Sex abuse victims show offender mercy
How does the world’s most famous nanny fare in New Plymouth?
Move over Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and the Disney crew. New Plymouth Operatic Society has put its own stamp on the classic story of Mary Poppins and it’s proving as popular as ever.
Once again our provincial thespians perform well above their weight, creating a world class, slick, professional show that makes us Taranaki Proud.
Director and choreographer Sara Brodie is one of the few in the team who has been brought in from outside of Taranaki.
She has worked her magic with a bounty of home grown talent, along with Christopher Luke as musical director, associate choreographer Kate Lahood, Jillian Suthon as vocal assistant and the production manager Andy Spindler.
Together they have created a show that hums along with delightful cameo roles, blazes of vibrant colour, a detailed choreography of energy, lively music with familiar tunes and technology that is stunning.
It all adds up to a mountain of fun.
The season opened on Thursday night and shows that while it may be an oldie, Mary Poppins is certainly still a goodie. This musical version of the well loved story varies a little from the P.L. Travers book first published in 1934 and the Disney movie that followed in 1964.
However, with well-known, catchy songs that many remember from their childhood it is timeless. Hearing the likes of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and A Spoonful of Sugar makes the audience feel young at heart.
The children playing the lead roles of Jane and Michael quickly win the favour of the audience – on opening night it was Hannah Liggett and William Broadmore. They delight with their wonderful singing and antics.
Both know every word and move precisely.
Yet, they add their own spontaneous individuality to their parts which totally suits their characters.
On alternate nights Imogen Hodge and Charlie Betts take on these demanding roles.
Bryony Williams, Poppins, is brilliant.
She sings and acts with a natu- as Mary Two people sexually molested as young children have shown their abuser compassion and forgiveness, something a sentencing judge called ‘‘remarkable’’.
Justice Susan Thomas made the comments at Friday’s sentencing of Terrence Solomon Martin, who was jailed for 11 and a half years for the sexual abuse of three children, who were aged between 6 and 15 years at the time of the offending.
Martin’s offences, committed between 1993-2001, included rep- ral maturity and skills well beyond her years. Teamed up with the talented Simon Cannell as Bert, the two are ‘practically perfect in every way’.
I have a few other favourites with Kelsey McEwan and Jeff Poole who play the children’s parents.
The audience enjoys the humorous antics of Alyssa Poole, Sonny Deacle and Elicia Hitchcock. resentative charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, indecency with a boy and attempted rape.
As a tearful Martin left the dock to begin his jail term, two men performed a haka for him as he was taken away. It was later described by one of the men as giving Martin the strength he needed to continue in his counselling and rehabilitation in order to break the cycle of abuse.
Earlier, Justice Thomas told the High Court at New Plymouth that a two-day restorative justice meeting was held behind bars between Martin and two of his victims.
They shake in fear when the overly loud former nanny Miss Andrew arrives, played by Jenny Bennett. John Ainsworth and Francesca Carthew give excellent, more serious moods to their characters as does Jenny Bennett in her other role as Bird Woman.
However this is a team production.
Every company member is worthy of a great deal of praise.
During the meeting, the 41-yearold admitted to what he had done and apologised to the victims. He also spoke of his own experience of sexual abuse as a child, something which left him hurt and angry.
Martin’s contrition was in complete contrast with his attitude to the offending last year. He originally pleaded not guilty to the offending but on the day his High Court trial was due to begin, he went on the run, only to be caught by police three weeks later.
However following his arrest, he changed his pleas to guilty and agreed to meet with two of the three people he caused irrevocable
Many, like the group of backing vocalists and the backstage crew perform unseen.
They all make this show so successful and put into action Mary harm. Despite considering being part of the meeting, the third victim chose not to attend.
Justice Thomas said that Martin’s sexual abuse of his three victims, which began when the defendant was 17, had significantly damaged them.
The first victim was aged eight when he was first abused by Martin and the sexual harm continued for seven years. The second victim was abused between the ages of 6 and 11 years.
Martin’s third victim was aged six when she was first assaulted.
Justice Thomas said all three had battled emotionally for years Poppins’ words ‘‘Anything can happen if you let it’’ and ‘‘In every job that must be done there is an element of fun’’.
The set is amazing. Constructing a rotating two-storey house, complete with staircase, several inside rooms and a rooftop has been done with demanding precision.
Audience members sit in eager anticipation as doors are pulled afterwards, a toll which not only effected them, but their wider families. She said one of the victims tried to block out memories of the abuse while another turned to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape.
But despite this, two had shown Martin compassion and forgiveness. ’’Such a position is nothing short of remarkable,’’ Justice Thomas said.
Justice Thomas said one of the victims spoke of how Martin’s own disclosure of being sexually abused as a young boy helped her realise he carried the same ‘‘mental scars’’ she did. back, revealing scene after scene that continually impress. Complemented by computerised backdrops, excellent lighting and technological surprises that soar around the theatre, it all adds up to that wow effect.
This family show will surely ‘‘go down in the most delightful way’’ as it continues until July 22 to create marvellous memories for many.
Martin was given credit for his guilty pleas and his involvement in the restorative justice meeting, where he agreed to complete counselling, along with a prison based sex offenders programme.
Justice Thomas said this needed to be balanced against the aggravating factors of the crimes, which included the vulnerability of the victims, the scale of the offending and its detrimental impact.
Justice Thomas declined to impose a minimum non-parole period but advised Martin he would be added to the child sex offender register.