New musical satire is a tangled web of vermin

The ultimate destruction of mankind on Earth is hastened by a plague of gigantic mutant rabbits. Only the heroic actions of an activist group called Tangleweb can save humans from extinction. But they need to get to Mars to do it. Enter, a mega-rich entrepreneur with a rocket ship who’s prepared to take two Tangleweb scientists with him to the Red Planet where he intends to declare himself king. 

That’s the basic premise of Rabbits On a Red Planet, a new Australian musical premiering at Flight Path Theatre. Co-written by Andy Leonard and Irving Gregory with original music by Ryley Gillen, it is a sci-fi adventure parody with some subtle political/social commentary.

Leonard plays Rob Muskus, the entrepreneur. He is joined on stage by Isabelle Kohout as Dr Janice Evelyn, a Tangleweb scientist, and  James Burchett as Adam, a data analyst /double agent. Jenny Woolley and Sara Camara make up the ensemble. 

This is the first presentation from newly formed theatre company, Carrot & Stick Productions and it’s a brave venture; staging a quirky sci-fi musical might be more daring than a trip to Mars. However, it’s always refreshing to see new Australian works by emerging talent in a theatre whose aim is to bring art to the people. 

And there just may be some prescient lessons to be learnt from this play. 

June 8 – 24

Flight Path Theatre, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville

www.flightpaththeatre.org