Duo fretting about fame
Play acknowledges the past with humour and music
Get ready to be captivated by the enchanting rhythms of Two Guitars, the latest play by Jamie McCaskill (Nga¯ti Tamatera¯). Two Guitars combines the best of live music and live theatre to tell the tale of Billy and Te Pou, two aspiring Ma¯ ori musicians with vastly different backgrounds.
After collaborating to win a national talent show, the duo must decide what to do with their newfound fame; their harmonious singing and guitar-playing contrasts with their divergent viewpoints on how to represent Ma¯ori musicians in the modern world.
Filled with laughter and touching moments, Two Guitars delves into the lives of a new generation of Ma¯ori, who navigate a world trying to wrestle with what it means to be a Ma¯ori artist separated from tikanga Ma¯ori. As Billy and Te Pou tread the delicate balance between their roots and contemporary aspirations, they are faced with the complexities of cultural identity, generational struggle and the rich tapestry of Ma¯ ori heritage.
McCaskill, who is pulling double duty writing and acting, will be well known to Palmy audiences being a member of the Ma¯ori Sidesteps.
He wanted to “write about the people who have missed out on the ko¯hanga reo and the kaupapa”, in particular the lost generation of Ma¯ ori who were discouraged from speaking te reo by their schools and communities.
McCaskill believes contemporary Ma¯ori who are separated from tikanga Ma¯ori are stigmatised. “Are you as valid in te ao Ma¯ ori if you don’t speak te reo Ma¯ori?”
McCaskill will be joined by Cameron Clayton (Nga¯ti Porou, Whangai) as Billy.
“I relate to this so much,” Clayton says. “I’ve always been told that I am Ma¯ori and not felt it. This is the most Ma¯ ori thing I have ever done — much like Billy.”
Palmerston North-born Carrie Green (Nga¯ti Porou/Ka¯i Tahu) is the director.
Green was drawn to the piece as “this is one of those few scripts that aren’t set in a Ma¯ori-Pa¯keha¯ world, it’s a Ma¯ori-Ma¯ori world and is about the conversations we have with ourselves. I don’t know anyone who has made work like this.”