Trio happy to tackle old age on stage
They joke about creaking bones and struggling to make it onto the stage, but the matriarchs of New Zealand theatre can’t seem to stay away.
Theatre company Hens’ Teeth is taking to Circa Theatre next week with a theatrical showcase for the old, the young, and the young-at-heart, called The Older The Better.
On the stage will be three performers in their 10th decade: Actor Dame Kate Harcourt is 93; comedian Sunny Amey is 92; and musician Coral Trimmer is the baby of the group at 90.
And it was all inspired by a harmonica solo at an 80th birthday party in September last year for renowned dancer and actor Sir Jon Trimmer.
At the party, Coral Trimmer received a hearty round of applause for her harmonica performance for her brother. Then Amey had the audience in fits at her comedic take on ageing.
Watching all this was Kate JasonSmith, who recognised the seeds of a show. ‘‘I thought, ‘My god, these women are brilliant’,’’ says JasonSmith.
The Hens’ Teeth Revival was born. The original Hens’ Teeth show first premiered at Circa in 1988, and ever since has showcased women and the hilarities and realities of their existence.
For the revival, the only rule was members had to be over 70 – conveniently dictated by JasonSmith, who had just turned 70 herself.
It’s a variety show, a little bit of everything. ‘‘It’s sketch comedy held together by an MC,’’ she said.
Other members include Helen Moulder, opera singer and comedian; pianist Rose Beauchamp; dancer and actor Jan Bolwell; playwright Renee; international speaker Gill Greer; piano bar lady Linn Lorkin; writer Rachel McAlpine; performance poet Margaret Austin; and actor Annie Ruth.
When these women first came on the scene, there wasn’t much of a scene to come on to, and they’d all spent their lives pushing boundaries.
Trimmer had owned a harmonica since she was a child, given to her by her father. ‘‘Little girls didn’t do that but I did.’’
She had played music from London to the Middle East, and had a concerto written for her by New Zealand composer Dorothea Franchi, which she toured in Franchi’s memory early this year.
After retiring about six times already, Trimmer was ready to say no when JasonSmith approached her. ‘‘My first thought was, I can’t be bothered. Then I heard who was in the cast.’’
Harcourt and Amey were giants of the stage, Trimmer said.
Harcourt was named a Dame Companion of the NZ Order of Merit in 1996 following a long career on stage, screen and radio.
She had been part of Hens’ Teeth since its inception. What kept her going was apparently a good question. ‘‘God knows,’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘I suppose I enjoy it when I’mthere.’’
Amey was one of the first New Zealand-born professional directors, and certainly the first woman. She left for England in search of opportunity; eventually working with illustrious director Laurence Olivier and great actors like Dame Maggie Smith. ‘‘I’ve been bossing people around since I was about 5.
‘‘But I always wanted to be a comedian. I could crack a joke or two.’’
Offered a gig by English comedian Jimmy Edwards after meeting him at a show, she pulled out at the last minute; the world has waited with bated breath for her comedy debut.
Her dry wit is apparent even in choir rehearsal. One singer leaned over to remind her of the words, amid a clash of varying interpretations of the line by everyone else, and said comfortingly, ‘‘Basically, you can sing anything.’’
Wryly, Amey replied, ‘‘So I hear.’’ Not content with breaking the glass ceiling once or twice in a lifetime, these women were still at it – although none of them had thought of it that way. After spending your life doing what you love, they say, age was no reason to throw in the towel.
Catch a performance of The Older The Better from December 3-20, at Circa Theatre, tickets $25-$46