Raucous energy earns loads of laughs in polished production

GOODNESS, they’re good.

It seems the time is ripe to celebrate the better part of New Zealand’s pioneer history.

That Bloody Woman (2015) was created with great verbal wit and deference to The Rocky Horror Show by Luke Di Somma and Gregory Cooper. That Bloody Woman was directed for Taieri Musical by Kim Morgan, with musical direction by Bridget TelferMilne and wardrobe design by Jennifer Hughson.

It is an almost accurate telling of Kate Sheppard’s leadership of the New Zealand suffrage movement liberally peppered with dramatic licence for a 21st century audience.

Continued reference to how much or how little things have changed over the intervening decades keeps feminist arguments on the agenda.

For example, remedying the harm caused by alcohol, which provided Sheppard’s initial impetus to action remains current.

The show employs a heavy dose of satire and irony coupled with sexual innuendoes and contemporary political asides. Such horseplay is the lifeblood of musical theatre and Taieri Musical delivered with raucous energy, winning many belly laughs from the packed house.

The full cast never put a foot wrong. Their voices were strong and committed, and their onstage presence never faded. Costumes were inventive and witty.

Anna Langford (Kate Sheppard) endowed the show with her considerable professionalism. Max Beal (‘‘King Dick’’ Seddon) was also of strong voice and lithe on stage. Support roles sung by Kelly Hacking, Jess Clarke and Janine Weatherly were also thoroughly convincing and captivating.

Highlights from the song list include AhMen, Tricky Dicky, Two Johns, Ride On (pushing pedals for the revolution), Clarke’s solo Quarter Acre Dream and Langford’s solo Tempest in Your Longing Soul.

The only regrettable element of the show is that many of the lyrics telling our story were delivered with an American accent.