This gentle fable about a child who is mourning the loss of his father won three prizes at Japan's Yomiuri Theatre Awards in 2024. For that original production, Michinari Ozawa not only wrote, directed and did the set design, but he also starred in the show. It is quite an extraordinary achievement. Our Cosmic Dust tells the story of a young boy, Shotaro, who is equally precocious. When he questions his mother as to what has happened to his late father, she says he has become a star. This causes Shotaro to withdraw and become silent, as he ponders the meaning of her explanation. He then sets out on a quest which not only interrogates the notion of an afterlife, but also questions the very place of humanity in the universe. These metaphysical and cosmological themes are beautifully expounded in the story, with Shotaro being represented by a puppet operated against a stunning set which makes use of some delightful LED display imagery. Indeed, this is a show that has an extraordinary visual appeal. It mixes the awesome sense inspired by a starry universe with the power of childhood imagination in a way that is utterly charming. That endearing quality extends to the characters of the show who are only rudimentarily sketched in. The allegorical nature of the genre also means that the narrative is quite simple. Our Cosmic Dust has an ephemeral quality that while engaging, is also somewhat unfulfilling. Nevertheless, this is a production that enchantingly conjures up both the innocence of childhood and the enduring mysteries of the universe.
Rated: ★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Pamela Raith
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