The Travelling Squirrel by Robert Lord opens this week at Circa, with actor Paul Waggott playing the lead character, struggling writer Bart. Directed by Susan Wilson, this show is a satirical romantic comedy that follows Bart as he tries to get published and negotiates life with Jane his famous actress wife.  It then asks what happens when the tables turn and he becomes New York’s hottest writer and Jane is axed from her soap opera job.

The play depicts a dangerous world in which fame and fortune are always, temptingly, just around the corner. Phillip Mann describes this show of Lord’s as “one of his funniest plays – just as it is also one of the most moving.”

To learn more about the show and what the process has been like, we’ve asked Paul Waggott to share his experience of working on this script over the past four weeks.
“Robert Lord was a name I had come across before while I was studying at Victoria University’s Theatre Department. I spent many hours in The Robert Lord Library. But this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to work on a play by him, and it’s been an absolute joy. I remember when I first read the script I was struck by how ageless it seemed. It deals with so many concepts and situations that still ring true today. I could hardly believe it was over twenty years old.

“Bart is such an exciting character to play. As soon as I read the script I felt like I knew who he was, which is a testament to Lord’s writing I think. I can empathise with Bart’s central struggle: as the play begins he has finally finished writing his first book after five long years. His journey from here takes him through failure, to the depths of despair, out the other side with the promise of fame and fortune and beyond… It’s a rollercoaster for the poor man that’s for sure. I guess it speaks to me of a central question that all creatives must wrestle with at some point: to sell out or to not sell out? And, what even constitutes selling out? Is it worth holding on desperately to the integrity of your art if no one witnesses it? What if ‘selling out’ is the only way to get into a position where you can share your true art with the world? Bart doesn’t manage to answer this question – I’m not sure it’s ever answerable as such – but it sure is a good one to ask.

“Amidst all the intellectual facets of the play sit some very, very funny moments. The play seems to effortlessly run the gamut from poetic beauty to straight talking real world dialogue; from the interrogation of concepts and ideas to high farce. I’m not sure how Lord managed it but it seems to me he pulled it off. Bart is surrounded by wonderful characters, from soap opera superstar wife Jane, to the life in a New York minute agent Terry, to the hedonistic gossip columnist Wallace and more. There are multiple intersecting love (and lust) triangles that I’m sure we can all see ourselves reflected in to a greater or lesser degree – none of which I shall spoil here.

“I think what excites me most is that the characters all feel human – heightened maybe at times, but humans, not caricatures. It really is a great script, and a great production – working with the cast has been a dream come true. There’s so much talent on and off the stage in this production. I really can’t wait to share it with audiences through September. Why don’t you make sure you’re one of them!”

The Travelling Squirrel opens on Saturday 5 September, and is on at Circa until 2 October.  Book now:  801 7992 or www.circa.co.nz.

 

This week in drama* on the waterfront, we learn more about writer, doctor and spiritualist, and author of The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

An Old Norfolk Saying… “And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring, And its wild bark thrill’d around, His eyes had the glow of the fires below, Twas the form of the Spectre Hound”

Author Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 60 mystery stories with Sherlock Holmes and his loyal assistant Watson. He dreamed of being a serious historical novelist, yet he is best remembered for stories that he considered pot-boilers. He drew on many sources for his stories, and it was during a visit to Sheringham, Norfolk that he learned of the hound, Black Shuck, who is said to be one of the oldest phantoms of Great Britain which inspired him to write The Hound of the Baskervilles. There are many myths, tales, legends and sightings of this monster. Local legend tells of a huge hound, the size of a small calf with blazing eyes, who regularly prowls the coastal path between Sheringham and Overstrand.

The beast is said to track the steps of its victim and anyone unfortunate enough to turn around and meet its fiery gaze is said to die within a twelve month period. The Baskerville name was apparently from a local coach driver, Henry Baskerville, whom Doyle came across during his visit. The old man kept a signed copy of the book’s original pressing as a sort of recompense.

Conan Doyle was born in Scotland. When he was nine years old he was sent off to England to a Jesuit Boarding school. It was here he found his flair for storytelling as a way of escape from bullying.

When he left school he decided to pursue a medical degree at the University of Edinburgh. At medical school, he met his mentor, Professor Dr. Joseph Bell, whose keen powers of observation would later inspire him to create his famed, legendary master sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. Doyle’s first publication came in 1879 with The Mystery of Sasassa Valley.  At the same time as writing, he  pursued his studies and went on to become a physician at Southsea, Portsmouth.

He eventually gave up medicine to concentrate on his writing career. In a series of stories – starting with A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four – he produced the memorable character, Sherlock Holmes, a detective who relied on facts and evidence rather than chance. In 1891, six Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were published in Strand magazine, with six more appearing the next year. By 1893, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, as the collected stories were now called, was a huge hit. Doyle however, wanted to concentrate on a more serious writing career and as he was somewhat tired of Sherlock Holmes he decided to kill him off.

As a result he wrote The Adventure of the Final Problem, in which Holmes and his arch enemy, Moriarty find themselves at the end of an intense pursuit, up on the top of the Reichenbach Falls in the Swiss Alps. This encounter ends with both of them apparently falling to their deaths.

However, due to public outrage and financial pressures he was compelled to continue writing the Sherlock Holmes stories. The first to follow on from The Adventure of the Final Problem was The Hound of the Baskervilles, which remains today one of the most famous and popular of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Around the time he obtained his medical degree, Conan Doyle’s renounced his Catholicism and turned away from organised religion.  He began to attend séances and by the end of his life he had become an ardent spiritualist.

On one level, his was the story of a lapsed Roman Catholic troubled by an alcoholic father and never quite able to cast off his sense of the supernatural; on another it was the intellectual journey of an inquisitive man, dissatisfied with Victorian materialism but intent on using its tools to examine alternative forms of consciousness. His brother died in WW1 and his son died of ‘flu during the great epidemic round the same time, thus adding to the fervor of his convictions. This was also a time when orthodox religion was giving way to Darwin and science.

Conan Doyle died in Windlesham, his home in Crowborough, Sussex, and at his funeral his family and members of the spiritualist community celebrated rather than mourned the occasion. On July 13 1930, thousands of people filled London’s Royal Albert Hall for a séance during which Estelle Roberts, the spiritualist medium, claimed to have contacted Sir Arthur.

In 1902, Arthur Conan Doyle was knighted by King Edward VII. It was not for having created Sherlock Holmes, but for his writing a non-fiction work about the Boer War. However, his legacy remains with the amazing Sherlock Holmes stories.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is on at Circa Theatre until 29 August.  Book online atwww.circa.co.nz or by phone on 04 801 7992.

 

Ask Julie O’Brien if she thought she’d ever perform in a totally non-scripted, unrehearsed show where the audience dictates the storyline and the answer would be a definite “never”.

Most recently seen as Donna in Wellington Musical Theatre’s 2014 production ofMamma Mia, Julie’s career spans over thirty years. She is totally at home on the stage, but improvisation is a very different experience.

“Improv has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone”, she says, “I’ve always worked with a script and a director and had weeks of rehearsal, but I’m absolutely loving this new challenge.”

Born and bred in Wellington, O’Brien has worked in New York, Britain, New Zealand and Australia appearing in shows as diverse as Chess, Evita, The New Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Hairspray, Anything Goes, The Pirates of Penzance and Oliver. Julie was an original Australian cast member of ‘The Witches of Eastwick’, and received personal praise from Cameron Mackintosh when she played several performances in the role of Felicia, for which she was first understudy.

Before returning to NZ in 2005, Julie played the role of Rosie Greenwich in Leader Of The Pack, at Crown Casino, Melbourne.

In 2006, she took up the position of Course Coordinator of Musical Theatre for the Two Year Diploma course at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre (now Whitireia Performance Centre).

In Wellington, Julie has played the roles of Little Becky Two Shoes in the Downstage production of Urinetown, Mari Hoff in Stagecraft Theatre’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and Velma von Tussle in Hairspray for Wellington Musical Theatre.

