ELEPHANTS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
Allen Hall Theatre, University of Otago, Dunedin
15/03/2014 - 16/03/2014
Production Details
A story based around the Ugly Duckling. A classic tale of searching for one’s own identity as an alternative to assimilation. The story centres on Maui Filemu, A half Samoan/Maori born out of wedlock. Maui’s narrative looks at his journey with mental illness and how this impacts on his perception of how he views himself. Maui’s pulsating question is how do I fit in?
March 15, 16
Allen Hall Theatre
90 Union Street East, University of Otago, Dunedin
7:30 pm
60 min
Online Tickets: $12
Door Sales: $15
Dash Tickets (0800 327 484)
Door sales available (cash only)
World Premier
Adult Themes
Wheelchair Accessible
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– See more at: http://www.dunedinfringe.org.nz/artist-events/view/elephants-in-the-garden-of-gethsemane-a-play-by-jay-williams#sthash.16pMniXk.dpuf
Theatre ,
1hr
The healing power of the arts and education
Review by Kimberley Buchan 16th Mar 2014
The Garden of Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. A symbol of peace and faith. However there is a problem that our peaceful society ignores. It is tiptoed around softly, with people trying to pretend it isn’t there. Is it too hard to solve? Too complex? It is difficult and complicated but it can be worked out and Jay Williams and Phoenix NZ Performing Arts are taking the first steps.
They take ‘the elephant in the room’ of cultural alienation and mental illness and look straight at the huge impact these things have on our suicide rates. The cast does this with song and dance not just accompanying the acting, but as an integral part of the performance.
Maui Filemu and his mother have worked their way through as many elephants as life could throw at them. Maui had a difficult start to life; born out of wedlock, handed over to strangers. It didn’t get much better from there as he was bounced around various foster homes, always living with people who could not help him be who he is. School didn’t help either as he was always put in a class of people struggling with the same cold unfeeling societal structures that he was. In a dog eat dog world he became the eaten dog.
This downward spiral leads to a ridiculous crime while high and this leads to the discovery of the arts as a rehabilitation tool. This directly reflects Jay Williams’ philosophy of the healing power of the arts and education. In this way the play ends with hope as the cast, strongly representing his ideal, introduce themselves and their academic achievements to an extremely appreciative audience.
This show is a true performing arts display. The narration of Maui’s story is done through acting and a multitude of dance forms, some of which directly translate the poems, the prayers, the passion into movement. The amazing singing is a highlight of the show. It would be able to be even more appreciated if the volume levels of the music did not sometimes conflict with the volume levels of the singer.
The set is a visual art piece with elephants and tusks made of flowers ever present and hovering over the lives of all the characters. The 30 odd strong cast is extremely talented and smoothly transition through a myriad of art forms.
Elephants in the Garden of Gethsemane touched its audience in quite a raw way and this was shared in the forum after the performance.
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