Louise Wallace is returning to the theatre in Last Legs. Photo / Supplied
Louise Wallace is returning to the theatre in Last Legs. Photo / Supplied
Louise Wallace is trading in the glamour and glitz of Real Housewives of Auckland for some dowdy retirement home living, in the latest Roger Hall play Last Legs.
Wallace plays the character of Trish, a "snobby, bossy" real estate agent and wife, in what will be her Auckland Theatre Company debut.
"I like to think we're younger residents," Wallace said of the fact the black comedy is set in a Cambridge retirement village.
The 57-year-old, whose no-nonsense approach on last year's Real Housewives ruffled a few feathers, was both chuffed and slightly concerned to be shoulder-tapped to read for the role.
"When I did hear about the play and the script I thought 'Umm, interesting that they're keen for me to read the part of somebody living in a rest home'."
She said the play about sex, death and politics, would be fun and a challenge, and she was excited to be part of the stellar cast including Mark Hadlow (The Hobbit), Ray Henwood ONZM (Lord of the Rings), Alison Quigan (Calendar Girls) and Catherine Wilkin (McLeod's Daughters).
"I was gobsmacked and delighted. It's a dream come true really for me and it's exactly how I would have wanted it to happen in that they wanted me and approached me. And it fitted in with my schedule."
She had never worked with any of the cast before but said she looked up to them as great talent.
"As one of my best friends who's very involved with TV and theatre said, 'You'll have to have your A-game on with that lot'. And I thought my God I will too."
Wallace, who trained as an actor in London at age 20 and has owned a theatre company - Tadpole Productions - for the five years, is filming The Brokenwood Mysteries, a detective drama series.
She's also appeared on Shortland Street, Agent Anna, Celebrity Treasure Island and The Weakest Link, and was an award-winning reporter and television presenter before that.
Wallace said it was a huge compliment to be part of Last Legs, written by one of New Zealand's most popular and prolific playwrights, Hall.
She took on one of the leading roles in Hall's recent Social Climbers, put on by Tadpole Productions, alongside notable actresses Lisa Chappell and Annie Whittle.
"Maybe word got around that I could possibly act."
Mark Hadlow and Alison Quigan in Last Legs. Photo / Supplied
Her involvement with Real Housewives attracted some criticism but Wallace said she would seriously consider doing it again, though she doubted it would go ahead.
"It's a shame but that's telly. What I've done is totally taken advantage of the opportunity it gave me. It ticked every box for me and it's been brilliant for me."
Wallace said she remained friends with only two of the five other cast members, Anne Batley-Burton and Gilda Kirkpatrick.
Last Legs, billed as a "cardio-arresting comedy" with hijinks, hypertension and hilarity, runs at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from September 12 to 27, and will appeal to all ages, Wallace said.
Rehearsals begin in mid-August after Wallace returns from a European holiday.
"Then we tread the boards."
The play, featuring plenty of shenanigans and skulduggery, will also tour Hamilton's Clarence St Theatre from October 5-7 and Tauranga's Baycourt Community Arts Centre from October 13-15.