In 2012, she became a member of The Improvisors when they were contracted to undertake two of the largest training programmes ever to be run in New Zealand. “We rolled out the re-branding of Z energy to all employees in every Shell Service station throughout the country.”  A year later, due to the overwhelming success of the Z Energy project, The Improvisors were asked to develop an HR programme for The Warehouse. ‘Love Your Customer’ was a half-day programme for 15 – 20 participants hosted by a team of three Improvisors. It was run nationwide in 18 centres delivering to 5000 team members over ten weeks.  “It was very intense but a great experience”, she says.

It wasn’t until earlier this year that O’Brien finally plucked up the courage to do Theatresports. “It’s a challenge and you definitely have to have your wits about you. The audience is primarily in charge of what we perform. We don’t know what the audience is going to throw at us, so it certainly keeps us on our toes.”

Downton Aldib is different again from the format of Theatresports. Described as long form, a new episode is created at every performance. And with one show down and eight more to go, O’Brien is looking forward to seeing how it develops. “Each night, we supply the characters, the audience supplies the key plot ingredients and the result is costume drama as you’ve never seen it before and will never see again,” she says. “The feedback from Sunday night’s audience was amazing. They were really engaged and after the show, people were already talking about coming back.”

DOWNTON AdLib is on now at Circa Theatre, every Sunday night at 7pm until 27 September.  Book online at www.circa.co.nz or by phone 04 801-7992.

 

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at The Ugly One on Tuesday night.  Here is a review from Eva Poland.

 

BIZARRE AND BRILLIANT
Reviewed by Eva Poland, Chilton St James School.

Simultaneously one of the most bizarre and one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever seen, Circa’s production of The Ugly One is deeply haunting from its slow start to sudden dramatic finish.

The play tells the story of Lette, a plug-inventor at a large corporation who is denied the right to present his product at a convention after being told that he is incredibly ugly. When this is confirmed by his wife and friends, Lette eventually becomes so disturbed that he opts to have a total face re-shaping from a plastic surgeon. This causes a radical change in Lette’s life; suddenly he is loved by everyone and paid a much higher amount of money than he was before.

Throughout the production four actors are used to play seven key characters, with the actors never leaving stage and no transitions between scenes. This can be rather confusing at first but not to the detriment of the storyline, the actors handle the task smoothly and all of them are equally accomplished in playing their roles.

By far one of the most effective aspects of the show was the script, which is sharp, honest and almost unbearably clever. Thankfully the director has been kind enough to not overcrowd it with complicated action or scene changes, and the humour of the writing shines through. If anything, the unusual structure of the play adds to the effect of isolating the audience and making them question the morals of our society and whether or not the amount of importance we place upon beauty can be justified.

The set was another factor that contributed to the frank, unfiltered genius of The Ugly Ones. A stark, simple, grey and familiar looking “office”-type setup was plausible when it doubled as a house, an hotel, a convention stage and even a rooftop. Lighting and sound were minimal, drawing the focus toward the acting and storyline.

Overall The Ugly One is a funny and thought-provoking play, both brilliantly performed and directed. The most poignant and most terrifying scene is perhaps the last, a scene that more than any other encouraged the audience to think about not only our love for beauty, but our love for ourselves. The last moment of the play sees the audience witness a passionate kiss, preceded by Lette meeting an old friend of his who was so taken by Lette’s new face that he decided to have it recreated on his own head. “It’s me,” Lette gasps, “I’ve finally found you… me.”

The Ugly One is on at Circa until 8 August.

BOOK NOW at Circa Theatre  801-7992 / www.circa.co.nz

 

 

Following his lead cast role as Bifur the Dwarf in The Hobbit trilogy of movies, William Kircher returns to the stage after a 20 year absence with The Hound of the Baskervilles.  This week in drama* on the waterfront, William talks to Colleen McColl about Bifur, Sir Peter Jackson, the joy of being back on stage.

Q:  You have recently been seen in The Hobbit movie trilogy playing Bifur the Dwarf which must have been very rewarding. How did you prepare for the role? And what were the highlights and challenges of working with Sir Peter Jackson? 
A:  Pretty much as soon as I signed off on the contract, which was around six months before we began principal photography, the production arranged a top personal trainer at one of the most prestigious gyms in Wellington.  I trained very hard!  Then for ten weeks the main cast came together for a ‘boot camp’.  We trained everyday in a diverse range of skills including body movement, dialogue, weaponry, horse riding, stunt fighting, dialogue, improvisation, teamwork… it was a very intense and rewarding experience. Almost like going back to Drama School! Peter Jackson is a fantastic “Actors’ Director”. He is a creative genius, who has a definite vision for his art, and yet remains open to suggestions and ideas from his actors. He is very respectful of the actors craft and it was an incredible honour to be chosen to be part of a team that worked with one of the greatest film directors in the world for over three years!

Q:  Has appearing in these movies impacted on your career? 

A:  Being in the films has opened doors all over the world for me. It has enabled me to take my acting career to an international level.

Q:  Twenty years ago you were in Brilliant Lies also directed by Ross Jolly. It must be interesting to be back working with someone after all this time? 

A:  Ross has always been one of my favourite Directors and it is very fitting that my first project back on stage after all this time is with Ross at the helm. He has put together an amazing cast and I am loving every single second of the rehearsal period. It is like a family reunion for me. It is so great to be back working at Circa!

Q:  This is the first time in twenty years you have appeared on stage. Apart fromThe Hobbit movies, what have you been up to? 

A:  I have always stayed in the creative industries, but in the late 90s I concentrated more on television and film acting. Then I moved away from acting for several years and worked in the corporate side of the screen business. I worked as a Producer with Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment. In the meantime I also worked with Nicole, my wife, at her talent agency Possum Talent. I wrote and directed some theatre, plus many comedy dinner shows, and I developed my singing career with our 60s vocal group The California Dreamers. We also were hard at work bringing up our family!
Q:  Had you read Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories before you began working on this production and in particular The Hound of the Baskervilles? 

A:  Yes… read quite a bit of Conan Doyle when I was a younger and The Hound of the Baskervilles was always a major favourite!

Q:  It would be hard to ignore all the influences from actors playing Sherlock Holmes. Is there an actor you have seen in the role of Sherlock that you have admired and has it influenced your interpretation in any way? 

A:  No actor in particular has influenced me…. in fact you can say that ALL the actors I have seen playing this role have influenced me.

Q:  This is a very different way of playing this story with four actors playing all the many roles. Has that brought challenges for you? 

A:  The style of this show is wonderfully theatrical… and yes, all the actors play diverse roles. I love this, as it takes a great deal of craft and skill to bring these roles to life. Many years ago I was in a major hit show titled Bouncers that utilised exactly the same technique. Bouncers was a massive hit at all around the country and this culminated with a sell-out season at Circa that then shifted to the Opera House! So this style is not new to me… it is true ‘Theatre’ and I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of working in this way once more.

Q:  Last year was very busy and successful for you. What were some of the highlights? 

A:  Throughout the year I got to work all around the world in Germany, Sweden, London, America and Australia…. then in December I was in Hollywood walking the Red Carpet at the Dolby Theatre for the premiere of the final Hobbit film. What a fantastic adventure… and I count myself very, very fortunate!

Q:  What is the favourite role you have ever played and why?  

A:  Well, of course, apart from playing Bifur in The Hobbit trilogy… I have to say Sherlock Holmes. Because as an actor, you are only as good as your next role!

Q:  And one that is an ambition to play? 

Sherlock Holmes! And maybe the villain in a James Bond movie!

The Hound of the Baskervilles opens Saturday 25 July 2015.  BOOK NOW:  phone 04 801 7992 or online at www.circa.co.nz

 

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at the beautiful ones on Tuesday night.  Here are two of the reviews for you to enjoy!

