WELL HUNG
) Brendan Lodge Photography |
by Robert Lord directed by Conrad Newport at Centrepoint, Palmerston North From 8 Sep 2012 to 13 Oct 2012 Reviewed by: Richard Mays; John Ross; |
At Centrepoint Theatre we are going back in time with our next production: New Zealand comedy classic Well Hung.
That's right: we're taking you back to rural New Zealand in the 1970s.
A sleepy rural town – complete with its own annual “Blossom Festival” – is the backdrop for murder, mayhem and police misadventure, as well as a whole lot of mirth, as a team of incompetent cops scramble to solve a case that should be cut and dried.
Fame hungry Detective Jasper Sharp is dispatched to Small Town NZ to solve a murder case the local cops can't seem to get a grip on. Meanwhile, everybody already knows the town dolt Wally did it!
While Sharp is obsessed with getting his face on the cover of the Woman's Weekly, his team of local cops have a lot more on their plates. They're juggling their own illicit affairs, an abundance of dodgy evidence, and above all – figuring out how they can avoid being dragged into participating in the town's annual Blossom Festival.
What do you get when you combine a team of bungling police with a cocky detective, mistaken identities, and lusty liaisons in the broom cupboard?
A classic Kiwi comedy so funny it should be illegal!
Well Hung features a lineup of familiar faces: Stuart Devenie (Four Flat Whites in Italy) as fame obsessed Detective Sharp; Jon Pheloung (last seen here in Enlightenment) as straight-laced sergeant Bert Donnelly; and Richard Dey (Flipside, The Thirty Nine Steps) as enterprising cop Trevor.
Also joining the cast are Karl Burnett – most famous for his stint on Shortland Street as Nick Harrison – in his first ever theatre role. Not content to just tread the boards for the first time, Karl is taking on a double role in Well Hung: as both town scapegoat Wally, and as hotshot Blossom Festival organiser Adam. Rounding out the cast and adding a much-needed shot of oestrogen is Darlene Mohekey in the double role of police wife Lynette and amateur dramatist Hortensia.
Conrad Newport – no stranger to wrangling actors in mad scenarios after directing a successful season of The Thirty Nine Steps here at Centrepoint in 2011 – is once again at the helm as director for Well Hung.
Daniel Williams is doing double duty as set and costume designer for Well Hung, after previously bringing his design flair to the memorable “suitcase“ set for The Thirty Nine Steps and the dazzling white set for Enlightenment. Daniel is looking forward to recreating 1970s NZ onstage for Well Hung.
Season runs Sat 8 September – Sat 13 October.
Show Times:
Wednesday 6.30pm, Thursday – Saturday 8pm, Sunday 5pm.
Please note there will be no performance on Sunday 9 September.
Prices:
$37 Adults, $25 Seniors, $27 Under 30s,
$25 Community Service Card Holders, $15 Students,
$65 Dinner & Show.
Special Performances:
$15 Tuesday – Tuesday 11 September, 6.30pm.
Bookings for $15 Tuesday open at 9am Monday 10 September.
Bookings:
Phone 06 354 5740, online at www.centrepoint.co.nz
email centrepoint@centrepoint.co.nz
or visit 280 Church Street.