Waiting for Gertie!
4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
12/09/2025 - 12/09/2025
Pitt St Theatre, CBD, Auckland
02/10/2025 - 02/10/2025
Production Details
Written by Helen Moulder
Dramaturg and director – Jeff Kingsford-Brown
Music tracks – Michael Vinten
Willow Productions
(Originally titled Cynthia & Gertie Ride Again!)
Music, Mayhem and Madness
“A concoction of delicate whimsy” – Theatreview
Yes, Miss Cynthia Fortitude, the legendary diva is coming to New Plymouth to give a musical lecture to the newly formed New Plymouth Opera Guild (NPOG). Her indefatigable accompanist, the equally legendary Miss Gertrude Rallentando, is nowhere to be found, so Cynthia must battle on without her.
A comedy with music, starring the legendary diva, Miss Cynthia Fortitude, played by Helen Moulder, in honour of Rose Beauchamp (1946 – 2022) who played the delicious character of Gertie for 30 years.
More information: www.willowproductions.co.nz
“Cynthia’s belief and delight in what she does is likeable and infectious.”
“…Moulder’s highly-polished skills as a singer, comedian and storyteller” – Theatreview
Itinerary:
WOBURN APARTMENTS: Saturday 30th August 4pm 61 Waititi Cers. Judith Exley 027 209 7492 exleyjudith2@gmail.com www.trybooking.co.nz/XYV
PAEKAKARIKI: Fri 5 Sept 7.30pm, St Peters Hall. Advance Bookings: $25
www.trybooking.com/nz/YCX Door Sales $30
OTAKI: Sun 7 Sept 4pm, Senior Citizens Hall.
www.trybooking.com/YMF Labour Party Fundraiser. $30 (includes drinks and nibbles)
PALMERSTON NORTH: Wed 10 Sept 7.30pm, Milson Combined Church. $25. Bookings essential, limited seating: www.trybooking.com/nz/XZK
NEW PLYMOUTH: 4th Wall Theatre, 11 Baring Tce, Strandon, New Plymouth.
Friday 12 Sept 7.30pm. ONE SHOW ONLY
Adults: $30, Seniors & Students: $25
Bookings: www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz/onat4thwall/whats-on/waiting-for-gertie.html
PIOPIO: Sun 14 Sept 3pm (Followed by afternoon tea) Pio Pio Memorial Hall.
www.trybooking.com/nz/YIX
COROMANDEL: Fri 19 Sept 7.30pm:, Hauraki House Theatre. Advance Bookings: $25.
Coromandel Town Information Centre Tel: 07 866 8598. Door Sales: $30
CAMBRIDGE: Sun 21st Sept 4pm St Andrew’s Church Hall. Advance Bookings: $20 www.trybooking.com/nz/YEA Door Sales: $25 Pack in:
WHANGAREI: Fri 26 Sept 7.30pm, Forsyth Barr Riverbank Centre.
www.trybooking.com/nz/YJA
MAHURANGI WEST: Sun 28 Sept 4pm Mahurangi West Hall.
www.trybooking.com/nz/XWJ
AUCKLAND: Thur 2 Oct 7.30pm, Pitt Street Theatre.
www.trybooking.com/nz/YDP
HOWICK: Sat 4 Oct 4pm, Howick Little Theatre.
www.hlt.org.nz
TAURANGA: Wed 8 Oct 7.30pm 16th Avenue Theatre, Tauranga.
https://16avetheatre.co.nz/8-october-2025-helen-moulder-here-for-one-night-only
MATAMATA: Fri 10 Oct 7.30pm, Matamata Dramatic Society. $25
www.mds.org.nz
ROTORUA: Sun 12 Oct. 4pm Collingwood Funeral Home, 1358 Eruera St. Rotorua Advance Bookings: $25 www.trybooking.com/nz/ZCC
HASTINGS: Tues 14 Oct 7.30pm, The Playhouse, Hastings.
www.trybooking.com/nz/YGR
OTANE: Wed 15 Oct 7.30pm, Rumpy, 212 Argyll Rd, Central Hawkes Bay, 4170
Tel: 027 495 4426
GREYTOWN: Sun 19 Oct 4pm, Ed & Juliet Cook’s house
efjacooke@gmail.com or phone 06 304 9497. (Bookings open October 1st)
PICTON: Tues 21 Oct 7.30pm, Picton Little Theatre.
Eventfinda or Summit Real Estate, Picton
GRANITY: Wed 29 Oct 7.30pm. Lyric Theatre. Advance Bookings: $25
TheLyric.nz or NBS Theatre Westport Box Office. Door Sales: $30
REEFTON: Fri 31 Oct 7.30pm Oddfellows Hall. Advance Bookings: $27 Door Sales: $30 Students: $10
Tel: (03) 732 8542
MOTUEKA: Sun 2 Nov 4pm, Chanel Arts Centre. Advance Bookings: $20
www.trybooking.com/nz/YJU Door Sales: $25
GOLDEN BAY: Wed 5 Nov 8pm Mussel Inn. Advance bookings: $20
www.trybooking.com/nz/YGT Door Sales: $25 Doors open 5pm
NELSON: Sun 9 Nov 4pm Fairfield House. Advance Bookings: $25
www.trybooking.com/nz/YOR Door Sales: $30
Starring Helen Moulder
Theatre , Music , Comedy , Solo ,
65 mins
Moulder is a national treasure and this show will make her many new fans.
Review by David Charteris 03rd Oct 2025
I first saw Cynthia Fortitude and her accompanist Gertrude Rallentando under the dome at the magnificent Sargeant Gallery in Whanganui and magnificent they were too.
This was the late 1990s and I enjoyed, several times, listening to a Concert FM recording of the show.
“When will they come back from their noble, perhaps idealistic and perhaps unrealistic, goal of taking Opera to the third world countries and come back to Aotearoa and entertain me again?” I often said, selfishly.
They did.
Resplendent in a sparkly frock any Diva would be pleased to wear, Helen Moulder as Cynthia, sweeps onto the stage on an electric scooter and immediately makes herself at home welcoming the full house to the inaugural meeting of The Auckland Opera Guild.
Targeting two hapless front row audience members who went on to become more involved in the show than they were expecting when they sat down, one is instructed to read a prepared welcoming speech to Cynthia who like all Divas, thrives on admiration.
So the show begins with us, the audience, as willing members of the Auckland Opera Guild. Some not so willing which becomes evident when we have to sing many choruses from the original opera about saving the lives of sandflies on the west coast of the South Island of Aotearoa.
It all makes sense when Cynthia explains it.
But where is her companion and accompanist Gertie?
On a road trip north of Auckland apparently.
Overcoming her brittle understanding of modern technology, Cynthia has several phone calls to and from Gertie, keeping her and us abreast of what is happening with the ongoing endeavour to find a second soprano to sing the role of Cybele – the Roman Goddess called The Great Mother – and guess what Opera Diva Gertie tracks down in Keri Keri?
Why, Kiri of course!
As I have stated, it all makes sense when Cynthia explains it.
This very entertaining hour-long show is a choker with wonderful one-liners and filled with fabulous fun.
Helen Moulder is a national treasure, and this show of music, mayhem and madness will make her many new fans.
As Dame Kiri from Keri Keri said when she heard us sing over the phone “We were all SUPER!”
No one more so than Helen.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
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