 

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES
Reviewed by Maddy Reese, St Catherine’s College

An enthralling marriage of singing, dance and drama, the beautiful ones is an immersive story which plunges audiences into the hyper-real scene of midnight techno clubs. Lead character Ihia is a lovestruck member of a club’s dance crew, pining away for his lover Hana, who left him many months ago. However her sudden return sets in motion a string of events that threaten to tear them apart again… or possibly reunite them forever. Interspersed with utterly incredible dance sequences, musical numbers and projected light shows, this drama is unlike any other production I have seen before.

Writer and director Hone Kouka expressed that his ambition for this production was to essentially create eight music videos spliced together with a simple-but-effective plotline in between. This ambition could not have been more perfectly realized, as the drama was convincingly suspenseful and the dance numbers were captivating to watch. I – as a fellow dancer – felt a longing to take to the stage with them. However, when this wish actually came to fruition, I was quite surprised. The involvement of the audience was a previously un-experienced phenomenon; the last thing people expected was for the performers to take their hands, pull them out of the audience and onto the dance floor, during one of the more charismatic musical numbers. This involvement proved to be an incredibly invigorating aspect of the show – now we were able to form a palpable connection with the drama and actors onstage, and it was one of the most fun parts of the whole performance. Pair this with music that all but moves your body for you, and one has a sure-fire method of giving audiences the best stage experience possible.

the beautiful ones is an eloquent combination of set design, musical incorporation and all three aspects of theatre: song, dance and acting. Easily one of the most innovative, successful and exciting productions I have seen this year. It demands you to involve yourself in your entirety: not only mind and body are required, but heart and soul as well. In return, the beautiful ones gives you everything back, rewarding you for its demands. This drama will leave half of your soul on the stage even as you walk out of the theatre.

 

A RIVETING PERFORMANCE
Reviewed by Yasmin Yumul of St Mary’s College

Projections of street scenes, graffiti, rugged walls kick-started the performance which later on evolved to Maori patterns, nature scenes and interiors. Disco coloured lighting frolicked the dark stage. This ominous atmosphere and the characters’ sensuous costume commanded attention. It was a consistent atmosphere that unified the performance.

Although the show was modern, it kept a Maori motif which made a direct connection to a lot of the character’s ethnicities and the marginalised theme of the show.

The actors had great stage presence as they dominated the floor, the air space and the corners of Circa theatre. It was a delight to watch every dance number, particularly Ihia’s performance as he longed for his lover Hana. Emotion was evident in every movement of his muscles.

The music was at times contemporary topped off with some sick beats.

There were smooth transitions between dance numbers, the music was fluid and so was the lighting. However, the transitions between scenes seemed protracted and gave the impression of ‘technical difficulties.’

The inclusion of the audience in the performance was excellent. An inviting hand from the characters to hop onto their sexy enigmatic world and groove into Ardie’s voice cemented a bond between the two ecospheres (reality and fiction).

Passion, intensity and flair were palpable in the characters’ dancing. However, it was not only the dancing that engaged the audience’s attention. It was also their personalities; Ardie’s suave attitude, Juju’s cheekiness, Kotiro’s relatability. The fact that the characters’ had their own distinct movements and mannerisms that continued even in moments when they were not the main spectacle of the scene heightened the show’s professionalism.

The dialogue between characters was ineffective through most of the show as it became lost in the atmosphere.

The show revolved around Ihia waiting for his lover Hana to come back. The plot was not executed well. The revelation of the twist was poor as there was little involvement, reactions from the main characters (i.e. Ihia, Hana) and it seemed to have been disregarded too easily. In addition to this, the plot itself seemed to be 2-dimensional, predictable, there was no depth or breadth achieved in the exploration of the love story. It was a surface plot about a boy waiting for a girl.

Overall, however I would moderately recommend it. It is a stimulating, and wonderful treat for the eyes and those that adore dance.

the beautiful ones is on at Circa until Saturday 11 July.

 

Lyndee-Jane is a well-known face around Circa Theatre, next on stage with The Ugly One (opening Saturday 11 July). But, do we really know all of the incredible things this talented woman has done?  This week on drama* on the waterfront, we take an in-depth look at the force that is Lyndee-Jane Rutherford.

Originally from Feilding, Lyndee-Jane has worked extensively as both an actor and a director in theatre and television since graduating from Toi Whakaari/New Zealand Drama School in 1993. She has performed in over fifty professional theatre productions, including Who Wants to be 100?, Troy the Musical, Calendar Girls and In Flame, for which she was nominated for Chapman Tripp Actress of the Year in 2003.

She was also nominated for Supporting Actress of the Year for both The Hollow Men in 2008 and Mauritius and 2010. In 2010 she toured nationally with Geraldine Brophy and Pinky Agnew with Grumpy Old Women and again in 2011 with their own play, Party Girls.
Lyndee-Jane is also a well respected director, having led successful productions at professional theatres across the country.  She directed A Shaggy Dog Story, Who Wants to Be 100?and Penalties, Pints and Pirouettesat Palmerston North’s Centrepoint Theatre, and Love Puke, Becoming the Courtesan and Hamlet Dies at the End at BATS Theatre in Wellington. She won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Most Promising Director in 2006 with her production of Love Puke and was proud to have directed the Capital E National Theatre for Children production of Songs of the Sea that toured NZ and Australia. Lyndee-Jane has also enjoyed directing a number of student musical productions for Toi Whakaari/New Zealand Drama School, Whitireia and in 2009 she directed the sell-out smash Young and Hungry hit, Sit On It.

Lyndee-Jane is often recognised for her roles in television series such as Skitz, The Semisis, Telly Laughs, What Now TV, The Hothouse and the pre-school sketch comedy show Giggles. She directed the third season of Giggles (TVNZ Kidzone) and has also directed various field-stories for The Erin Simpson Show, What Now and The 4.30 Show.

In 2013 Lyndee-Jane directed two productions at Circa Theatre, The ImpoSTAR and the hugely successful Midsummer – A Play with Songs, for which she was nominated for Director of the Year at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.

She also acted in Shop ‘Til You Drop at Centrepoint Theatre and directed Miss Brontein Melbourne for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Early last year she directed a new season of the “triumphant” Miss Bronte at Circa Theatre.

Lyndee-Jane is also on the Circa Council, a board of experienced theatre professionals who run this theatre.

In the middle of 2014, Lyndee-Jane directed Grease for Wellington Musical Theatre and was thrilled to be invited back to direct Mamma Mia.

Her most recent project was the Broadway musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, right here at Circa. This “wild, funny and frivolous spectacle” (Theatreview) was one of the most ambitious projects Circa has undertaken in its 40-year history.

Lyndee-Jane says she is “very excited to be back on the Circa Two stage with a fantastic cast, crew and a play that will be fun and entertaining.”

 

Text UGLY to 3920 to be in the draw to win!

Don’t forget you still have a chance to enter The Breeze ‘Embrace Your Inner Beauty’ giveaway.

This prize pack for two is valued at over $900 and includes:

•    2 tickets to the NZ Premiere of The Ugly One at Circa Theatre on 11 July, followed by drinks and nibbles;
•    A voucher for Encore Restaurant at Circa Theatre to spend on anything you want: dinner before the show, desert and coffee or even a nightcap;
•    A ‘Staying in Touch’ massage for two from East Day Spa;
•    A week of free yoga and trx classes for two from Empower Yoga. Plus if you love it (which you will) you can grab yourself and your buddy a great reduced rate for future classes;
•    The entire Tailor Skincare range. Tailor is a Wellington based, NZ made, organic skincare range and is a wonderful alternative to the harsh products on most shelves today;
•    A beautiful gift basket full of health and beauty supplements, among other exciting goodies, from Hardy’s Health Store Lambton Square.

The Ugly One is on at Circa from 11 July – 8 August.

BOOK NOW at Circa Theatre  801-7992 / www.circa.co.nz

 

This week in drama* on the waterfront, we hear from Scotty Cotter about a typical day in rehearsal of the beautiful ones – following your passion!  

