Undercurrents Festival of One Act Plays: Falling Open Makes a Powerful Impression.

Falling Open is a journey into the self, after being sexually abused as a child.

The story is set in the bedroom of the main protagonist from where she takes us to the darkest recesses of her memories. Her only companion and support on this tricky and dangerous road is a doll – the only witness of her childhood drama.

It is an extremely difficult task to tell a story about such a sensitive topic. There would be nothing easier than to fall into a trap of over-acting and over-dramatization in an attempt to make the message stronger. Fortunately, this did not happen. Luna Alison showed a thorough understanding of the issue and found the courage to talk about it honestly. Even though her voice was barely  loud enough to be heard and understood, her telling of the story resounded powerfully and made a strong impression on those present.

She portrays the character at different stages of her life, showing her growing-up and the way the abuse affects her at different points as she matures. . Her characterizations of an 11 years old, teenager and grown woman fighting the demons of the past are always believable. This honesty, coupled with an excellent acting ability, keeps the audience captivated from the very first moments of the play.

In this performance, all elements work well together. The constant presence of the doll highlights the innocence of the protagonist and contrasts with the brutality of the abuse. The appropriate video and sound effects by Davin Johnstone and Natha Hoo, intertwined  beautifully with  the story telling, making it all  more commanding. Of course, director Lib Spry connects all the dots flawlessly so that the passage of time appears very real, and the succession of events feels perfectly  natural.

Falling Open is a powerful one-women play that deserves to be performed on any stage,  no matter how  small. Rarely does  one see such a well-rounded and professionally executed performance. Nothing is missing and nothing is extra – no needless explanations of scenes to follow, no extra music or dance in order to entertain. What we see and hear is  exactly what is necessary to ensure the beauty and strength of this production. . So strong indeed, that the audience sat speechless, almost breathless until the end. Time remained suspended for a few moments after Luna Alison left the stage just before wild applause ruptured the silence and brought the artist back on stage. A truly great moment of theatre.

Falling Open

Emergence Productions, Ottawa

Written and performed by Luna Allison

Directed by Lib Spry