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Billy and the Moon explores the quiet magic of introversion at summer camp
As school winds down and kids start dreaming of canoe trips and campfire songs, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People is inviting audiences to consider a different kind of summer camp experience—one that embraces solitude, sensitivity, and the quiet strength of being different.
From May 2 to 11, MTYP presents Billy and the Moon, a whimsical new play about “finding your place, even when you feel out of step with the crowd,” says Sarah Flynn, Artistic Associate with MTYP. The story follows Billy, a thoughtful introvert attending summer camp for the first time, who finds solace not in noisy group games or high-energy hijinks, but in a surprising conversation partner: the moon.
Meet Billy: more into books than bow and arrows
“It’s their first experience and mom is like, ‘Just have a good time,’” Flynn says. “The camp counselors are there and everyone’s sort of introducing... but this trio of friends that already existed are loud and like to slomo fight in the yards, and they like to throw—like, you know, they play bow and arrows... and Billy is really more of just like a hang out, look at animals, read a book, that kind of a kid.”
Overwhelmed by the chaos, Billy escapes to the water’s edge and speaks to the moon—who unexpectedly speaks back.
A moon that talks back (and wears a cloak)
Flynn, who helped workshop the play alongside writer Wren Brian, says the development process helped bring these characters to life. “Most plays will go through multiple workshops,” she explains. “The job of a playwright can be kind of lonely... so when you get to have these workshops, you get people to read your words and tell your stories and you get to see how they actually come across in live performance, which is how they’re meant to be.”
Actor Toby Hughes plays the moon, with the help of some magical costuming. “He puts on a cloak and this mask and just shows up high up in the sky and appears for Billy to interact with,” says Flynn. “It looked like he was having a little spa day laying back there getting his mask put on.”
Chaos and quiet in constant motion
In Billy and the Moon, contrasts—between stillness and motion, introversion and extroversion—play out not just in the script but in the very rhythm of the play.
“This play doesn’t stop moving,” Flynn says. “There’s so much running around the whole time... and then finally, Billy will run away and then come back out and then there’s the silence and the stillness. And that’s when, you know, you’re in that space with the moon... So it just sort of flings you back and forth and back and forth from chaos to quiet.”
The camp kids aren’t cruel—just confused
Flynn says Billy’s fellow campers aren’t exactly bullies—they’re just unsure of how to relate. “They just don’t understand why,” she says. “They’re never like overtly mean in like a big way, but it’s just like, you don’t fit in and I don’t get it.”
That disconnect pushes Billy to seek out connection elsewhere—ultimately, in the sky.
An immersive set built for the stars
Set and lighting designer Dean Cowieson handled both elements of the production, allowing for a fluid transition between camp and cosmos. “There’s like the bright lights when they’re out in the middle of the day... then there’s a bit of a dimming and there’s some lights that come up on the back to be the stars,” Flynn says. “Then that’s when the moon appears.”
More about self-discovery than “teachable moments”
Flynn emphasizes that Billy and the Moon isn’t about tidy life lessons. “It’s about seeing yourself in it, in whatever role you might see yourself in,” she says. “Whether you are a Billy or a Sam or a Jules or a Parker or an Andy or a moon... and it’s just about figuring out how you fit into the world.”
Flynn herself leans more toward the outgoing camper archetype. “I am Sam all the way. I am loud. I’m there. I’m ready. Have a good time. It’s great.” But no matter your camp personality, she says, there’s something in this play for everyone. “Whether you’re more like Billy, who would rather stargaze in silence, or Sam the outgoing extrovert with energy to spare, this heart-willing production offers something for everyone ages 6 to 96.”
Billy and the Moon runs May 2–11 at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. For tickets and details, visit mtyp.ca.