 

 

The rehearsal day normally starts at 9.30am, everybody comes in rugged up in clothing due to the cold weather that has hit Wellington. (I’m from Auckland and as you can tell I fear the cold, TYPICAL!)

Dolina Wehipeihana, the choreographer, starts the music and it’s all on. Muscle and bone for a hour. This consists of  stretching, moving, rolling on the ground, body conditioning, figuring out how you get your left foot in front of your right, how to leap gracefully without feeling like a fat hippo. I successfully pass warm up!

The room is now hot and everyone has shed their winter layers, including socks, and are now to the basic shorts and t-shirts. From there we head into working over one of the dance sets. Detailing and cleaning each move and lift and figuring out how we do this seamlessly. I find myself lifting a lot of people. I feel like the Hulk! This makes me smile. The room is fueled with determination to get each point right, but also filled with a lot of laughter. I walk over to Sandip, who plays Sachin, to have a pretend wrestle with him. He taps out. I win. We work on the choreography till lunch time. By this time we are all sweating and having fun. I have passed the morning. Time for lunch.

Lunch normally starts with us all skulling back water to keep hydrated then rugging back up to fight the cold. Normally we’re all still warm so just chuck on a hoody or a jacket. The Circa balcony has the best view of the waterfront, if you ever get a chance to see the rehearsal rooms you’ll see the balcony. You can see right to the ranges on a clear day and when it’s sunny its the most epic view. We all figure out what we are having for lunch cause by this point we are starving! This cast loves to eat – it’s great!

After lunch we are into the acting side of the mahi. Braedyn and Sharn, who play Juju and Ardie, are working on their scene with the director Hone Kouka. Braedyn is cracking me up and I think to myself he is someone we should all keep our eye on. He has a natural instinct when he performs and he has a bright future in the arts. From the side of my eye I spot Sharn doing the splits, he is an amazing dancer. I somehow find myself signing up to the splits challenge where at the end of the season I would be able due to me stretching everyday, do the splits. I’ll keep you updated on how that goes.

The rest of the ‘youngins’ leap up on the floor to work on the scene. Te hau and Paige who play Vaine and Lil Paulina are part of that crew. These two are our wahine force! They both effortlessly draw your attention, both amazing dancers in their own right. I like rehearsing with this crew we have a instant complicité.

Kali Kopae walks in with her baby Willow. The whole room stops and makes baby noises and faces towards the baby for a couple of minutes then we are all back into rehearsal. After the youngins have finish their scene we find out that we have the music for a song that Kali sings produced by K*saba and composed and written by Tama Waipara and Kali Kopae. See starts to sing along. Her voice is a formidable. I’m glad she’s my mate so that I can tell people how flash she is. She tells me to shut up and then we laugh at each other. It’s fun to work with her again.

Manny Solomon, who plays Ihia, gets up and dances to K*Saba’s track. I like this kid. He’s got spark. He knows how to hold a stage. I appreciate that. I find myself trying to hug Te Hau so that I can get her into a playful headlock she is already on to my tricks and try’s to get me in one. We make a truce then crack up.

Besides all the fun. We work hard. Which is why I love making theatre. Work shouldn’t be boring. For me following your passion and being excited about what you do is why I am involved in the arts. Having fun creating, imagining, telling stories, allowing the audience to dream and self reflect. That is why I make theatre. To share time and transport the audience to another place.

SO COME AND CHECK OUT THIS SHOW!!!! Dust off all your old dance moves and bring them along. the beautiful ones is an exiting visual tapestry that will have you shaking and grooving in your seats.

See you all there!

Peace.
Scotty Cotter

the beautiful ones is on at Circa Theatre until 11 July, the last production in the inaugural Ahi Kaa AK Festival.
Book now at 04 801 7992 or www.circa.co.nz

 

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at EDGE on Tuesday night.  Here is one of the reviews for you to enjoy!

EDGE

Reviewed by Zoe Fuller, Queen Margaret College

From the moment I was informed of the title and contextual basis of the play, I was ready to succumb to Sylvia Plath’s world of mental brutality, bleakness and darkness; the three things that Plath emulated in her final poem EDGE. Being familiar with Sylvia Plath’s works I was curious as to how the play would be structured and slightly apprehensive on it being a one woman show.

However, when I walked into the Theatre, the set consisting of multiple chairs, scattered books and a writing desk, served to capture my curiosity and excitement. It also eliminated my hesitant approach for the events to follow.

The play is set in 1963 and explores the possible events and mental state of Sylvia Plath on the day she commits suicide. The spellbinding production is both captivating and intense. It presents Sylvia’s entire life in an artistic manner that allows the audience to be enraptured by her tale and sympathies with her character. The playwright, Paul Alexander, skillfully integrates lines from Plath’s poetry into the production. This serves to further enhance the presentation of Sylvia’s poetic outlet and recollection of her past.  The production, like Plath’s poem EDGE, does not serve to please the audience but rather exists to express a colossal presentation of Plath’s emotional states. Furthermore, not only is it an exploration of Plath’s life before she dies but it also unveils society’s ability to perform acts of cruelty and the consequences of doing so. Overall, the play is an emulation of intensity that will forever remain in my memory.

The set, although busy, was very effective in terms of its symbolic projection and relationship with the actress. From my interpretation, I gathered that the books were individual representations of both Sylvia’s past and her poetry. Their presence illuminated her passion for writing and also acted as small portals into Sylvia’s turbulent past.  During the play, Sylvia often collected and sorted the books, which I found to be her way of collecting, accepting and saying goodbye to her past life. Furthermore, the set had just the right amount of props and furniture to allow the audience’s attention to remain fixated on the actress herself and the story she was telling.

The actress who played Sylvia Plath, Angelica Page, performed Sylvia Plath so skillfully that the idea of resurrection became believable. Her ability to transition between a wide range of characters of different genders and ages and emotions was both phenomenal and inspirational.

Overall, the entire production was absolutely incredible and an unforgettable experience.

EDGE has only two more shows on Wednesday 17 and Saturday 20 June – BOOK NOW!  http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Edge

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Labels:Angelica Page, Edge, Queen Margaret’s College, Sylvia Plath, Young & Hungry, Young and Hungry Ambassadors

FINAL WEEK of ANGELICA PAGE ON THE CIRCA STAGE

The dynamic and highly acclaimed seasons of Edge and Turning Page at Circa Theatre are almost at an end. Angelica Page is gracing the Circa stage with these two riveting shows that are not to be missed.

“A great play, rich and textured” Tilda Bostwick, Wotzon. Turning Page

“A fine actress, so natural and believable” Tilda Bostwick, Wotzon. Edge

“An incredible glimpse into the world of Sylvia Plath” Tilda Bostwick, Wotzon. Edge

“Angelica’s beautifully honed performance offers a rich, multi-layered experience.” John Smythe, Theatreview. Edge

“Interesting, insightful and entertaining” John Smythe, Theatreview. Turning Page

“Paradoxically life-affirming” John Smythe, Theatreview. Edge

Audiences experiencing TURNING PAGE have been privy to stories of the greats; “I felt quite voyeuristic watching it though, maybe because of the star quality of the many names being dropped and the craziness of the lives being lived.” Tilda Bostwick, Wotzon.
James Dean, Marlon Brando, Tennesee Williams, Miles Davis, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne are just a few of many greats mentioned, whose lives were intertwined with the great Geraldine Page, mother to Angelica Page. This beautiful exploration of mother and daughter leaves the audiences with a unique and generous glimpse into the worlds of Hollywood and Broadway.

Whether or not you know Sylvia Plath and her great works, EDGE is a “powerful, brilliantly performed” (Dominion Post) and moving account of the life of this great poet, and it is “impossible not to be drawn in” (Theatreview).

“Angelica embodies the subjective reality of Sylvia – or Sivvy, as her mother called her – with a profound blend of insight, vulnerability, sardonic humour and bitter-sweet compassion.” John Smythe, Theatreview.

