By R.J. Donovan.
“The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks” is is captivating, an immersive, theatrical experience combining emotional storytelling, rare NASA archival footage, and a magnificent musical score, to bring the story of the Apollo Space missions to life.
From President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 commitment to landing a man on the moon by the end of that decade, to the upcoming Artemis crew that is projected to return to the moon in 2026, the documentary is carefully researched and beautifully crafted.
Adding to the experience at The Castle at Park Plaza is a heart-pounding score by Anne Nikitin, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mankind has been fascinated by the moon since the dawn of time. From ancient rituals to cultural celebrations, festivals, songs, movies, romantic daydreams, and sci-fi-horror scripts, our moon has forever been an integral part of our lives. It also affects the Earth’s tide schedules. And since the human body is made up of 55-60 per cent water, there are those who believe the moon may have a physical effect on each of us as well.
Your guide and narrator for “Moonwalkers” is Tom Hanks, who also co-wrote and co-produced the piece.
The two-time Oscar winner as best actor is not just the unseen narrator-for-hire here. He offers a unique perspective, telling the story of man going to the moon through his own lifelong enthusiasm, personal memories, and genuine excitement for the Apollo missions.
When guests arrive at “Moonwalkers,” they are guided into a small exhibition area that offers spectacular photos and behind the scenes video interviews previewing the experience to come. Included is a replica of the lunar module, The Eagle. (The original is endlessly circling the planet.)
At showtime, guests are ushered into an enormous theater – essentially a giant, open box. The room is actually the same size as Houston’s original Mission Control Center. Standard proscenium theater seating is omitted. You choose your own vantage point for the show. Assorted stadium seats float up one wall, a long, cushioned ledge is located below, comfortable benches are scattered across the room (much like moon rocks), or you may choose to stretch out on the floor, which many children did when I attended.
The show (although that word hardly describes the impact of the documentary you’ll encounter) happens via crystal clear projections on all four walls, as well as on the theater floor. At one point, a panoramic view of the face of the moon spreads to encompass the entire performance space, placing the audience squarely on the moon’s rocky surface.
Relying on NASA’s archives of 35,000 photos and 10 hours of meticulously remastered film footage taken on the moon, “Moonwalkers” is quite the journey. It’s important to note that there are no computer-generated special effects here. Everything you see is accurate and authentic.
Although “Moonwalkers” explores multiple Apollo missions and the twelve astronauts involved, the majority of time is devoted to Apollo 11, manned by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. That was the stand-out program that placed the first human on the moon on July 21, 1969.
The deafening video capturing the launch of Apollo 11 is gripping. And when you later witness the lunar module blasting off the moon to reunite the astronauts with the command module, it’s impossible not to be drawn into the magnitude of the moment.
Throughout, Hanks’s vivid memories and personal delight trigger an emotional connection, whether or not you were around to see the grainy “one small step for man” play out on television, live, as it happened in 1969.
Despite the scope of what all these astronauts accomplished, “Moonwalkers” gently points out that the astronauts were all modest individuals who went about their lives like anyone else, doing their jobs, and enjoying time with their families.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I worked on a project with Buzz Aldrin many years ago. Despite his epic place in history, he was a kind, thoughtful, and gracious gentleman. More than once, I was taken aback by the fact that the man casually chatting across the table from me had not only traveled to outer space but had actually set foot on the surface of the moon. It was hard not to be affected.
Although the show runs slightly under an hour, the trek taken is massive. The creation and accomplishments of our space program have been anything but simple. And as noted above, “Moonwalkers” also points to the future by detailing the international space program Artemis, expected to head back to the moon within the next year.
“The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks,” premiered in London and played to more than a quarter million people. The odyssey can be experienced here in Boston through September.
For information, visit lightroomexperiences.com.
