Last Legs not quite on its last legs
As the New Zealand population lives longer, the issue of retirement options is taking centre stage, which could account for the extraordinary success of Roger Hall’s latest play Last Legs.
Set in a retirement village, the play had its world premiere season at Circa Theatre in September and returns for three weeks from this Friday.
It was 2016’s fastest booking show at Circa, achieving a 94 per cent fill rate in record time.
Director Ross Jolly says the focus on Kiwis living longer in retirement hit exactly the right note with audiences.
They reviewed audience feedback forms and the reaction was ‘‘extraordinary’’, he says.
‘‘Often they just write when they don’t like things ... it was generally and pretty much universally positive.’’
Almost half of older New Zealanders live for some time in residential villages, so seeing these residents interacting on stage, accurately reflects life choices for many, he says.
‘‘[Hall] has an ability to choose topics that are topical, that people can respond to and relate to ... congratulations Roger, you’ve hit the nail on the head once again.’’
Hall has created a name for himself and has a loyal audience who follow his work thanks to his ability to take pertinent, often poignant topics and discuss them through comedy, Jolly says.
Winner of the 2016 Wellingtonian of the Year Award for the Arts Category Ray Henwood will return as Angus, who along with his much younger wife, Helena, has moved into an upmarket retirement village.
He agrees that the play struck a chord with audiences because it was relatable.
‘‘I think it’s Roger’s real trademark, that what he writes is so true to life, that there were so many people there who were either recognising people from their own rest homes or had gone through the same thing.
‘‘He just catches the essence of real humour, something that we recognise, that we’ve probably been through before.’’
Jolly says it became clear pretty early on that a return season was a good idea.
‘‘As the bookings got better and better ... it just became a nobrainer to give it a go.’’
The show will next travel to Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre.
Roger Hall’s Last Legs returns to Circa Theatre, Friday until February 18. Tickets and more information from circa.co.nz.