STANDSTILL
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written and directed by Anders Falstie-Jensen The Rebel Alliance [1hr] at The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland From 9 Mar 2011 to 13 Mar 2011 Q Theatre Loft, 305 Queen St, Auckland From 30 May 2012 to 9 Jun 2012 BATS, Wellington From 14 Jun 2012 to 23 Jun 2012 Meteor Theatre, Hamilton From 5 Jul 2012 to 7 Jul 2012 Reviewed by: Stephen Austin; Janet McAllister (New Zealand Herald online); Joanna Page; John Smythe; Ewen Coleman (The Dominion Post); Gail Pittaway; |
Keep the pace
Take a chance.
When was the last time you went to see a show or a film that you knew absolutely nothing about?
Standstill
The Basement, Lower Greys Ave www.basementspace.co.nz
March 9 to 13 2011 (all performances 7pm)
$20/$15 Book at www.iticketexpress.co.nz
3 ACTORS ON 3 TREADMILLS FOR 60MIN
In 2010 writer/director Anders Falstie-Jensen pitched a vague idea to the Auckland Fringe Festival: he wanted to do a play featuring sweaty actors on treadmills. And that was pretty much it… Little did he know that the play originally intended only for a fringe season morphed into Standstill, one of The Rebel Alliance most critically acclaimed shows to date.
“I have a suspicion that if Standstill debuted it Britain it would be hailed an instant contemporary classic” – theatreescenes.co.nz
“Anders Falstie-Jensen has woven an impressively-crafted, snappily-written whole out of snippets of modern life.” - NZ Herald
“Marvellous” - NZ Herald, best of 2011 theatre
Given the enthusiastic response the rebels have now decided to dot the North Island with beads of sweat as they embark on their longest tour to date. In May/June Standstill will play at Q Theatre's Loft in Auckland then head south to BATS in Wellington before wrapping up in July at Hamilton's Meteor Theatre as part of the FUEL Festival.
Inspired by true stories and propelled by a fierce undercurrent of desperation, Standstill weaves tales of factory workers, cyclists, doctors and tour guides into a sweaty kaleidoscopic image of what happens when our dreams and ambitions collide with the lives we end up living.
Says Falstie-Jensen” At its core Standstill is provoked by something my dad said to me when I was in my 20s. He said “You need to adjust the expectations you have of life with the skills you actually have. Chances are you'll be much happier when you do that.” At the time I had big dreams, the world was my oyster and I was involved with the arts where you're told “Dreams CAN be reached if you just believe in yourself!” so naturally I completely disagreed.
Fast forward 13 years and, well, I'm not a fighter pilot; or a World Champion athlete; or a doctor; or a film director/actor… I hate to admit it but maybe my dad was right.”
Standstill is about the moment in time when you reach the crossroads and realize that your life didn't pan out the way you wanted it to and that maybe the dreams you had aren't gonna happen. What do you do? Do you keep chasing the dreams no matter what or do you accept that:
You will never have the X factor
You will never make a significant impact on the world
You will never have a six pack
You will live an ordinary life
Starring Kevin Keys (August: Osage County), Andi Crown (Yours Truly) and Josephine Stewart Tewhiu (Chalk)
Standstill comes with a health warning: Watching the play will make you question your life and could potentially result in an immediate appointment with a psychologist that will cost you thousands of dollars as you try to come to terms with the fact that you might just be a perfectly ordinary human being.
The North Island tour of Standstill is made possible by a Quick Response Grant from Creative New Zealand.
“A company to watch” – NZ Herald
Auckland
Q – Loft
30 May – June 9 2012
www.qtheatre.co.nz
Wellington
BATS
June 14 – 23 2012
www.bats.co.nz
Hamilton
The Meteor
July 5 – 7 2012
www.fuelfest.co.nz
Previous productions from The Rebel Alliance:
HEROIC FAUN NO. ONE “Unforgettable” – Theatreview
THE ORDERLY – “Solo theatre as it should be” – Capital Times
GRACE – “Artistic excellence” –Theatreview
A NIGHT OF FRENCH MAYHEM – “Bold and innovative” – NZ Herald
“A company to watch” – NZ Herald