by Ed Fortune
Science Fiction tends to focus on whatever the current greatest existential threat is out there when it’s created. This explains why so many ’80s SF stories are about nuclear war and why modern tales tend to be about climate change. Alone is the story of a desperate mission to find a solution to catastrophic climate change on Earth.
It opens brightly enough with the ship’s captain dancing to Bowie like a no one is watching. We are introduced to the two characters; the light and bold captain and the intense and arrogant scientist. The latter is dismissive of Bowie and prefers Morrissey. They’re also driven to succeed. The entire mission, as it turns out, is underfunded, despite it clearly being something that would save the Earth.
Much of the narrative is a direct analogy for real-world attitudes to climate change. This mission is underfunded, mocked by the mainstream and so on. Sexism and stupidity have meant that this two-woman mission is perilous and poorly supported. This lends further to the isolation and despair of the piece.
This is a powerful and emotional meditation on self-reliance, strong beliefs, hope and staying true to one’s self. Both characters have sharp and intelligent dialogue, and the conversation ranges from pop music to one’s belief in God. The two characters are very different from each other this is refreshing; it’s nice to see two people with utterly different approaches to the world portrayed so well, the performances are incredibly natural, and the script feels organic.
Ultimately, how much you’ll get out of Alone will depend on how you feel about climate change science fiction, claustrophobia and survival stories. It is brilliantly produced and significant. Recommended.
Alone is on at the Edinburgh Fringe until August 27th, 2023. You can get tickets here. And you can find out more about the people behind the show here. Read our interview with Alone’s creator here.
