Auckland season ditched after Middle Earth shuns 'Hobbit'

An Australian-produced stage show of The Hobbit has failed to fire in New Zealand, with the Auckland premiere this week canned after unsatisfactory turnouts in Wellington.

The $10 million production, rehearsed in Melbourne with a mostly New Zealand cast, had its world premiere in Wellington nearly a fortnight ago to mixed reviews.


One reviewer said it was "totally believable" and praised the lead actors. But another said people left at half-time and the show failed to get off the ground. It had a "laughable" climactic sword fight and Bilbo Baggins' false beard was the worst the reviewer had seen.

Production company ICA Australia confirmed yesterday that the Auckland season had been cancelled.

In a brief written statement executive producer Andrew Kay said sales in Wellington had been disappointing.

"The Auckland box office was following the same sales pattern, and we therefore had no choice but to make what was a very difficult decision. Despite the disappointment of not being able to bring The Hobbit to Auckland we remain immensely proud of the production and our wonderful cast."

The Hobbit, a prelude to The Lord of The Rings trilogy, was an adapted stage play by Melbourne director Christine Anketell.

It is understood to be still scheduled to tour Australia's main centres.

Actors auditioned in Auckland and Wellington to support 11 principal and ensemble cast members to create 40 different characters including wizards, hobbits, dwarfs, elves and goblins.

Show narrator George Henare told the Herald yesterday he thought it had gone all right in Wellington although it did not get full houses.

"The audience seemed to enjoy it."

Henare was philosophical about the cancellation of the Auckland season.

"That happens at times; it's the nature of the beast," he said.

The marketing manager of the Westpac St James Theatre in Wellington, Lyndsey O'Reilly, said she could not divulge audience numbers but the show had been particularly popular with boys, young men and families.

* Ticket holders can obtain refunds from the point of purchase or by sending the tickets by post to Ticketek, Box 5440, Wellesley St, Auckland, or by courier to Ticketek Level 2, 345 Queen St, Auckland.