Spaceman follows astronaut Molly Jennis on her attempt to be the first human to reach Mars. Beginning seven months into an eight-month journey to the red planet, she is the lone crew member of the space module Aeneas. With a mission to establish a new colony, the difficulties of interplanetary space travel are brought to life in exacting detail. Radiation exposure, long term weightlessness, low light, extensive communication delays and poor hygiene are just a few of the challenges Molly Jennis must face on her quest to be the first to Mars, but she soon finds nothing compares to the psychological effects of having so much time alone.

The final frontier of outer space gets a wonderful stage production in Loading Dock Theatre’s Spaceman, an engrossing and very fine piece of theater written and directed by Leegrid Stevens and Jacob Titus. On the one hand, this is a solo show that takes place in the cockpit of a ship sailing towards Mars, isolated and hyper-focused on the trials and details of its one occupant, Commander Molly Jennis. On the other hand, this is a play about god in the age of science, culture run amok, the mental health of high-achieving Americans, hope in our epoch, and a whole lot more. People, this is a good play. Commander Molly Jennis, played by Erin Treadway, has been selected to begin a colony on Mars. We meet her in the ship — the entire performance space is her small cockpit — and are slowly introduced to the varying details of her venture. The daunting task of spending 100 minutes with one performer is never exhausting, endlessly alluring, and hits all the marks of a play with nice movement. Though contemplative, Spaceman has activity, a great deal of highs and lows, and does not leave one wanting for structure or shaping. Commander Jennis’ fears and motivations are revealed over the cours …Read more