NZ Festival presents modern challenge

By PAULA OLIVER

The line-up of next year's New Zealand Festival in Wellington is certain to again provoke debate, with its theme of "The Now" signalling a modern twist on some classic works.

High on the programme is the first New Zealand performance of Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, an opera using one of the largest casts seen on a local stage.

Conductor John Keenan, from the New York Metropolitan Opera, makes his New Zealand debut with this passionate, bittersweet tale of romance, which festival artistic director Carla van Zon says combines the best of comedy with a serious intent.

While the opera retains its traditions, a contemporary adaptation of Swan Lake, danced by the Cullberg Ballet from Sweden, is certain to push the boundaries. Created by Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, who is well-known for stripping classics to their bare bones, this version of Swan Lake retains the Tchaikovsky score and narrative but is performed by bald and barefoot ballerinas.

"It's a lie that women in classical dance have to be carried around while the men do the powerful poses," says Ek. "It is outdated and furthermore an incredible waste."

Another variation on "The Now" theme is Leah, a New Zealand Actors Company adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, which casts a woman - Geraldine Brophy - in the title role. Leah is directed by Simon Bennett. Van Zon says the time felt right for a Shakespeare with a strong local angle because New Zealand is a country where women hold many positions of power.

Festival directors have commissioned six local works for the three-week event, including a pantomime version of the popular children's book Underwatermelon Man, featuring some of the country's top performers. Another of the six local works is Ranterstantrum, a gritty new play by Samoan Victor Rodger which explores the touchy subject of middle-class racism in New Zealand.

A series of exciting international acts will also visit Wellington, including Cutumba, a Cuban folkloric ensemble that offers energetic song and dance from the roots of Afro-Cuban traditions.

The Vis a Vis Theatre Company return from Holland with a new play that allows audiences to see behind-stage scenes for half of the performance. Described as hilarious by critics, Picnic comes from the same group that performed a Fiat Bambina "ballet" under a Wellington motorway overbridge in 1994.

The New Zealand Festival runs from February 22 until March 17.

NZ Festival