Kiwi theatre classic for The Old Lodge
Continuing its agenda of mounting a classic play in the Blackball Bathhouse each summer, Kiwi/Possum Productions presented a NZ classic at the end of January: Bruce Mason’s The End of the Golden Weather and have found a weekend among other commitments to bring it to The Old Lodge Theatre in Hokitika.
The End of the Golden Weather was first performed in 1960 and subsequently Mason performed it in almost every village, town and city in New Zealand, clocking up over 500 performances, including taking it to The Edinburgh Festival. He was determined to make a living as an actor, something previously unheard of in New Zealand.
Set in the beachside suburb of Takapuna (called Te Parenga in the play), it is a coming of age story of how an imaginative child loses his innocence as he encounters the adult world and a friendship with a schizophrenic local with whom he has empathy turns sour. It is the 1930s and everyone will recognise the summer beach atmosphere and the boozy relatives, the charades, the attempted concert, visits to church and boyish quarrels. In 1991 the story was made into a popular NZ movie.
‘In this production,’ states director Paul Maunder, ‘three local actors, Frank Wells, Francis Darwin and myself, share the story telling. With these elders dressed in boyish shorts, the production takes on a surreal quality and could almost be set in a rest home. Pam McKelvey has designed the set, transforming the theatre into a beach, Elisa Wells is once again costumer and Karen Grant provides the music.
End of the Golden Weather will play at The Old Lodge at 7.30pm, Saturday June 15th. Admission will be $20, $15 for school students. The production was supported by Creative Communities and bookings can be made by texting your name and number of seats required to 0211063669