“What is so moving about Angelica Page’s enthralling performance is how she conveys the fluidity of Plath’s mercurial temperament and at the same time showing Plath taking the audience into her confidence and winning it over to her side with her sardonic humour.” Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post.

“Angelica is a fine actress, so natural and believable, we are so taken into Sylvia’s world, her history, her life and her pain that when the end is nigh I wanted to leap on stage; save the children, turn the stove off and kill Ted, instead I rushed home and did some serious Google research into the life and times!” Tilda Bostwick, Wotzon.

Don’t miss these breathtaking shows – only 5 shows left – Must end Saturday!

Makes sure you hurry and book in now 8017992 or at circa.co.nz

 

 

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at Second Afterlife on Tuesday night.  Here are some of the reviews for you to enjoy!

 

A Must See for Internet Lovers
Reviewed by Miriam Roberts-Thomson, Newlands College

Second Afterlife, written by Ralph McCubbin Howell and directed by Kerryn Palmer was an amazing show filled with humour and pop culture references. The portrayal of the characters different dimensions and developments definitely did the show justice, and I would highly recommend it.

The use of projectors was a very effective way to indicate the setting, as it meant we were able to see clearly which world we were in at the time. For example, when Dan was fighting his emo self from Bebo, the Bebo logo was able to be seen clearly indicating that that was where he was. For the flashbacks, the projected lights came off, indicating that they weren’t in the ‘second afterlife’ but instead in the real world. When the projected lights came back on it was clear that they were back in the afterlife, making the transitions between the two settings very smooth and pleasing to watch.

The acting was stunning, and the actors definitely did a great job at showing the essence of their characters. Michael Hebenton showed the journey that his character, Dan, went through clearly as he developed both mentally and physically along the way. The supporting actors did a wonderful job transitioning between fed up friends and fiendish foes, and Ruby Hansen’s guide did an amazing job showing a sarcastic compatriate and a sinister ex-profile.

Overall I would say that Second Afterlife was an amazing show, and a must see for internet lovers. Scripting was filled with many references to popular culture, and it hints at many other stories such as The Wizard of Oz and A Christmas Carol so there is something for everyone.

 

A Second Viewing of Second Afterlife
Reviewed by Tabatha Billington, St Catherine’s College

In 2014 I was lucky enough to see Second Afterlife as part of the Young & Hungry Festival, and I was completely blown away. Comedic, amusing, entertaining, brilliant, a night to remember. Now, almost a year later, I have had the opportunity to go to a second viewing of the great show.

I was not disappointed, it was equally as amazing as I remembered, however the plot twists of course less surprising and suspense less impactful. The evening was great, jokes funny, staging well timed and thought out. The new set was a lovely improvement, and the use of the DJ was absolutely hilarious and a great addition. The roles were played convincingly and I absolutely loved it the plot is intricate and eventful, with the flashbacks being a lovely addition; the profiles were amusing and very realistic. I felt the play was relatable as so many of us in this generation have a digital past which we may not all be proud of but have to admit and accept them as part of our history.

There were some technical things, such as the screens being blurry and difficult to read and some of the jokes were lost on me. I also am not familiar with the works the play was based off, so any references there were lost on me as well. However I didn’t feel that this hindered the enjoyment or entertainment factor of the play.

Overall it was a great night out full of laughs and fun. I would definitely go see it a third time!

 

A Play for All Audiences
Reviewed by Thomas Simpson, St Patrick’s College

Second Afterlife is not just a lighthearted comedy. While it does have its comedic parts, it is not so two-dimensional. For it does have deeper meanings involved – what it means to communicate, embracing our past and using it as a learning tool, and these are what set it apart from other plays of its type.

Don’t get me wrong. This play is still perfect to see if you are wanting a lighthearted laugh, too. The plot line sets itself up for success, with the typical teenage-like humour making it perfect for teenagers to relate to, or even allow older viewers to reminisce about their own childhood. While there are doubts at the ability of the main character to truly connect with his teenage persona and to make him truly believable (especially in his many times of fainting), him and the rest of the class get it spot on 95% of the time, making for a wholeheartedly enjoyable show.

However if you are looking for theatre with a little bit more depth to it, that will challenge your imagination and conceptions of the world and daily life, Second Afterlife also provides that in spades. As the main character reminisces about his childhood, he realises how blind he was, due to his intense connection with the electronic world and not the real world around him. The audience is able to see how this negatively affects our relationships with others, and that it is how we interact with others in the real world around us that truly grants us happiness.

 

Second Afterlife is the perfect play for all audiences, whether you’re looking for a light hearted laugh or something to challenge your preconceptions. I highly recommend you give it a try as soon as possible.
Second Afterlife is on until 13 June at Circa Theatre:  http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Second-Afterlife

 

This week on drama* on the waterfront, don’t miss your chance to see Broadway star Angelica Page on stage at Circa Theatre, Directed by Tony Award nominee Wilson Milam!

Described by the Wall Street Journal as “An actress of the highest possible voltage,” this award-winning star will perform two amazing solo shows, EDGE and TURNING PAGE, on alternate nights for two weeks only!

6 to 20 June, so don’t wait, BOOK NOW! And remember you save more when you BOOK FOR BOTH shows!

The great philanthropists Peter and Mary Biggs were so impressed by Angelica Page’s performance of EDGE in NY that they brought her to Circa Theatre in 2005, and Circa Theatre is thrilled that they are once again helping to bring this new season of two fantastic solo-shows!  Performing two plays on alternate nights is a unique and challenging experience, and an exciting opportunity for audiences to experience.

In EDGE, by Paul Alexander, you will experience a spellbinding encounter with iconic poet Sylvia Plath on the day of her suicide in 1963. Watch Angelica Page bring to life the troubled poet as she explores Plath’s complex ties to the two pivotal men in her life: her controlling father, Otto Plath, who died when she was only eight years old, and her charismatic husband, poet Ted Hughes, whose controversial and passionate relationship with Plath may have led her to her tragic end.

Sylvia Plath was the author of The Bell Jar, The Colossus, Ariel and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Collected Poems. In Angelica Page’s words, Plath’s legacy to the world was “Truth.. Just raw, unadulterated, confessional, exposed soul… She just told it the way that she felt it, without worrying about what people thought about her.” (interview in the Barry Z Show, NY, 2008)

TURNING PAGE will have you mesmerised as you watch Angelica Page channel her own legendary mother, Geraldine Page, once described as “the greatest actress in the English language”. Who better than her own daughter, Angelica, to write and perform the triumphant and heartbreaking true story of “America’s finest actress”!

Geraldine Page was nominated for a record-breaking eight Academy Awards and won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1986 for The Trip to Bountiful – against none other than Anne Bancroft, Whoopi Goldberg, Jessica Lange and Meryl Streep. She worked with some of the greatest, such as James Dean, Louis Jourdan, Paul Newman, Woody Allen, John Wayne, Lawrence Harvey, and Rip Torn – her husband and Angelica’s father.

This is the star-filled world in which Angelica Page was raised, and here is your chance to see this superb method actress juggle two “Breathtaking, Revelatory, Magic” solo shows!
The two plays are about two strong, iconic women, but while EDGE is more of a ‘set’ piece that doesn’t change except for getting more focused and trimmed back,TURNING PAGE keeps expanding as Angelica discovers new details about her mother’s life and lives and breathes her on stage.

It’s been a busy and exciting time at Circa Theatre ahead of the shows, with the arrival of Angelica and her director, Wilson Milam! We’re into tech week now, and they have begun filling Circa One with the amazing energy and vibes of the two shows.
Angelica has also been busy giving interviews on Radio and for local newspapers, and the town is starting to buzz with excitement!  Listen to the full Radio NZ Interview with Angelica and Lynn Freeman on Standing Room Only.

