Silent Sky ~ A Tribute to Astronomer Henrietta Leavitt ~ Theatre Review

[Theatre – SA Premiere]

Silent Sky
St Jude’s Hall, Brighton
Thu Aug 8 2024

Any play depends first on how it is written, and ‘Silent Sky’ is a fully developed and delightfully crafted script by Lauren Gunderson, a playwright at the peak of her powers. The beautifully balanced ensemble theatre group that is St. Jude’s Players take it to great heights with this production. The deceptively simple set design, lighting, and musical touches by an extensive production crew belie the meticulous attention to detail.

The superb direction by Lesley Reed exposes the excellent contributions by all the cast, especially the leading role of Henrietta Leavitt, played by Brittany Daw. She brings this strong yet sensitive character to life with a subtle and nuanced skill. The other female supporting roles give fully rounded performances, with plenty of scope for the depth and colour they add to their parts.

Frequent laughter lightens the scientific subject matter, as relationships blossom between these working women. The Scottish brogue of one is thankfully not too broad, with every word clearly heard, and the hilarious one-liners land every time. Together they create a warmth that radiates around the room and connects with us in a way only live theatre can.

Josh Van’t Padje is perfect as the gawky Peter. It seems appropriate that he’s the only male in this play, since it is about making up for the dearth in women’s stories in the historical record. He represents well the patriarchal establishment which Henrietta must navigate, with her dream of looking deeper into the stars than anyone before. As a girl growing up on a farm, she gazed at they sky and wondered where we belong in this dazzling array. But even with top credentials from the best (women’s) university at the time, she is only given mundane tasks.

It is her tenacity, vision, and complete commitment that takes her through long years of frustrating hard work to discover the patterns in the stars. Her mathematical computations unlock the secret to measuring the universe, and enables others to look beyond our Milky Way and prove that ours is but one of countless billions of galaxies, and assist our progress into the ‘space age.’

Of course, this then strengthened the blasts just beginning to blow heaven from the sky, and god along with it, shaking the fundamental beliefs of many. While Henrietta accepted that the cosmos is a vast void, how could others find meaning in the emptiness? And yet we share her sense of intimate connection with nature, for if there is a world of infinite wonder out there, how much more is there within us?

I went to the theatre straight from watching an Australian Olympian launch herself and clear a bar nearly five metres high to gain a gold medal. Other women too are blazing their way into history to create new records and inspire us. It is easy to say ‘I am insignificant’ when there are more stars than grains of sand, yet it was only through the sacrifices and laser focus of one woman that we’ve arrived at this new frontier.

This play is a fitting tribute to her enormous legacy, and an indication of the many others who have been overlooked and unrecognized for their invaluable efforts. As we hurtle headlong into a world that appears to disintegrate daily, when space and time warp and even change is unpredictable, perhaps our own sense of place and inner conviction are the only stable things.

5 stars

David Cronin

Silent Sky continues at St. Jude’s  Hall, Brighton at various times until 17th August. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.

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