There is a wonderful generosity of spirit that manifests from the very beginning of this production as the cast enter and build the waka onstage that is to take us, together, on a three month journey. In 40 minutes! 
A sense of humour and happiness pervades the space as writer and woman warrior Faumuina Felolini, Maria Tafuna’l and her crew embark on her Grandfather’s voyage. Lifjeackets are put on with amusing but serious instructions and we travel to the words of poems written by Tafuna’l i using text from her collection My Grandfather is a Canoe.   Connecting the waters,  the oceans,  the heavens in poetry, script,  personal opinion and song, we are the wayfarers and the way-finders. The dilemma of climate change and rising sea levels in the pacific, the stars of Matariki, the love within a family, relationships and respect , intimacy, honesty, joy and sorrow. All a part of this tapestry and story until the call is “Land Ahead”. We disembark to  finish with a talanoaina, discussion that introduces each of the cast and explains something of the journey of the making of this story.   
Definitely feeling  inspired by the stories, the humanity and the rhythms of our Pacific we venture out into the rain to continue on our own journeys warmed by everything in this canoe.
Effective production values and design, with excellent guitar and song accompaniment encompass the whole show. I felt that vocally it was a little inconsistent and sentences tended to die at the ends but this is a quibble. My Grandfather is a Canoe is a very promising work that deserves to be shared and seen. One that speaks emotionally to those of the Pacific –  that is all of us. Thank you.  Faumuina Felolini Maria Tafuna’i to the stage. A journey through songs, dance, poetry accompanied by illustrations by Silivelio Fasi. Directed by Marisiale Tunoka and the other performers and musicians are: Lopeti Sumner; Siaosi Kei; Selau Ifopo and Samson Kei.

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer