THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
Taste Merchants, 36 Stuart St, Dunedin
05/12/2013 - 07/12/2013
Production Details
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!”
Dunedin youth theatre company Counterpoint brings its successful 2013 season to a close with a very dark Christmas comedy, called “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues”. Running from 5 to 7 December, this play is a chance for you to get to know Santa’s reindeer a bit better.
Together with live music and Christmas treats, the play comprises a series of monologues from each of the eight reindeer.
Written by American playwright Jeff Goode, “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” deals with issues surrounding sexual violence and victim blaming. It opens amidst nationwide media attention on rape culture in New Zealand, following the Roast Busters inquiry.
Director Caitlin McNaughton says she hopes the play will provoke discussion and further understanding about these issues and challenge notions inherent to New Zealand rape culture.
“Sexual violence is something a lot of people shy away from discussing or confronting in a real and constructive way,” McNaughton says. “Some people even think it’s okay to make offhand jokes about rape but in reality, the real issues are often swept under the rug. I want to bring these issues to the forefront in a safe place, and theatre is the way I know how to do that.”
Counterpoint has had guidance and support from Rape Crisis Dunedin throughout the rehearsal process. All proceeds of “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” will be donated to Rape Crisis Dunedin, and there will be a donation box at the venue for further donations.
The play contains potentially triggering content for survivors of sexual abuse. There will be Rape Crisis volunteers at each show to support anyone who may need it.
5th, 6th, 7th December 7.30pm
Taste Merchants, 36 Stuart St
Tickets $15 Waged, $10 Unwaged
Tickets available at the door or through
http://www.dashtickets.co.nz
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/181253252078829/
Event Website: http://www.counterpointproductions.co.nz/projects/the-eight-reindeermonologues/
Information on Counterpoint
Counterpoint is the newest and liveliest theatre company in Dunedin. Counterpoint was formed in October 2012 by young theatre practitioners Alex Wilson and Hadley R. Taylor, who debuted with a sell out season of Toa Fraser’s Bare, which Alex won the Rising Star Award at the Dunedin Theatre Awards for his efforts in directing that piece.
In 2013 Counterpoint ran a successful PledgeMe Campaign, and has since launched its 2013 Season which is an eclectic mix of comedies, dramas, Kiwi works and an exciting Dunedin dance piece. More Information can be found in one of our yearly programmes or on our and brand new wesbite at www.counterpointproductions.co.nz.
This season will demonstrate Counterpoint’s commitment to support young artists and Counterpoints goals, which are to:
Foster a youth oriented theatre industry in Dunedin that produces work by young people for young people.
Provide opportunities for young theatre practitioners to hone their craft in a supportive environment
Remove barriers to young people producing their work, by offering financial, administrative and production assistance.
Promote the up skilling of young artists by running workshops led by industry professionals.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/counterpointproductions
Website: http://www.counterpointproductions.co.nz
Cast:
Luke Agnew, Daniel Goodwin, Ben McCarthy, Nell Guy, Orion Carey-Clark, Abby Howells, Trubie-Dylan Smith, Rachel Chin
Theatre ,
Theatre that will shock and should be seen
Review by Kimberley Buchan 06th Dec 2013
There are some supremely irritating Christmas traditions, some of which are Christmas decorations going on sale in October, about eight carols being repeated ad nauseum where ever you go, and the theatres rounding off their season with light hearted holiday fare.
I applaud Counterpoint and director Caitlin McNaughton for putting on a non-sappy play at this time of the year. It is possible to have nourishing thought-provoking theatre no matter what celebrations are happening at the time. And thought-provoking it is. It is a raw, visceral, wrenching script full of actors with a frantic gleam in their eyes as they nearly vibrate off the stage in their effort to communicate their perspective.
This is a minimalist production. Everything is pared down. You may want to bring a cushion depending on the style of chair you end up in. This approach does allow the script to stand on its own. It is successful due mainly to the quality of the actors.
The performers are some of Counterpoint’s top ranking members: Luke Agnew, Danny Goodwin, Ben McCarthy, Nell Guy, Orion Carey-Clark, Abby Howells, Trubie-Dylan Smith and Rachel Chin. Although they are alone on the stage they are able to build relationships and develop each other’s characters through the different perspectives they offer. Angus McBryde’s guitar and Sydney Lehman’s smokey tones give the audience the occasional musical respite.
The traditional concept of Christmas is subverted as horrific crimes are related to the audience through eight monologues. These are told from the viewpoint of Santa’s reindeer. Every now and then there is a line that is slightly mistimed or an inflection that is discordant with the cadence of the speech but this will undoubtedly be fixed in future performances.
Luke Agnew plays Dasher, a tough no nonsense deer with Jake the Muss eyes who knows more than he is willing to admit. Danny Goodwin shreds our ears with shrill hysterical laughter as the Cupid with macabre undertones and fantastic cheekbones. Ben McCarthy gives a spot on performance as the callous Hollywood. Nell Guy is a fierce breath of fresh air as Blitzen the first character to stand up for Vixen. Orion Carey-Clark brings up the level of intensity with a Comet who is struggling to reconcile his image of Santa with the betrayal that believing Vixen will represent. Abby Howells brings humour and horror to the doe Dancer. Trubie-Dylan Smith brings the mood further back down again with his heart rending portrayal of a broken father. Rachel Chin gives a transfixing performance as Vixen with an utterly human but all-too-familiar ending that we see played out all too often in the media.
These real life stories have had no discernible improvements since the play was written in 1994.
This is what theatre is supposed to be: hard-hitting performances that confront us with the parts of our society that we must fix. This is not theatre for the faint hearted. This is not a good time family Christmas show. Even though aligning such a message with a Christmas theme reinforces the tension that families come under while trying to achieve the ideal of what Christmas is supposed to be. This is theatre that will shock and should be seen.
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