A wonderful reception for Angelica and Wilson was hosted by the US Ambassador, H.E. Mark Gilbert and Mrs Nancy Gilbert at their residency. Attended by enthusiastic arts and theatre supporters, everyone had a great time and enjoyed meeting the stars.You can see more photos on the US Embassy’s Flickr page.
Another fabulous change to meet Angelica and Wilson took place last Thursday night at The Roxy Cinema in Miramar, where Carolyn and Ray Henwood hosted a most interesting Q&A with Angelica and Wilson, and the audience had the privilege of hearing Angelica talk about her mother, Geraldine Page, and discuss with Wilson various aspects of the shows.

This was followed by a screening of The Trip to Bountiful, which stars Geraldine Page in her 1985 Oscar-winning performance.  What a treat!

Don’t forget you still have a chance to enter The Breeze LIVE LIKE A STAR DRAW!

Live like a star with EDGE and TURNING PAGE at Circa Theatre.

Text STAR to 3920 to be in the draw to win!

This prize-pack for two, will see the winners on a luxurious day and evening leading to the Opening Night of Broadway Star Angelica Page’s EDGE at Circa Theatre onSaturday 6 June.

This prize is valued at over $900 and includes:
-Tickets to the Opening Night of EDGE at Circa Theatre, with drinks and nibbles after the show;
– A night of luxury at the Museum Art Hotel;
– Dinner for two at Encore Restaurant and Bar (up to $100 Value);
– Kirkcaldie & Stains Ltd Pamper Gift Basket;
– Couples massage at Beaute Spa.

EDGE and TURNING PAGE are presented by Cariad LTD and proudly supported by Peter Biggs CNZM and Mary Biggs, with thanks to The Museum Art Hotel.

TWO SHOWS, ALTERNATE NIGHTS, TWO WEEKS ONLY!

6-20 JUNE – BOOK NOW at Circa Theatre  801-7992 / www.circa.co.nz

 

This week on drama* on the waterfront, Director Kerryn Palmer talks about the crazy ride that is the Circa season of Second Afterlife.

Second Afterlife a crazy ride!!!!!

The Internet scares me. It baffles me with its endless infiltration into people’s lives. So much time is spent looking down at screens. Often it is not enough to just have a cup of coffee with friends, instead we have to tell the rest of the world about the experience.

As a Mum of two boys I spend a lot of energy providing my kids with experiences and activities that aren’t screen based. I grew up in the country and spent my childhood, building forts, doing science experiments and getting dirty. TV was limited and computers unheard of until my late teens, so I find myself quite anti-technology and resistant to these changes.

I believe it’s great that kids spend as much time as possible off screens playing sport, music, lego and having actual interaction with people, but am I doing my kids a disservice? Will this stunt their growth in a technological world?

I decided the best way to tackle my confusion and questions over this  was to direct a play about something I didn’t really understand, to spend time with people that really knew about the gaming world and the Internet and immerse myself in a culture that scares the crap out of me.

It has been an amazing journey. Blessed with a script of epic imaginings from the pen of the extraordinary Ralph McCubbin Howell and a cast of such dedicated and talented young actors, directors and designers, I have had so much fun bringing this play to life. Thank you to Circa for inviting us in, it’s great to see the next generation of theatre practitioners in the building. Thanks to Young and Hungry for being awesome and for producing the first season of the play.

I was in the very first season of Young and Hungry 21 years ago and it is a marvellous way to begin a career in the theatre.

Second Afterlife runs from 29 May to 13 June.  Book now:  http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Second-Afterlife

 

 

This week on drama* on the waterfront, Colleen McColl, publicist for A Servant to Two Masters, delves into the commedia dell’arte style of theatre

Commedia dell’arte = ‘comedy of the profession’, ‘theatre of the professional’, ‘comedy of art’ 

One of the most interesting things about working as a publicist is delving into other various aspects of the production and finding out about things not previously known. A Servant to Two Masters offered me a wonderful  chance to look more closely at commedia dell’arte.
Google is a wonderful friend!

It appears commedia dell’arte originated in streets and market places of Italy during the Italian Renaissance.

Commedia was a hugely popular form of theatre with street performers. They offered improvised stories usually representing fixed social types, stock characters, such as  foolish old men, mischievous servants and young lovers. Actors joined the company very often at a young age and in each production played one character – it became their specialty. They spent their whole careers with that same company. As they aged they would moved into other roles eventually ending up as the old master.
It was known as a colourful and extremely theatrical art form which allowed improvised scenarios that facilitated a comic plot to arrive at a humorous climax, with a happy ending.

The performers, who used masks with exaggerated comic features to draw additional attention to themselves and complement their physical and acrobatic skills, eventually teamed up in troupes of actors, often with a travelling stage, to firmly establish commedia as a genre in it’s own right by the mid-1500s.  They performed outside and relied on various props in place of extensive scenery.

These “commedia troupes” performed for and were accessible to all social classes. Language was no barrier, with their skilful mime, stereotyped stock characters, traditional lazzi’s (signature stunts, gags and pranks), masks, broad physical gestures, improvised dialogue and clowning they became widely accepted wherever they travelled. In later years, the tradition spread all over Europe, eventually adopting a major French influence where many of the scenarios were scripted into commedia-style plays. It is from the commedia world where such characters as Arlecchino (Harlequin), Columbine, Punchinello (Punch), The Doctor, The Captain and Pantalone emerged.

It was fascinating to learn that during this period, commedia dell’arte was the only form of theatre where women were allowed on stage.

A Servant to Two Masters was originally written in 1745 by Carlo Goldoni as part of the commedia dell’arte style of theatre which was still very popular at the time. He was commissioned to devise a play for a famous Harlequin. The story goes that Goldoni wrote it with a lot of room for improvisation (the scenario was pinned to the side of the stage), as was the tradition at that time, and then went away and left them to it. The production was a huge success but when he returned he was appalled by the indulgence of the actors.  In a fit of pique he wrote down a text for the players to learn and thus dealt a fatal blow to the centuries-old tradition of commedia dell’arte. It was the birth of farce as we know it today.

Award winning dramatist Lee Hall (The Pitmen Painters, Billy Elliot) has adapted Goldoni’s A Servant to Two Masters for our current production at Circa. He offers us a fabulous new, rapid fire version with the language updated to now to create a pacey, action-packed physical comedy.   In light of my Google time travelling, I am astounded by Lee Hall’s ability to adapt and re-boot this timeless classic so that it is relevant, funny and highly entertaining to a contemporary audience.

BRAVO MR CARLO GOLDONI! BRAVO MR LEE HALL!

All Photographs by Stephen A’Court.

A Servant to Two Masters runs until 30 May.  Tickets available online: www.circa.co.nz

 

This week on drama* on the waterfront, we’re two weeks into the four-week season ofDon Juan, and it has received heaps of praise from audience and reviewers alike!

So far audience members have said:
“I went to this show and haven’t laughed so hard in a long, long time.”(Kathleen)
“Saw this show. It’s SOOO much fun!!! A great night out!” (Taiaroa)
“This show is a magnificent riot renewing our joy and faith in theatre. The story was told passionately with wonderful audience involvement. Do not miss this show. I must go again. Bravo to cast, director and all involved. An inspired and serious romp thru [sic] what I know as Don Giovanni.” (Sarah)

And this from Simon: 
“I had the pleasure of being in the audience for the opening night of Don Juan at Circa last weekend. It was a hoot. The trust between the five performers and the lighting/sound operator was apparent as they worked together through performance, improvisation, physical comedy, singing, and gentle, inclusive audience interaction to tell the tales, spin the yarns, and peel layers off the onion off the mystery of the man who could be described as the Chuck Norris of love.

“It’s a testament to the players that the show never felt rehearsed. The impression I had throughout was that the performers were riffing off each other and playing with whatever came to mind from beat to beat but that belies the huge amount of rehearsal and planning which must’ve take place in the run up to the show to make those moments feel spontaneous.

