Break a leg, Puss in Boots almost did
Its suppose to be good luck, but not literally for the lead
The main character in the show now on at Levin Little Theatre nearly broke a leg and was lucky to take the stage for the opening last Friday night. Lavara Makutu, 13, rolled her ankle while jumping off a table during a sword-fight scene.
Show director Ryan Burnell said Makutu’s ankle was so swollen she needed the aid of crutches and it was impossible for her to wear boots, let alone dance, sing and sword-fight.
It was touch and go whether she would be able to take the stage in the week leading up to opening night.
“It was just one of those things. She jumped ... and sprained her ankle badly as she fell,” he said.
But, in the final few days before the show, the swelling began to come down just enough for “Boots” to wear boots, and the show went on.
It was just as well Makutu recovered — it would be hard to imagine anyone else filling them, so strong was her performance.
Burnell said it was a huge relief for cast and crew to have opening night go off without a hitch after so much anticipation.
“It was great and a real credit to everyone involved,” he said.
The script is full of humour, which is delivered with expert timing by a relatively young cast, and it also allows for plenty of audience engagement. Characters like Scratch (Harry
White) and Daisy (Belinda Chainey) get more than their fair share of laughs.
Burnell himself takes the stage as Dame Doris. He admitted initially being a bit apprehensive about what is a challenging role, but he also knocked it out of the park. The cast are working as a team, so much so that Krystal Connell and Charlotte Taylor-Thomson are alternating nights as the moody character Mittens.
The cast had put a huge amount of effort into rehearsing the show and opening night went off without a glitch — if there were any hiccups, they were expertly hidden.
The show continues at Levin Little
Theatre, which has been putting on shows for 85 years, until November 18.
ON STAGE ... Puss in Boots: Lavara Makutu. Mittens: Krystal Connell/Charlotte Taylor. Scratch: Harry White. Sniff: Amalie Williamson. Genie: Angelina Riley. Dame Doris: Ryan Burnell. Jack: Alrich Hoffman. Daisy: Belinda Chainey. Dish: Eden Makutu. Spoon: Jamie Pardoe. King Edgar: Reon Materman. Princess Tiana: Imogen Williamson. Horace: Tony Adamson. Guard One: Adrian Gilbet. Guard Two: Tamara Crawford. Ensemble: Tatum Makutu, Catherine Murray, Shyla Cross, Ezekiel Taylor, Lux Makutu, Gemma White, Jochebel Taylor, Rose
Cherrington.
BEHIND THE SCENES ... Director: Ryan Burnell. Assistant director: Sonya Grimstrup. Production manager: Sonya Grimstrup. Casting: Ryan
Burnell, Lily Wardle, Thomas Clarke. Choreographer: Amanda Compton. Vocal coach: Noah Watters. Fight coordinator: Simon Manns. Concept and design: Ryan Burnell, Ari Burnell. Set
constructions: Craig Burnell, Ryan Burnell. Head of set art/dressing: Ari Bell. Set art/dressing assistants: Moana Lambert, Callum Herring. Special effects: Thomas Clarkes, Ryan Burnell. Costuming: Lily Wardle, Sonya Grimstrup, Yvone Killiner, Diane O’Neill, Ari Bell, Maddie Hawley-Stone, Moana Lambert, Belinda Chainey, Ryan Burnell, Tony Adamson. Advertising: Sonya Grimstrup, Yvonne Killiner, Ryan Burnell, Geoff Williamson and team. Newspaper promotion: Horowhenua Chronicle. Booking consultants: Ryan Burnell, Nicola Reeves. Graphics: Ryan Burnell. Programme, poster and billboard design: Sonya Grimstrup, Ryan Burnell. Backstage manager: Ryan Burnell. Assistant backstage manager: Belinda Chainey. Backstage crew: Craig Burnell, Rose Cherrington, Angeline Riley, Chanelle Taylor, Zavier Robinson. Prompt: Cast and Diane O’Neill. Makeup: Dani Mackay, Faith Watters, Ari Belle. Lighting and sound plotting: Ryan Burnell, Thomas Clarke. Show lighting and sound operation: Thomas Clarke. Technical manager: Kenneth Ireland. Front of House: Committee members and friends. Patron: Joyce Corrin. President: Yvonne Killiner.