The Space Between
“You make everything better.”
“But I can’t make everything right.”
The Space Between gives us a relatable, honest look at a fictional relationship during lockdown. He (David Hunter) starts off by complaining about his girlfriend to his buddies on Zoom. He acts like he’s glad she’s gone because now he can watch as many movies and play as many games as he wants without her nagging, but his face at the end of the call shows that he’s pretty broken up about it.
His girlfriend (Caroline Kay) left just before lockdown because they have different ideas about where their lives should go. He wants to stay; she wants to go overseas. He wants to get married; she wants to feel like her life could still change. He mentioned kids and she leaves to stay with her brother. Then the pandemic hit.
Performed entirely on Zoom and WhatsApp, The Space Between was co-created by two people who have never met in person and had never even spoken on the phone prior to recording. The entire 13-minute musical is performed in song – both actors are impressive singers with good range – to a lovely musical score. The lyrics are relatable, honest and sad. The characters feel like real people, with genuine, conflicting emotions that many of us will have felt during lockdown. The lyrics are not overly dramatic and are stronger for it; they feel like things people would say if they were only self-aware enough.
The way the relationship is portrayed is powerful because there is no right or wrong. They are two people who love each other but who want different things out of life. Without the pandemic to give them time apart, they may have stayed together but, as Kay sings, they’d have been following half their hearts. It’s emotional because it’s understated. It will make you cry because it’s authentic.
Lockdown is only mentioned in passing, but it is the catalyst that has pushed this conflict to happen. The characters talk to their friends and family on video chat – none of whom speak – and that creates a feeling of intimacy like you’re on the chat with them. Staging is minimal: the characters sit in regular t-shirts on their couches, and again makes this performance feel like a real conversation.
The Space Between is a beautiful portrayal of a modern relationship during the pandemic. It doesn’t drag, nor have unnecessary moments and dud lyrics. There really isn’t any way to fault this show. Just have some tissues at hand when you watch it because you will probably cry.
Sophia Moss
Photo: The Space Between
The Space Between is on YouTube from 15th July. For further information visit their YouTube channel here.
Watch The Space Between here:
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