Photo by: Nile Scott Studios
‘SPACE’ — Written by LM Feldman. Directed by Larissa Lury. Scenic Design by Qingan Zhang. Costume Design by Charlotte Snow. Lighting Design by John R. Malinowski. Properties Design by Julia Wonkka. Sound Design by Nate Tucker, Movement direction and intimacy coordination by Lindsay Torrey. Presented by Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 through February 23rd.
by Helen Ganley
In an interview dated October 22, 2022, NASA historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal asked Dr. Sally Ride what the agency needed to add to the flight kit, considering that women would be in space for the first time. Dr. Ride recalled, “I remember the engineers trying to decide how many tampons should fly on a one-week flight; they asked, ‘Is 100 the right number?’”
If you shared my reaction—a gentle snicker and an eyeroll—you’d be reasonable. When Dr. Ride rebuffed the engineers, they doubled down: “Well, we want to be safe.”
Central Square Theater’s production of SPACE delves into the history of the Civil Rights Space Race, capturing its nuances, absurdities, and disappointments while blending together the timelines of women across decades.
SPACE, by L M Feldman and co-created with director Larissa Lury, is a theatrical exploration of women’s roles in aviation and space exploration over the past century. Drawing inspiration from historical figures such as Bessie Coleman, Hazel Ying Lee, the Mercury 13 female pilots, Sally Ride, and Mae Jemison, the play intertwines their stories with imagined scenes, congressional transcripts, and feats of endurance. By examining the challenges and triumphs of these aviators, SPACE explores ambition, societal barriers, and the ongoing quest for inclusivity in space exploration. The play invites audiences to reflect on the missions of our time and the future we are collectively heading toward.
Throughout the production, eight performers shift between twenty roles. While this can sometimes make it difficult to track which character is being portrayed, it also reinforces the show’s aim: a fluid blending of time. The actors create a mélange of the angst, difficulty, heartbreak, and joy that come with being a woman who yearns—past or present—to explore the stars.
As the Mercury 13 pilots, each actor brings a unique characterization to her role. MK Tuomanen, as Geraldyn Cobb, seamlessly transitions between weaponized femininity in front of Congress and space-obsessed mania behind closed doors. Hui Yeng Wen exudes bravado and confidence as Wally Funk, contrasting with Catharine K. Slusar’s demure fortitude as Gene Nora Stumbough. Valencia Proctor shines as Irene Leverton, delivering a potent mix of spunk, animosity, strength, and determination in every snarled quip and silver-tongued retort.
Jumping to the 21st century, Mitra Sharif and Monica Risi bring a breath of familiarity as Jasmin Moghbeli and Christina Hernandez. They use present-day slang and even impressively spin a basketball while detailing the struggles of minorities fighting for a place at NASA. Kalli Y. Turner leads the present-day effort as Mae Jemison, strutting across the stage and captivating characters from past, present, and future. Barlow Adamson fluidly shifts between multiple roles, from JFK to Dr. Lovelace, embodying the male opposition that the show challenges.
Lindsay Torrey’s movement direction has the cast pantomiming testing equipment, dancing across the galaxy, and floating in zero gravity. Charlotte Snow’s costume design, while struggling at times to differentiate characters, provides a cohesive visual identity for the production. Qingan Zhang’s scenic design is flexible, adapting to various locations, while John R. Malinowski’s lighting helps delineate shifts in time and space. The real standout, however, is Nate Tucker’s sound design, which punctuates imagined moments with the grainy microphone distortion that distinguishes historical quotes from artistic interpretation.
Although we’ve come a long way from wondering whether 100 tampons are enough for a one-week trip to space, there are still infinite expanses to explore—and infinite growth to achieve—within the United States. Central Square Theater’s SPACE is both a time capsule to be uncovered and a message to be preserved, illuminating a history too often left in the dark. For more information, visit https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/shows/space/.
