AT THE WAKE
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By VICTOR RODGER Directed by ROY WARD at Centrepoint, Palmerston North From 28 Jul 2012 to 25 Aug 2012 Reviewed by: Richard Mays; John Ross; |
CENTREPOINT THEATRE from Saturday 28 July 8pm until 25 August.
Centrepoint Theatre is excited to be bringing another world premiere to the Manawatu this July, with the brand new black comedy At The Wake.
Family issues erupt in At The Wake, with hilarious and dark consequences.
Is it ever appropriate to discuss your sex life at a funeral? What if you are 70, and it's your own daughter's funeral?
Robert, a half-Samoan ex-pat returns to New Zealand to accompany his palangi grandmother to his mother's funeral. But potty-mouthed Joan is hardly a conventional grandmother - she smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish; she loves men but hates Robert's father with a passion, and she will make sure EVERYBODY knows it.
At The Wake is a brand new play from the pen of multitalented New Zealand playwright, actor, journalist and Shortland Street scriptwriter, Victor Rodger. The idea for the play came from Rodger's own family background, when he pondered the question “What if my Samoan father, my Scottish grandmother and I were all in the same room?” and wondered what hypothetical scenario would bring them all together.
Rodger, whose previous plays include Sons, My Name is Gary Cooper and Village People, is known for writing vivid characters and complex character relationships and nowhere is this more evident than in At The Wake.
Lynda Milligan – last seen onstage at Centrepoint Theatre in You Can Always Hand Them Back returns to the Manawatu to appear in At The Wake as Joan, the granny with attitude.
Lynda's character in At The Wake is light years removed from the cuddly, sweet, dulcet toned grandma that charmed audiences recently in Roger Hall's You Can Always Hand Them Back.
Instead, Lynda is ready to shock and delight audiences, playing one of the most memorable characters you are likely to encounter on the stage this year: the chain-smoking, glamorous, foul-mouthed, devilish diva Joan, who seemingly lives only to embarrass her grandson…at her own daughter's funeral, of all places.
Joining Lynda in the cast are Samson Chan-Boon, a recent graduate of the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, as Robert; and Iaheto Ah Hi, as Tofi. Iaheto recently appeared in the hugely popular films, Sione's Wedding and Sione's 2: Unfinished Business.
Directing the play is Roy Ward. In addition to being an accomplished theatre director, Roy is a familiar face from his many screen appearances in shows such as Outrageous Fortune, Go Girls and Shortland Street. Roy also works as a television writer and script editor and has worked extensively overseas: he was based for a time in Amsterdam and has featured in a number of Dutch produced features and shorts.
CENTREPOINT THEATRE, Palmerston North
Saturday 28 July – 25 August
Show Times:
Wednesday 6.30pm, Thursday – Saturday 8pm, Sunday 5pm.
Prices:
$37 Adults, $25 Seniors, $27 Under 30s,
$25 Community Service Card Holders, $15 Students,
$65 Dinner & Show.
Special Performances:
$15 Tuesday – Tuesday 31July, 6.30pm.
Bookings for $15 Tuesday open at 9am Monday 30th July.
Bookings:
Phone 06 354 5740, online at www.centrepoint.co.nz, email centrepoint@centrepoint.co.nz, or visit 280 Church Street.
Starring: Lynda Milligan; Samson Chan-Boon; Iaheto Ah Hi
Set Design – Sean Coyle;
Lighting Design – Phillip Dexter;
Costume Design – Sara Taylor.