One-person play featuring city hits the stage
A one-person play that is partially set in Palmerston North is taking to the stage in the city.
Helen Moulder is presenting The Bicycle and the Butchers Daughter about a strong woman who runs a big meat exporting company and her family.
Moulder plays all five characters: Olivia Paterson, her father, her sister, her daughter and an 11-year-old girl.
Olivia wants to feed the world, but her daughter is vegan.
Her father wants things to stay as they are and her sister is not sure what she wants. Only the mysterious 11-year-old girl seems certain.
The base of the meat industry in the play is in Wellington and the father needs to be far enough away to not pop into the office every day, so Palmerston North becomes his home.
The character of Olivia’s sister is also opening an art gallery in George St, Palmerston North.
Moulder was based in Nelson, but her sister lived in Palmerston North, and she had spent lots of time performing at Centrepoint, so featuring the city seemed fitting.
She said the play was funny, dramatic, family-orientated and featured some strong language.
It was Moulder’s fourth solo production, and was written with and directed by Sue Rider.
Each character was on the stage separately, and after lots of hours perfecting each of them during lockdown, she could channel each with ease. ‘‘I just pick the props up and I’m off.
‘‘I have always enjoyed changing characters and I think it’s entertaining for the audience.’’
Moulder also operated the lights and music herself.
‘‘It’s really a one-man band.’’
The play will be at Centrepoint’s The Dark Room from May 5- 6, and then will tour to Auckland, Paekakariki and Christchurch.