As a kid, I dreamed of walking on the moon, of seeing the distant continents and all the vastness of space from within the confines of a climate controlled suit.
Once I grew up enough to realize all of the science and math (and physical training) that are expected of astronauts, I let go of my dream, but like most of us I never let go of my fascination with space.
From an auditorium on the second floor of the Goethe Institut, the small but dedicated cast and crew of Kids in Space (directed by Rob Cork) brought me back to that age of pure curiosity.
The show is fairly short (just a quick jaunt to the end of the solar system and back) but covers all eight planets and the demoted dwarf Pluto (giving it a proper lament, I may add), with a quick word about stars, satellites, and asteroids along the way.
Kids in Space
by Matt Fox
50 minutes
at Goethe Institut
812 7th Street NW
Washington, DC, 20001
Details and tickets
From the moment the show begins, the audience becomes junior astronauts and joins the crew of a departing space shuttle under the command of the straight laced Captain Blapden (Bethany Michel) and the eclectic First Mate Kate (Kathleen Mason).
The show is highly interactive, with both astronauts pulling audience members onstage to participate in vital crew tasks, demonstrations, and even pranks. The educational content is threaded into the comedy with such precision that I often found myself laughing and saying, “Huh, I’d forgotten about that,” at the same time.
While Kids in Space is enjoyable for all ages, it’s targeted mainly at true junior astronauts (I’d say ages 6-10), hence the title. If you’re looking for a supplement to your children’s summer reading, or just an enjoyable performance that happens to be educational, Kids in Space is the show for you.
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