Review: Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth is not what you might expect based on the programme blurb. The bubbly language, the tags–Comedy, Music, Dance, and Theatre–and even Melissa Elvira Billington’s stage name, Foxy Moxy, had led me to picture a goofy, larger-than-life space romp. Instead, Heaven on Earth was more like a lecture.

I attended what was originally meant to be the opening performance on Sunday 21st July. Due to a few sudden setbacks pre-festival, the show wasn’t quite ready to open, but Melissa invited me to attend the show as scheduled—which was now being used as a dress rehearsal—since I couldn’t attend the new official opening next weekend. I chatted to Melissa afterwards about what was still being developed, and make this review with reference to what I experienced myself, along with how I think what Melissa described to me might affect the experience when it launches properly next week.

Melissa is clearly quite knowledgeable and passionate about her topic (the extended solar system, the mythos behind the names of the planets, and astrology), but given my expectations were so vastly different to what was actually presented, it took some time to shift mindset.

There was a lot of information, and not a lot of structure. I found myself drifting in attention fairly frequently, though Melissa intends to add more interactive elements and audience participation which may help with that. As a writer and performer of interactive theatre myself, I worry this might be too little, too late–interactivity works best when designed in and tested from the start, so the limited interactivity at the rehearsal (which included a friendly test audience who seemed to be friends and family, a perfect environment for testing even the most potentially cringe-inducing interactions) feels like a warning sign to me.

Others in the audience did seem quite engaged, however. Melissa invited questions at the end, and there was a lively discussion that would probably have run well past the scheduled end of the show if it had been able to, a testament to Melissa’s expertise and enthusiasm.

With regards to the venue–Raw Power Yoga Studio, in Albion–I was surprised how comfortable I was sitting on the floor of the studio (especially given I hurt my back only a couple of days prior and still get quite stiff sitting upright for extended periods). The cushions were very supportive, and the freedom to sit, lie, and stretch out as needed meant I was able to get up at the end of the show without much difficulty (compared to the staggering and groaning that’s accompanied my rising from more traditional chairs these last couple of days). The air conditioning unit was extremely loud though.

Melissa used the space fairly well, with a set-up like theatre in the round, with her and her set (a sheet marked with all the planets) in the middle, and the audience all around the edges. This gave her a lot more space to use, and she did a good job of addressing all sides of the room.

All in all, if you’re keen to learn about the ins and outs of the solar system, the history and mythos, and the astrology, Heaven on Earth is full of information, which a motivated listener might get a lot out of. But if, like I was, you are expecting something theatrical, you may be disappointed.