“Who is Don Juan? When is Don Juan? How does Don Juan? This show won’t answer those questions – in fact it’ll leave you asking more – but it might just leave you with your face hurting from smiling and laughing with delight and wonder.”

Reviewers have been equally kind, giving their seal of approval to this hilarious show.

The Dominion Post’s Laurie Atkinson had this to say: 
“Controlled anarchy is the essence of the production, which is taken at a furious clip, that is part scripted, part adlibbed, and involving some well-planned and unthreatening audience participation. The comedy is verbal, physical and at times surreal. Don Juan faces a firing squad with the audience as the executioners, while later they become, with aid of tattered umbrellas, trees in a forest.

Don Juan, who is played by more than one actor during the show, fights off two hundred bandits in a hilarious, skilfully timed skirmish with knives, guns, fists, swords, and a machine gun. He nearly drowns at sea and he goes to Hell after dining with a statue. Moliere’s plot is, surprisingly, almost intact, despite a comic digression of a running gag of unrequited love between an actor and a member of the audience.”

While Theatreview’s John Smythe says:
“That so much seems incidental and even spontaneous is belied by Don Juan’s dialogue being spoken on mic, with enhanced tonality, by one actor while another – wearing DJ’s white baseball cap and coloured scarf, and holding an amplifier / speaker – lip-syncs.  All achieve this feat with a panache that belies their precision, proving this is a meticulously plotted and highly rehearsed show.

Matt Eller’s sound contributions, mostly worked live from his desk in an onstage alcove, are simply superb – the impeccably timed swishing swords and clashing blades, especially. Full credit for the multi-weapon carnage sequence too, which is in such gross bad taste and so ludicrously extended that all we can do in the end is laugh.”

Adam Goodall of the Pantograph Punch says:  
“The troupe keeps us in that celebration with outrageous accents, drinks breaks and their own attempts at breaking the rules. They even get us to participate in some of the most compassionate, boundary-respecting audience interaction I’ve been part of.”

“Don Juan feels like a moment. It’s giddy and exuberant.”

Regional News’ Madelaine Empson says:
“Don Juan is hilarious, vibrant and polished. It speaks to its audience of being bold and fearless, and achieves this above all other things itself.”

So make sure you catch Don Juan over the next two weeks before it is gone forever. Tues – Sat at 7.30pm until May 23rd. Special 10pm performances on Friday 15th & Saturday 16th May.

 

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at A Servant to Two Masters on Tuesday night.  Here are some of the reviews for you to enjoy!

“Live, Love, Laugh.”
Reviewd by Tabatha Billington, St Catherine’s College

Circa’s production of A Servant to Two Masters, was both hilariously entertaining, while also thought provoking. From reading just the brief outline of the plot from the back of the programme, I knew I was in for an amusing evening full of laughs and inappropriately funny jokes. Two and a half hours later, I was not disappointed, I had a big smile on my face, and my stomach hurt from laughing so much. The cast, the costumes, the lighting and plot all were completely perfect, and flavoured the evening into one I shall always remember.

From the first entrance, with the characters dancing on stage, I was hooked, the set was well designed and inventive and used to the best of it’s ability, however, I found that the backdrops both looked quite similar, and so them being rearranged to show a change in location didn’t quite work as well as it could have, despite this one flaw in the evening, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the play. With slick, well practised staging and cues, stunts, fights, and sword duels, the show was comical without looking tacky. The plot was understandable and kept the audience absorbed in the world of Truffaldino and his tricks. A personal preference of mine, is when the actors involve the audience, which is exactly what they did last night, asking us for prompts, and using us to help their improv. The play was so well done, so comical, so captivating, that if I hadn’t been told in the Q&A afterwards that a lot of it was improvised, I never would have known. To me, this is the best kind of acting.

From the title, I was expecting a more serious play, yet with the disguises and large amounts of humour, girls dressing as boys, and the eccentric costumes, turned the play into something almost pantomime or shakespearian. There was almost a sense of it being a comedic take on Romeo and Juliet, with Florindo and Beatrice thinking that they were enemies but then once the disguises were removed, they remembered their lost love. With romance, sword fights, plot twists, humour and provocative themes, I feel that A Servant to Two Masters would be suitable for an audience of any age. The play had something for everyone, and I would definitely go see it again.
Despite the humour and comical cover, when delving deeper into the themes in the play, one will find some quite inspirational themes, of what it truly means to be in the working class, shown through Truffaldino and how he just wants to make some decent money and have a good meal, yet doesn’t exactly use the best methods to get this. Also the theme of equal rights, shown through the maid Smeraldina who has a lot of sass and cheek, yet is still wise, and just wants to find love and help her mistress find that too. The main message I took from the play was ‘to be true to yourself’. With all the disguises and tricks and confusion and problems caused within the play, everything would have worked out easier if everyone had just been honest and true to who they were. But then of course, there would have been no play. I believe that this show was made to make people think about how we treat those who have less than us, and that if we have less than someone, does that make us worth less than them?

Overall, my night was full of laughs and fun, the show was great, and enjoyable and everyone left the theatre more positive and happy than when they arrived, the cast were great fun to talk to afterwards, and it was a nice time to catch up with some old acquaintances. I would highly recommend this play to anyone, and although I didn’t have to pay for my ticket, I believe that it would definitely be worth the $46. I wish the cast good luck for the rest of their season, and I hope each performance is as enjoyable to be in, as it was for us to watch.

“A Brilliant Performance”

Reviewed by Rebekah Ward, Taita College
 
A Servant to Two Masters was truly a brilliant performance. I read a short description of what I was getting myself into, and I wasn’t excited. The description does not do the amazing  performance justice. I was thoroughly pleased that I had been mistaken, thrilled to be deceived by the short description. I loved the energy , I felt for each and every character, and I laughed all night. The comedy was brilliantly timed and I believe the actors complimented each other well. I had my doubts about the set, however after the interval I feel that the retractable slats added atmosphere and well thought out scene changes. The lighting was minimal as was the sound, which really caused the brief lead’s and music used to have a larger impact and meaning. The costumes I feel symbolised each characters personality and behavior during the play. I feel that it would be a true sin to miss this masterpiece. It was beautiful in every way with each choice both careful and complimenting.

“A Servant to Two Masters”

Reviewed by Thomas Simpson, St Patrick’s College

A Servant to Two Masters is a played presented by Circa Theatre, which is an adaptation of an Italian Comedia piece written in the 1700s. It tells the story of a servant, Truffaldino, who in search of more than one meal a day, decides to work for two masters instead of one. He encounters some difficulty along the way, as one would expect working two jobs, but still uses his charm and trickery to make it work, even fitting in time for a love interest.

On first impression on my entrance to the show, I thought that it was a rather intriguing set up. I had no idea what to expect, the only clues that I had was of the style of housing on the backdrop which allowed me to picture myself in an olden day Italian town, but that was all that was given away.

Therefore I was given no indication of how good the performances were going to be. I found that most of the actors were able to really put across to the audience the true nature of their character, and it made for an all round fantastic performance. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Simon Leary as Truffaldino. I found his charm to pair perfectly with the character of Truffaldino, his athleticism and humour make him enjoyable and relatable, and his involvement of the audience really helped me to understand the story, which was hard to follow in the beginning. I also found that the personal monologues of all the characters that were directed at the audience a huge help in understanding what was going on in the play. Having not researched the play beforehand I did get lost in some places, particularly at the beginning, but the characters showing their train of thought helped me to understand the motives and the plot.

In conclusion, I came away from the play with an overall happy and content feeling. The laughs and overall vibrant vibe of the play made sure I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I came to it not knowing what to expect, but I came away with a smile on my face. If you’re looking for a play to make you smile and laugh a little, I thoroughly recommend this play, it is a must see and you must go along to Circa to see it as soon as you can. It runs from the 2nd to the 30th of May.

 

This week on *drama on the waterfront, The Improvisors are proud to celebrate 25 Years of making you laugh!

