SENIOR MOMENTS
THESE TWO WILL BE KICKING UP THEIR HEELS INTO THEIR SENIOR YEARS
Why Louise and Alison are retiring disgracefully
When Louise Wallace was cast as a retirement home resident in her latest play, two thoughts very quickly crossed her mind – the first being, “Thank God”, which was immediately followed by, “There must be another Louise Wallace they’re thinking of. I hope they know I don’t look like I belong in a retirement village!” Louise (57) laughs.
The Real Housewife and former The Weakest Link host joins industry veteran Alison Quigan to star in Roger Hall’s Last Legs, a black comedy about sex, death and politics that centres around a Waikato old folks’ home.
Alison (65), who has acted, directed – or both – in 15 of Roger’s plays, knew immediately she was on to a good thing. “Roger has told the story of this generation all the way through, from when they got their first jobs to when they are on their last legs, as it were. It’s great to be part of that vision.”
This time, Alison plays an uptight, politically active ex-teacher who immediately regrets her decision to move to an upmarket retirement village when she meets her neighbours, including Louise’s character – a crooked real estate agent with a Lothario husband.
“My character has always lived on her own, now she has to live with other people and she doesn’t like it,” tells Alison.
Louise suspects this is probably a common reaction to a shift to a retirement village. “I’m fascinated by the whole idea of being institutionalised. When you’re in a retirement village, this is your last hurrah. This is where you’re going to end up. I think mentally that’s probably quite a scary thing.”
In the play, Prime Minister Bill English is to open a new wing of the Cambridge Retirement Village, which sparks a revolution among its residents. Soon, they are at war with each other, transforming the plush facility into a hotbed of insurrection, intrigue and infidelity.
“By the end, they grow to respect each other, and accept each other’s faults and differences,” says Alison. “It shows it doesn’t matter where you are or whatever stage you are at in your life, you are allowed to change and grow even if it is towards death.”
Both women have loved working on the play, but neither relishes the idea of moving to a retirement village themselves.
“We were always very proud of the fact that we didn’t let my mother do anything like that,” remembers Alison. “As she got towards the end, she was pretty much cared for by us and then, of course, the hospital.
“I don’t know how I would feel about it, to be honest. I don’t know how infirm I’m going to get. My sisters and I have the same thought. We’ll all live at [my sister] Joan’s place because she’s got the biggest house. It will be fabulous.”
Louise has a similar plan. She and her friends intend to buy a big block of land on the beach and build something gorgeous. “Basically, you’re there with your friends and that’s sort of a fantasy that we have. You’ve got the buff, semi-naked gardeners and the pool man. We might be kidding ourselves, but I don’t know that we are.”
Neither Alison nor Louise believe in growing old gracefully. Alison advises women to never accept old age or believe that you shouldn’t wear something because you’re not young enough. “You can be as prudish and conservative as you like, but I’m always going to be that rude old lady in the corner,” she hoots.
Louise admits that she is still as silly as she was when she was 21. “There are a lot of people my age who are old before their time. They are living lives and have attitudes that I would equate with someone of 70, and I think, ‘Poor them,’ because they’re really missing out.”
“They’re leaping into old age!” agrees Alison. “I’ve seen people in their twenties who are older than I am.”
The pair have worked together before on hit local drama Shortland Street. Alison played receptionist Yvonne for seven years and Louise had a short stint on the show. Neither of them spoke to each other, but they get on like a house on fire now, though. They both enjoy working in television but theatre is their first love. Alison worked as director, producer and actor for 18 years at Palmerston North’s Centrepoint Theatre, and Louise is also the driving force behind Auckland’s Tadpole Productions.
“It’s the chance to create a character,” explains Alison. “With theatre, you develop something so you can sustain it over two hours. With TV, you only need to sustain it over a minute.”
Both Alison and Louise are looking forward to going on the road – it’s the first time Louise has toured a play since drama school. They’ll have plenty of support wherever they are. Louise’s husband Scott will be there on opening night and her children, Ashley (26) and Guy (23), are travelling from Australia to see her at the end of the month. Plus, her sister will fly in from the US to catch the play in Tauranga.
Alison’s children, Sarah (32) and Freddie (24), will be in the audience on opening night and her sisters will be there for final night. “To be honest, they get sick of seeing me,” she admits.
“They won’t regret it,” says Louise. “It’s a bloody good night out. What more could you want?”