BELLE ON A BIKE
Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable Street, Wellington
25/02/2017 - 26/02/2017
NZ Fringe Festival 2017 [reviewing supported by WCC]
Production Details
Get some fun between your legs – get a bike!
Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the creation of the bicycle with an amusing and highly interactive 45-minute story extravaganza, which includes the history of cycling, famous belles on bikes, Bike – a – rella and the interactive ‘Ring My Bell’ cycling quiz.
Storytelling and music on two wheels!
“a storybook ride of twists and turns. An unforgettable story told by a master craftsman” – Art Murmurs, Wellington
“a perfect mix of energy, intellect and self-deprecation” – Art Murmurs, Wellington
“He would make a very good Homeresque travelling bard if the century were right… Harris leaves you with much more than the story. He makes you look at things in a different way…” – Theatreview, Dunedin
Te Papa – 55 Cable St, Te Aro, Wellington
25-26 Feb, 2017
11am
BOOKINGS: no bookings required
TICKETS: free
Theatre , Family , Children’s ,
1 hr
An epic ride
Review by John Smythe 25th Feb 2017
We could be forgiven for assuming a show called Belle On A Bike performed in the Te Papa amphitheatre would feature a bit of bicycling about but what we get is more about bicycles. Quite a lot, in fact. Tanya Batt’s colourful bike and trailer turn out to be a backdrop and props cupboard for a lively lecture punctuated with songs and a bit of interactivity.
But don’t let ‘lecture’ put you off. Batt’s robust presentation, backed and augmented by keyboardist Peter Forster, is rich with myth, legend, historical facts and whimsical musings. And songs.
We learn about the Patron Saint of Cyclists; have the opportunity to pray at a multi-faith shrine; hear the Adam and Eve story told from a cycling perspective … Tanya shares her own journey towards becoming a belle on a bike …
We are treated to an illustrated history of bicycles and cycling, from balance bikes through tricycles and penny-farthings to the Golden Age of Bicycling and its relationship to Women’s Emancipation.
Neglected parts of our education include the stories of Annie Londonderry (the first woman to cycle around the world); Mita Rosslyn, who is entirely ignored in cyberspace (unless I’ve misspelt her name); Dunedin-born cycling pioneer Louise Sutherland, whose Wikipedia entry is comprehensive, although it doesn’t reveal – as Tanya does – her shrewd secret weapon for ensuring she never went without food or shelter while cycling in foreign climes.
Classic folk tales are cleverly recycled – e.g. Bicycling Beauty and Bike-a-rella. And three audience members get to compete in ‘You Can Ring My Bell Anytime’: a quiz that utilises handlebars built for three.
Finally profound wisdom is imparted through the tale of the Zan master who asked his five cycling student, “Why do you ride your bicycle?” Then we reprise ‘The Bike’ (the anthem we’ve all learned earlier) and it’s over – we’re on our proverbial bikes.
Tanya and Peter pack a lot into this show and I’d defy anyone to leave not knowing much more than they did 45 minutes before. It’s an epic ride.
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