Winter’s tale on a summer’s night
Manawatu Summer Shakespeare has become a long-standing tradition in Palmerston North. Carly Thomas watched the rehearsals for this year’s
Comedy hanging on to the skirt tails of tragedy was something Shakespeare was partial to. And The Winter’s Tale isa perfect example. For the first three acts of this year’s Summer Shakespeare, expect drama, intensity, good old all-consuming jealousy and a bit of tyrannical hell making. And then in comes a vehement bear. Antigonus dies, off-stage thankfully, after the world-famous stage direction, ‘‘exit, pursued by a bear’’. And then things get a little silly.
Director and Massey University’s artist in residence Sara Brodie said the play gets flipped on its head.
‘‘It moves into the land of comedy at that point and for that reason it’s often seen as Shakespeare’s problem play. But I see it as a strength because then you get the best of both worlds.’’
You also get to step into an altered world right here in Palmerston North’s back yard. The Esplanade is the stage, the Manawatu River the backdrop and the 40-strong cast are the portals to a fantastical place.
The audience will be led in a processional walk through the trees by musical minstrels playing a medley of Elizabethan-inspired tunes. The river is the destination and will curtain the open air stage.
‘‘When the audience actually come along it will all be set up like a midwinter fair with braziers, bunting, food stories and fire poi. This will be like going into the fantastical wilds.’’
The amateur actors are in safe hands with Brodie, she has had a prolific theatre career that has outstretched its arms to dance, acting, directing, choreography and working in opera.
Actor Catherine Bradley said they all felt lucky to have someone of her calibre. ‘‘She has a lovely way about her and she knows the text so intricately’’.
She is an incredibly organised person and is not at all phased by teaching big dance numbers to a crowd, many of whom have never danced.
The music has been composed by Suzy Hawes and she says Brodie was ‘‘quite unusual’’ to work with because ‘‘she is just so organised and is very specific in what she wants’’.
‘‘I am working with some super people and we have all worked together before on various things. Everyone owns it, it’s not just me, but I really have had fun poring over all of this Elizabethan music. I have had fun. The music has echoed inside of me quite a bit. It has called to me and I hope everybody else enjoys it too.’’
The dances and music goes from upright and formal to downright rustic.
As do the costumes. That is Karen Newton’s task. The confirmed ‘‘costumeaholic’’ has had a ball with the two distinct styles. Valentino inspired, monochrome gowns with a gothic edge descend into pheasant colours of orange and brown. And Newton also has had the fun job of figuring out how to make a bear costume.
‘‘I have had a lot of fun sourcing everything. It’s very cool. And we have done something a bit different for the bear, that will be a surprise.’’
Nic Green is the stage manager and when he comes into the changing room an in depth and very serious discussion about fake fur is started in earnest.
Kate Nolan attempts to get her costume on over a moon boot. She is playing a first lady and broke her foot during a dance rehearsal. She is determined to get off her crutches by opening night. Being in Summer Shakespeare has been a dream of hers for some time.
But right now, she would be happy to get her dress on.
The cast and crew are all like Nolan, they are involved because they love the whole mad journey of it. Matt Waldin is playing the King, Leontes, and this is his sixth Summer Shakespeare.
‘‘Summer Shakespeare is always an awesome crazy show and the cast always becomes really tight knit and it feels like a family.’’
Mark Kilsby is there as well. This is his 13th time and when it is mentioned that it wouldn’t be a Summer Shakespeare without him, he chuckles.
‘‘Well, one day it will be.’’
He is the king of the one-liner and everyone laughs.
They all look forward to the rehearsals by the river and Brodie says she wants to make the most of what’s there to create a real ‘‘into the wilds’’ feel. ‘‘I went for a walk when I was looking for a spot and I kept moving down the river away from the traffic noise and I found a little sheltered enclave. There’s four gum trees in a little square and they are just gorgeous. It’s perfect.’’ A perfect place for magic to happen, which often does when the outdoors are your stage. Sunsets, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees and bird song all become moments of happenstance and as Brodie puts it, ‘‘happy accidents’’.
The Winter’s Tale opens on March 2 and runs until March 11. All of the performances start at 7.30pm and there is a matinee on March 5 at 2pm. The site in the Esplanade is the bridal path on the banks of the Manawatu River, down the path from the paddling pool near the Esplanade Cafe. The audience is asked to meet at the paddling pool for a processional walk down five minutes prior to performance time.