. Watching Thornton ‘fly’, her scarf flapping in the fan’s upward jet like a Hollywood movie, I remember how much I’ve always wanted to sky dive.
Thornton has barely broken a sweat by the end of the hour, because she’s floated through the whole thing, letting her previous self do the work for her. How appropriately ghostly.
Recommended Drink: The Aviation: a classic cocktail made with gin, maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of crème de violette for its signature purple sky color.
Catch flights for future generations at Playground 1 at ZOO Playground from August 7-30 at 10:15 (60 mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Issy Cory
Isobel Jacob
