Powerful, compassionate piece of great theatre
Tickets available from fringe.co.nz
Sing to Me. Taki Rua Productions, Te Whaea Theatre, Toi Whakaari, until March 6 (then touring nationally until end of May) Reviewed by
What’s it like to raise a child when the parents come from two different cultures? Is it possible for your child to walk through life with a foot in both worlds, or will theyt end up having no home at all? These questions underpin Taki Rua’s latest production, Sing to Me.
In this powerful piece by Alex Lodge and directed by Miriama McDowell, mildmannered optometrist Ata falls in and out of love with fierce, supernatural seamaiden Whetu¯ . Introduced in the programme as a modern take on Maori pu¯ ra¯ kau, it’s an idea that echoes in Western culture as well – from the impossible loves of mortals for gods in Greek mythology, to the selkies of Scotland, to Titania’s unlikely love for Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But if you look past the supernatural framework, this story is essentially a commentary on what it takes to live in a multicultural society like Aotearoa.
What sets Sing to Me apart from any number of similar stories is its willingness to confront the uncomfortable truth that perhaps the worlds of Ata and Whetu¯ simply don’t mix. We’re promised that love conquers all, but what if it doesn’t? To what extent is our multicultural society based on ongoing inequalities between Ma¯ ori and Pa¯ keha¯ ? Ata and Whetu¯ try their best to make their unlikely relationship work but there is a price to pay. At what point does this price become too high?
They’re important questions. The play
is strongest when they fall naturally out of the interactions between Ata and Whetu¯ . At times, Sing to Me becomes a little didactic, framing the action in such a way as to enforce a particular interpretation – for example, the exploitation of the natural world by the human.
This didacticism is unnecessary because the love story between Ata and Whetu¯ is such a compelling one, and it’s told with great humour.
Rutene Spooner gives an outstanding performance as Ata – blending comedy and tragedy with enormous skill. Emma Katene also excels as Whetu¯ , skilfully maintaining a sense of the supernatural in the daily grind of modern parenthood.
As well as providing the sound design, Te Aihe Butler serves as a Chorus figure, commenting on the action throughout while providing musical accompaniment to beautiful singing by the trio, including a deeply moving version of Annie Lennox’s Walking on Broken Glass.
By turns funny, moving, tragic, satiric and above all compassionate, Sing to Me is great theatre.
Exactly one year ago yesterday, the first case of Covid-19 in New Zealand was reported in a returnee from Iran.
Now, Auckland has been put back into alert level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country pushed into alert level 2. This latest lockdown comes after a 21-year-old tested positive for the virus.
Microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles said looking back to February 28, 2020, she distinctly remembers warning people this was something that could last, potentially for years.
‘‘But I was thinking more globally than locally,’’ Wiles said.
‘‘But the important point is whatever is happening globally impacts on us.’’
Wiles said she was ‘‘proud of and grateful for’’ New Zealand’s response to the virus and although the country was marking the anniversary by moving up alert levels, it was because it was needed.
What continued to astonish her was how other countries, such as the United States and United Kingdom, had not done what was needed to control the virus, and it had put everyone else at risk.
Wiles said Covid-19 was something New Zealand – and the rest of the world – would have to accept would be around for some time to come. But what New Zealand would look like on February 28, 2022, was unknown. ‘‘It depends on decisions that are made over the next few months around balancing both the global rollout of the vaccine with getting cases down so that new variants do not emerge that make those vaccines useless.’’
Wiles said it was clear the Government was trying to deal with each outbreak in the least disruptive way. ‘‘We are going to end up playing a game of whack-a-mole because it is inevitable that occasionally the virus will get through our defences and that then teaches us something new we need to bolster,’’ Wiles said. Thinking back to one year ago, epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker also said he saw Covid-19 still being an issue today. But Baker said he believed New Zealand would be in a much better place in a year’s time. Baker said New Zealand’s border security and managing of outbreaks would be much better. He also thought by this time most people who wanted to be would be vaccinated.
It would be ‘‘very hard’’ for the virus to circulate and he believed it would be mostly eliminated from New Zealand.
flight without assistance, one support person will be able to enter the terminal building with you.’’
The airport said it had a lot of reminders in the building about maintaining physical distancing, and passengers needed to play their part in reducing the risk of Covid-19.
‘‘You’ll need to wear a mask on your flight and public transport to and from the airport, and we’re asking people to wear masks when they are inside the terminal.’’
The airport did not respond to questions about how many people had come through the terminal.
COSOS
COSOS Teatro, Online, until March 20, online event, koha Stories and masks: a physical theatre, clown, masks and storytelling play, full of humour and emotion. A one-take recording, in real time – you’ll be able to move and choose where to watch as if you were on the stage with the performers.
Capital E Yoga for Kids
Capital E,
Capital E Play, every Monday, 11am, free Join Urban Yoga in a yoga introduction for children and their caregivers. Take a magical journey and meet animals, go surfing, or grow into a tree – all in the form of dynamic yoga poses that improve flexibility, strength, and body awareness.
Raw Meat Monday – Stand Up Comedy
Humorous Arts
Trust, Fringe Bar, 8pm, $8.50
Wellington’s longestrunning open mic comedy night is coming to Fringe! If you’re trying comedy for the first time, Raw Meat is the best place to start.
Solo Yeet
FIDK, Circus
Barn Until
March 3, 6pm,
$7-$10
An entire improvised theatre show performed by one person who you must assume has something to prove. George Fenn (Sexy Ghost Boy, Router Sidewalker) defends their undisputed title as the Bad Boy of New Zealand Improv.
Table
STEW Productions, BATS Theatre, until March 2, 9pm, $15-$20 Ever wonder what lives your antique furniture has been a part of? Where is a table truly happy? Table is an ensemble piece from the same team that devised, produced and performed the awardwinning Elevator! at NZ Fringe 2020.