Space Panorama
Circling in orbit above the vast universe of the Under The Radar avant-guarde theater festival, Andrew Dawson’s Space Panorama is a stand out. It’s light entertainment that’s satisfying fluff. After endless shows about gay Texan serial killers, vomiting misogynistic screaming men, and cocaine fueled vegan freak-outs this show is the perfect diversion to the predominantly cerebral fair.
As it should be. The people behind it have worked on such crowd pleasers as the touring shows of Broadway’s The Lion King, Hair, CATS, Mamma Mia!, Rent, Xanadu, and Lord of the Dance; touring productions of Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live featuring Dora the Explorer and Dreamgirls; and even the production of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic at the Metropolitan Opera. Oh and did we mention that Andrew Dawson is also an incredibly successful hand model? Crazy huh?
All of this ‘ShowBiz’, capitol S capitol B, experience is put to good use in the recreation of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing using only Dawson’s hands and a black cloth-draped table. Accompanied by Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 and a dramatic, occasionally sarcastic, narration Dawson takes audiences from Houston to the moon and returns them safely to Earth, conveying the colossal distances and the risks involved elegantly through skilled hand movements.
The entire 30 minutes of this short show is unquestionably a wonder to experience and is the perfect vehicle to show off a modern day master at the art of (Dare we say it?) mime. Andrew Dawson can convey more feeling and sentiment in his pinky than Sandra Bullock has shown in her entire career. It’s a perfect package of story, craft, talent and humor. Kids and the Grandparents will be talking about it at least until after dinner. However for those of us accustomed to ‘Downton Theatre’, capitol D capitol T, it seems to be missing a certain danger; when traversing the lifeless solitude of space safety always comes first.
Created and Performed by Andrew Dawson (UK)
Presented with support from Broadway Across America
$15 tickets at publictheater.org or 212-967-7555
The Public Theater 425 Lafayette Street