By Tim Gordon

Harris Street. Circa Theatre. The Improvisors first show Suspect – an improvised murder mystery, is Main Bill for the International Festival of the Arts 1990. A cast of six, directed by Grant Tilly.

We were friends and colleagues who formed a company. We had no idea that the new phenomena of improvisation that had reached our shores, in the form of Theatresports, would be the basis of a business making people laugh for 25 years.

Theatresports created a unique artistic community of actors who loved the thrill and challenge of Improv. Its competitive side allowed the large National Theatresports Competitions to thrive through the 90s with teams battling wits, using the audiences’ suggestions to create the funniest scene, most satisfying story or most rounded characters – all made up on the spot.

It is scary. It is actually all made up. The audience don’t know what’s going to happen and nor do we. And for twenty five years they have loved to share the fear, applaud success and forgive  failure. Our job is to stay in the moment and to say “Yes” to every offer and that requires a great deal of trusting your fellow players.

Each comic has their own role – the opening player, like the fearless Canadian, Lori Dungey alongon stage, miming the environment, creating a real world for scene to take place. My role along with players like Ian Harcourt was often the number two player – the one who comes in to drive the story forward, then there were the big comic characters, Mark Wright, Geoff Dolan and Anna Kennedy – who just made people laugh; the charmers who the audiences adored, Tim Jones, Liz Mullane, and then, finally, there were the wrecking balls, Robert Pollock, Steve Wrigley, who tip the safe world upside-down and watch everyone make sense of the complication.

Some scenes depend on the adroitness of language, some on the remarkable rhyming, some on songsters, they all require not only a quickness of wit, but more importantly a generosity of spirit and a graciousness in both success and failure.

From the James Cabaret, to The Paramount Theatre, up to the University Memorial Theatre, late nights at Bats and Downstage and finally we came to rest in our home at Circa Theatre.

For 25 years The Improvisors have flourished, not only through Theatre Shows but also as a successful Corporate Entertainment Company. It has been a wonderful ride and I am so pleased that on Sunday June 14th we are gathering the old guard to shake it off for a well-earned and proud Gala bash at Circa Theatre.

 

This week in *drama on the waterfront, Kathleen Burns answers questions about playing Beatrice in A Servant to Two Masters, which opens at Circa on Saturday 2 May.

You are based in Christchurch and I believe this is the second Circa Theatre production you have been cast in?

KB: That’s right. Last year I came to Circa for the first time to play Jill in Mother Goose. I was introduced to the madness that is the Circa Summer Pantomime, and also the delightful madness that is Gavin Rutherford and Simon Leary! They are two of the funniest actors I’ve ever worked with, and their work in rehearsals for A Servant to Two Mastershas me in stitches every day.

Q. Did you know the Goldoni play before you were cast?

KB: Yes! Or rather, I knew a different modern adaptation of it. In January this year I finished a season of One Man Two Guvnorsat The Court Theatre. This was Richard Bean’s adaptation, set in Brighton in 1963. The character I played was Rachel Crabbe, and I’m playing the equivalent character here at Circa, who in this version is called Beatrice.

Q.What appealed to you when you first read this adaptation of A Servant to Two Masters?

KB: There were two main pull factors to come back to Wellington for this show.

One: As I mentioned, I’d just come off a season of One Man Two Guvnors. What would it be like to play the same character in this 200 year old story but through somebody else’s lens? Would I play the character in the same way? As it turns out, the answer to that one is “no.” My voice and physicality for Beatrice in this version is completely different to Rachel! And I adore that. Two characters who look, sound and move differently, who live in totally different worlds, but who at their hearts just want the same thing and are essentially living the same story.

Two: The second reason is that I blatantly just wanted to come and get up to comedic mischief with Gavin Rutherford and Simon Leary again. Those two are truly alchemists when it comes to making comedy gold, and if I can bask a little in the gleam of it then I am one happy actress.

You are playing a character called Beatrice who is disguised as a young man. Has that brought certain challenges

KB: I think it’s fun. I’ve always enjoyed gender bending shenanigans! Everyone should have a go at it. When I’m playing another gender, it actually starts to illuminate to me the things I assume my own gender identity to be. When adopting a manly voice in my lower register, I feel stronger and more powerful. Does this mean that I equate masculinity with power? If so, does that mean I equate femininity with weakness! I would certainly hope not, but maybe I make assumptions subconsciously. I could talk gender politics for hours… Somebody stop me!

Last year was very busy and successful for you. What were some of the highlights

KB: I’m going to pick 3 highlights: 

• Playing Linda in Blood Brothers. Such a beautiful musical and a gift of a role.
• Doing The Court Theatre’s opening night of White Rabbit Red Rabbit. If you haven’t heard of this show, then you are missing out! It’s just one actor, but a different actor every night. There is no rehearsal, you just walk out on stage and are handed the script in an envelope. The actor discovers the play at the same time the audience does and it is one hell of a ride!
• Continuing to be a part of Scared Scriptless. This is a late night improvised comedy show which I’ve been doing for more than a decade now with The Court Jesters. I love this work. Sharp, dangerous, hilarious improvised comedy at its best. We were also the second highest selling New Zealand works of 2014 which I’m very proud of.

A favourite role you have played?  

KB: Today I’m going to say playing Grace in Duncan Sarkies’ Saving Graceat The Court Theatre in 2010. I got to hit a lot of stuff with a hammer, including Jon Pheloung. Fun! 

Q. And one that is an ambition to play? 

KB: One day… one sweet day… I would love to play Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd. Sometimes I practice A Little Priestin my bedroom, shower or car just so I’m ready when the magical moment happens…

A Servant to Two Masters opens on Saturday, 2 May 2015, and runs until 30 May.  Tickets are on sale now:  www.circa.co.nz or call the Box Office on 04 801 7992.

 

This week on *drama on the waterfront, it’s your last chance to see Two Mortals at Circa.

THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN DYING IS MISSING THIS SHOW

With less than one week left of Two Mortals Circa season, would-be-audiences had better seize the day and book their tickets now!

Described by Wellington audiences as  ‘beautiful, funny and poignant’, Two Mortals has delighted through its ability to ‘transport me to somewhere very reflective and powerful’.

Performers Mike McEvoy and Rachael Dyson-McGregor, both members of Melbourne’s Playback Theatre Company, have won hearts here in Wellington, being lauded as ‘excellent performers’, ‘able to be so open and present’, who ‘really took care of us as the audience to engage with such a heavy topic’.

Yet in spite of the weighty subject matter, the show’s been credited with dealing to it using ‘light humorous touches’, ‘playful, child-like game’ and a ‘high level of energy and joy’.

With reports of Two Mortals audiences leaving the theatre carrying balloons and dancing out into the night, it would seem this joy is infectious. ‘There is a great deal of stimulating life in this play about death’, Wellingtonians had best book now for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Two Mortals is on Tuesday-Saturday this week, 7.30pm in Circa Two.

 

Drood, Glorious Drood!

This week on *drama on the waterfront, we hear reflections from week one of The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Just over a week ago The Mystery of Edwin Drood thundered out of the gate at Circa, with a bold and boisterous opening night event that served up a feast of madness, mystery, murder and music to the more than 200 people who joined the cast and crew to send Drood off to the races in style.

By now, nearly 1500 of you have been welcomed to the Music Hall Royale to meet the incredible suspects, watch for clues and red herrings and decide for yourselves who the Dickens did the deed!
It’s been wonderfully exciting to see the different possible endings emerge (with some hilariously improbable pairings already proving popular! Most of all, it’s been humbling and gratifying to hear how much fun you’re all having

Phew!

As those of you who’ve seen it will know, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a massive and spectacular undertaking, needing truckloads of energy, wit, speed, passion…..and people to share it with! We’re still  firing on all cylinders and there are heaps of endings still to be seen, so it’s just as well we’ve got another three weeks to bring you a larger-than-life experience at The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

All photos taken by Tabitha Arthur, with quotes from the audience of this season ofThe Mystery of Edwin Drood.