The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
The Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland
07/07/2008 - 19/07/2008
Production Details
Two Top Theatre Shows for Children In School Holidays
"The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea, in a beautiful pea green boat
They took some honey and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note …"
Two favourite children’s stories come to life on Auckland stages for the July school holidays.
Tim Bray Productions presents Edward Lear’s delightful nonsense poem The Owl and the Pussy-Cat at The PumpHouse, Takapuna from 5-19 July; and, at the same time Tim Bray Productions is presenting a return season of the very popular Pippi Longstocking at TAPAC, Western Springs from 9-13 July.
"Pippi Longstocking was sold out at the PumpHouse last year and we wanted to give children in other parts of Auckland the opportunity to enjoy this fun story," says producer Tim Bray.
Both productions have been adapted for the stage by Tim Bray and feature original songs by Christine White. The Owl and the Pussy-Cat features all the characters from the poem including the turkey who lives on the hill, and the piggy-wig with a ring at the end of his nose, while Pippi Longstocking tells the story of every child’s favourite little girl with her flaming red pigtails and topsy-turvy world of fun and hi-jinks.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat is the third in a series of professional children’s theatre productions presented by Tim Bray Productions in 2008. Pippi Longstocking will also be performed in Howick and Papakura in October, and a new production, Margaret Mahy’s The Dragon of an Ordinary Family will be staged in the October school holidays and December features the return of the ever-popular The Santa Claus Show.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat is at The PumpHouse, Killarney Park, Takapuna, Auckland from 7-19 July at 10.30am and 12.30pm with a Gala Opening on Saturday 5 July at 7.00pm. No shows on Sundays and children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite animal from the poem. To book, phone (09) 489-8360 or online at www.pumphouse.co.nz .
Pippi Longstocking is at TAPAC, Motions Rd (opposite the Auckland Zoo), Western Springs, Auckland from 9-13 July at 10.30am and 1.00pm daily. Book at iticket on (09) 361-1000 or online at www.iticket.co.nz
CAST
Owl: Ashley Hawkes
Pussy-Cat: Lucy Warhurst
Narrator, Travel Agent, Piggy-Wig, Turkey: Hayley Dallimore
NZ Sign Language Interpreter (selected shows): Kelly Hodgins, Lynnley Pitcher
DESIGN
Set Design: Sean Coyle
Costume Design: Chantelle Gerrard
Lighting Design: Sean Coyle
Makeup Design: Natasya Yusoff
"Together" Choreography: Linda McFetridge
PRODUCTION
Stage Manager: Alana Tisdall
Lighting Operators: Michael Craven or Jordan Greatbatch
Sound Operator: Dean Roberts
Set Builder: Frank Checketts
Costume Construction: Chantelle Gerrard, Annemiek Taylor, Helen Chan
Turkey Costume / Owl Head: Kneel Halt
Boat: Dale Taylor
Sound Track: Christine White
Sound Mix: Ana Hassel
Sound Effects designed by: Amanda Rees
Prosthetics: Hayley Oliver
Scenic Painting: Sean Coyle, Bryce Hatton
Props: Bryce Hatton, Amanda Rees, Deb Frame
Lighting Crew: Michael Craven, Calvin Hudson
Illustration: James Stewart
Website Design: Office Logic
Postcard Design: Office Logic
Advertising Design: Stefania Samecki-Capper
Logo Design: Insight Creative
Teachers' Resource Guide: Rosemary Tisdall, Getting Kids into Books
School Mailout: Ken and Margaret Bray
Publicist: Sally Woodfield—SWPR
Trust Accountant: Rachel Humphrey—KiwiConnect
PumpHouse Team: Alison Reid, David Martin, Michael Murphy
PumpHouse Box Office: Gill Saker
For The Operating Theatre Trust
Production Manager: Bryce Hatton
Producer: Tim Bray
Another satisfying holiday treat
Review by Sian Robertson 07th Jul 2008
The original three verse poem by Edward Lear is fleshed out to a 60 minute show, coming to life with an array of funny creatures, fantastic costumes (designed by Chantelle Gerard) and catchy tunes.
The Owl and the Pussycat are both languishing for an adventure. Owl (Ashley Hawkes) feels he’s missing out because he’s asleep when everyone else is awake, and Pussy (Lucy Warhurst), though she’s living the high life, could do with a bit of excitement. When all the tourist spots suggested by the travel agent are rejected by Owl as too wet or too busy or too loud, she mentions that there is one place… the land where the bong tree grows. No one knows where it is, but it’s said that if you sail for a year and a day you’ll find it. So, they hop into a pea-green boat, with some honey and plenty of money and set sail for a far-off land…
The rest of the play follows the poem faithfully, with an additional mouse hunt (being a favoured food of both feline and fowl) and stolen honey caper to thicken the plot.
In the title roles, Hawkes and Warhurst are a delightful pair. Lucy Warhurst is a mischievous and lythe Pussy in her black velvet cat suit and Ashley Hawkes, while not an obviously ‘owlish’ choice, is a solid and likeable Owl and seemed to be a favourite with the kids.
A very funny and versatile Hayley Dallimore steals the show with caricatures of excitable Yorkshire-accented Piggy-wig (with a ring at the end of his nose, his nose) and an Australian (cockatoo?) travel agent; she also plays the indecisive ‘Turkey who lives on the hill’ (who marries the Owl and the Pussycat) and a narrator at the beginning and the end of the play.
Another satisfying theatrical holiday treat from Tim Bray and Co, the Owl and the Pussycat is probably best suited for ages 3-6, though I laughed out loud several times and my seven year old wanted to act out the characters all the way home. Its layers provide some side jokes for the mums and dads, and younger ones will be entertained too by the energetic songs and slapstick humour.
Note: Tim Bray Productions is also presenting a return season of Pippi Longstocking at TAPAC, Western Springs from 9-13 July.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
Comments