Couple are kids in festival candy store
ROL and Aggie Madden are walking advertisements for the global appeal of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.
The couple flew in from Colorado specifically for the festival and have lost count of how many events they have attended.
‘‘Having so many things to choose from, we were like kids in the candy store,’’ said Mrs Madden, who was presented with the trip as a golden wedding anniversary present from her husband.
They have seen a flash mob in Cuba Mall, met plenty of locals, and even been recognised in public after asking a question at a festival event.
‘‘I felt like a rock star or something for asking a question,’’ Mrs Madden said.
Festival highlights for her husband have been Tu, Masi and Peninsula.
Mrs Madden, whose brother suffered from post-traumatic stress after the Vietnam War, had one clear favourite: Michael James Manaia, the story of a soldier returned from Vietnam.
‘‘I have seen shows about [posttraumatic stress]. None of them were right and this one is right. This one is what happens if someone wants to know. It was good to see someone get it right.’’
The couple, in their early 70s, discovered Wellington years ago when Mr Madden visited as a meteorologist. They have visited twice before, but each time managed to miss the festival.
This time they booked tickets to 14 shows and have been to countless Readers and Writers’ Week talks, as their well-thumbed guides attest.
They have been so impressed that they wrote to The Dominion Post to ‘‘thank all of the persons who put so much effort into such a perfect festival ... but most of all thank you to the friendly persons of Wellington who reached out to us and made us feel so welcome every place that we went’’.
They fly out on Monday, the day after the festival closes.
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