Giving birth to a dramatic performance

Mel Hawkins plays dopey newly-wed Honey in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

JOAN: Sounds dramatic to say this but in the course of directing or acting in a play, the mood of that play and its characters, be they comic or very real, stay with you right through the often painful process of rehearsal until the last performance of what has been created. This is so very true of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? which demands absolute teamwork, mutual trust and incredibly hard work, like giving birth, really.
Theatre is an obsessive thing and anyone who has been involved knows this. Theatre is also a craft, a skill that needs to be encountered early in life, through exposure to good, professional productions but also through the learning of the secrets of this discipline, the joy of involvement. Amdram runs a Starlets programme which does just that and also a holiday programme where the love of theatre is nurtured and skills are taught. These activities are crucial to the future of local theatre and also the recognition of that extra talent that will take a young person on to greater things. Alongside talent must go humility and a desire to improve personal ability. Mel Hawkins deserves huge gratitude for her work in this field. Like any good teacher, she commands discipline with her presence and commitment, and shares her own love of drama through the activities and achievements that she offers to her many students. They thrive on what she brings out in them, and the interest created there carries on into secondary school and beyond, if the nurturing continues.
Last Saturday, Mike and I joined a group of Starlet parents and friends at the theatre to see the young thespians present their end of course show. It was great! Routines were slick and entertaining. Skits, written by the pupils during the week were well paced, funny and, also, very moving. Mel makes sure that each youngster shines within their capabilities and so the playlet that they ended with saw each one learn lines, moves and characterisation and work as a team. I had never thought of Cinderella as being an obsessive, compulsive cleaner before! She was! Her sisters wanted her to marry the lazy, spoilt prince so her "skills" would be well used and they would be left undisturbed to carry on their sloppy lifestyles - a really novel idea which the actors played to the hilt. Lovely work from these budding stars. Many congratulations to the group and their tutor. Whanganui is lucky to have Mel's commitment and ability.
Mel is well known in the city as actor and director. Her children's shows at Amdram are always well attended and appreciated. She has played a variety of parts in Whanganui theatres and I am chuffed that she plays the role of Honey in Virginia Woolf. I mentioned the need for early exposure to theatre as being a great asset to young people. As well as the enjoyment gained, there is the advantage of establishing clear diction and a presence on stage, use of imagination and the self-discipline needed to do well. Also in our cast is Colin Hedivan, Head of Drama at Wanganui High School who, in a sense, takes over where Mel finishes and runs a thriving department where more and more students get the opportunity to learn this craft and all that it involves. Colin is "soaked" in theatre craft and is a natural actor. He is a pleasure to direct in this play and will be a pleasure to watch.
Talia Annear-Kjoss is a powerhouse of talent, an instinctive actor whose total commitment to the art has given so much pleasure to Whanganui audiences. She is the perfect Martha. It is always hard for me to direct Mike and often embarrassing for the cast as I grapple to get the character OUT OF HIM. We are both very opinionated and it is a tussle until opening night. He is a slow starter but always gets there. George is certainly the hardest part that he has tackled so we may not be friends for a while! Amdram is a great team and I am grateful, especially, to Morris Richards and Yvonne and Ian Jones for their support and to Jacqui McKenzie who, as well as prompting, is an excellent critic at rehearsals. The proof is always in the pudding so, with four weeks to go, here's to a good outcome. Help!
MIKE: An opening with a difference took place last Friday at the Rayner Gallery. When I saw the white cloths on the wall, I thought, for a split second, that I was witnessing the ultimate in con-the-masses modern art! But no! The actual art works were covered over, with a revelation pending. And what a revelation! A new standard has been set, by "Glitterati", for entertainment at an opening. When Paul introduced Tahu McKenzie, this exotic - I almost put an R instead of the X! - vision glided into the room. Bedecked in a glittering, gold-sequinned robe, blonde hair extravagantly piled up over a gypsy fortune teller scarf, adorned with small silver coins, glitter all over her beaming, rouged cheeks and her somewhat presumptuous, predominant bosom, she uttered a plangent wailing sound to gain everyone's attention. She succeeded! I noticed several glasses of wine boil over, much to the embarrassment of their male owners!
From Dunedin, Tahu is a friend of Stanley Manthyng - no! I did not make that up! - whose works were on show along with those of Mark and Paul. Stanley, a glitter artist for 24 years, who has exhibited in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, moved here only eight weeks ago, determined, I presume, to test his artistic skills in the hotbed of the most thriving art scene in New Zealand. And that is meant seriously. Anyway, to put it mildly, Stanley is a showman , who revelled in the glitz of the occasion, camping it up in a long black shift, suitable for a lady of the Middle East, and entwining, both physically and verbally, with the glamorous, golden goddess. Having unveiled the Rayner works, he moved on to his own creations, five in all, providing a short introduction for each. The covers came off, and there, in all their glittering splendour, were Jane Fonda, Twiggy, Joan Collins, Barbra Streisand and Cher. Each was instantly recognisable, features outlined in various colours band shades of glitter.
It was an "off-the wall" occasion, clearly much appreciated by the clientele. As I left, the Golden Lady was in the doorway, necessitating, I am pleased to say, a very close encounter to squeeze past her voluminous and voluptuous form. Would she object if I described her as "lusty and busty"? Not at all, was the answer, as she drew me into a tight embrace. As I walked to my car, I added "rusty". My sweater was covered in tiny pieces of golden glitter!
mjstreet@xtra.co.nz