We Choose To Go To The Moon - Cape Theatre

Seen 7th Nov 2015 at Camden People's Theatre, London.

We Choose To Go To The Moon by Cape Theatre begins with a plea to the audience. We are asked to laugh in the right places, cry in the right places, to applaud, and most importantly, to love the performers. Like, really love them. Like, travel halfway round the world just to see them for two seconds kind of love. That love born from pure admiration, pure idolatry. And it is up to Cassie and Reena to help us get to that point.

It’s a charming beginning, and intriguing that already, we love the double act standing before us, but for none of the reasons they are striving for. Their aim is to reach a level of charisma akin to their own idol, John F Kennedy, with the aid of a self-help book - 'The Charisma Effect' by Andrew Leigh. Over the ensuing comedy of donning suits, changing their smiles, and putting a twinkle in their eyes via eyedrops and various sliced vegetables, we watch their personalities dissipate and their obsession increase.

It’s a journey that I’m sure most of us can recognise. I remember drawing a tattoo around the top of my arm and pulling two strands of hair around of my face to be just like Sporty Spice. I also had an odd fascination with Lara Croft (strong independent woman), and wore combat shorts accordingly. But, I remember the moment when I wasn’t sure where the obsession stopped and I began, and this blurring is what this show brings into interrogation.

Initially, what I found most interesting was that two girls were idolising a man, and it is a vibrant nod to feminism that they should strive to be the sort of person who ran a country, charmed an entire nation and could stand and speak before an audience of 35,000 people. As such, the show builds towards them both delivering John F Kennedy’s ‘We choose to go to the moon’ speech verbatim, and with precisely the same amount of charisma. But, it is more vibrant that they should come to learn that simply being themselves is the most charismatic they can be, and that they should wish to keep the suits.

The show is a unique execution of a familiar concept, full of charm and light-heartedness. The double act itself is ready for more growth, and there is space for them to be more daring in their relationship. The moments of potential conflict between them are the most delicious, because we know that their friendship will be ever-stronger by the end of the show. The text itself lags in places, and the overall pace would benefit from more verve and agility. But, it’s an early glimpse at an exciting company. All the ingredients are there for a sparkling, dynamic, hilarious show, ripe with schadenfreude and silly dancing.

We Choose To Go To The Moon was performed at Camden People's Theatre, programmed as part of the Fitter, Happier, More Productive season.