ANOTHER BEGGAR’S OPERA
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by LONG CLOUD YOUTH THEATRE, adapted from John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera directed by Stella Reid presented by WHITIREIA NEW ZEALAND A Masters in Theatre Arts (Directing) Production (Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School / VUW) LONG CLOUD YOUTH THEATRE at Aro St Church, 225 Aro St, Wellington From 17 Aug 2012 to 22 Aug 2012 Reviewed by: John Smythe; |
LONG CLOUD GOES GRASS-ROOTS WITH MUSICAL
“Steal a little and they throw you in jail… steal a lot and they make you king.”
In the grimy depths of the lowest common denominators, a beggar has written an opera. Over a hot fire, he shares this story with his out-of-pocket contemporaries.
ANOTHER BEGGAR'S OPERA hurtles us into the world of whores, beggars, big business and Jazz: a place where people keep their collars up lest they see something they shouldn't … darkness, debauchery, a world populated by thieves, poets and the stink of the streets.
Long Cloud continues its tradition of performing classical texts while building on its recent forays into devised works. This newest collaboration of ANOTHER BEGGAR'S OPERA marks a new era in the development of Long Cloud with one of its past members returning to direct. Stella Reid (a former Long Cloud member) has worked with the company to adapt a fresh & thrilling version of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera. This rough and raw musical featuring well known characters and songs such as ‘Mack the knife' is a funny and unique take on this classic tale.
Director Stella Reid: “Long Cloud is an ever growing & changing group of young people, of which I was lucky enough to be a part. With ANOTHER BEGGAR'S OPERA I hope to sustain and push new and edgy work. I believe nothing is ever too “professional”, too “intelligent”, too “classic” or too “difficult” for young people to create. It is with Long Cloud, I believe, that the landscape of artistic endeavour in Wellington, and indeed New Zealand, can now be changed.”
ANOTHER BEGGAR'S OPERA is a satirical look at the role of business, poverty and injustice. This is a story of corruption at all levels of society. Combine this with loud music, loud characters and snappy ballads and you have the chaotic world of the beggars; welcome to this world, and this world is ours, play it again Sam!
The Aro St Church, 225 Aro St, Aro Valley, Wellington
17th August – 22nd August.
Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed @ 7.30pm.
TICKETS ARE LIMITED TO 35 PER NIGHT
$18/$14 | BOOKINGS PHONE 04 238 6225 or ONLINE www.thetheatre.co.nz
TEXT: Stella Reid & Long Cloud Youth Theatre
CAST: Frankie Berge, Hamish Davies, George Fenn, Angela Fouhy, Laura Gaudin, Tom Kereama, Merlin Connell-Nawalowalo, Livvy Nonoa, Hanna Olsen, Hen Priestley, Connor Rapley, Hannah Wilson
DESIGN: Annie Hubbard & Charlie Mandley
SONG: Ailsa Krefft
MUSIC: Stephanie Cairns & Theo Taylor
Operated by: Lily della Porta, Olivia Mahood & Freya Sadgrove