THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
The Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna, Auckland
12/04/2014 - 03/05/2014
Production Details
THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT ON STAGE IN APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat …”
Edward Lear’s well-known nonsense poem comes to life on stage in Auckland for the April school holidays.
Auckland’s leading children’s theatre company, Tim Bray Productions presents The Owl and the Pussy-Catat the PumpHouse Theatre, Takapuna from 12 April to 3 May.
Based on the Edward Lear poem and adapted for the stage by Tim Bray with original songs by Christine White, this production of The Owl and the Pussy-Cat marks a major landmark for Tim Bray Productions – the 70th professional production for the company in its 23 year history.
A favourite with children and their parents, the show has been reworked by director Amanda Rees and features Paul Glover as Owl, Anthea Hill as Pussy-Cat, Donogh Rees as Parrot and Turkey, Bryony Skillington as Piggy-wig and Parrot and Amber Cureen as Parrot and other characters.
Director Amanda Rees says she and Tim have worked to create a script and production to delight and intrigue older children. “The characters in this play are hugely funny, the story will surprise with its twists and turns and Christine White’s music is clever, at times ridiculously silly and very, very catchy.”
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat is the first show presented as part of Tim Bray Productions’ 2014 children’s theatre programme.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear is at
The PumpHouse, Takapuna, Auckland
from Saturday 12 April to Saturday 3 May
with a Gala Opening performance on Saturday 12 April.
Performance times: 14-17 April 10.30am and 1pm;
19 April to 3 May Monday to Saturday 10.30am and 2pm.
No shows on Friday 18 April (Good Friday), Monday 21 April (Easter Monday), Friday 25 April (Anzac Day).
Children are encouraged to dress up.
To book, phone (09) 489-8360 or online at www.timbrayproductions.org.nz
CAST
The Owl / & Critic: Paul Glover
The Pussy-cat / & First Arriving Actor: Anthea Hill
Piggy-wig / Parrot / Lamb / Foley Artist / & Usher: Bryony Skillington
Turkey / Parrot / Foley Artist / & Latecomer: Donogh Rees
Lamb / Parrot / Foley Artist / & Earnest Actor: Amber Curreen
CREATIVE TEAM
Lighting Design: Jo Kilgour
Costume Design & Construction: Chantelle Gerrard
Set Design: Isobel Dryburgh
Lighting / Sound Operator: Jazz Davis
Assistant Sea Wrangler & Usher: Briar Collard
NZ Sign Language Interpreter (selected shows) : Kelly Hodgins
ADDITIONAL CREW
Foley Advice: Deb Frame
Set Construction: Isobel Dryburgh & Grant Reynolds
Lighting Crew: Jazz Davis, Jamie Johnstone, Jamie Blackburn
Front of House Manager: Alana Hawkes
Ushers: Tom Wardle, Sarah Radford
Theatre Workshops Tutors: Tom Wardle and Madeleine Lynch
Teachers’ Resource Guide: Rosemary Tisdall, Getting Kids into Books
Publicist: Sally Woodfield, SWPR
School Mailout: Ken and Margaret Bray
Publicity Photography: David Rowland / One-Image.com
Dress Rehearsal Photography: Dean Carruthers
Illustration: James Stewart
Website Design: Austin Digital
Print Design: Stefania Sarnecki-Capper, Red Design
Logo Design: Insight Creative
Theatre , Children’s ,
The power of creation and the enchantment of storytelling
Review by Grace Ahipene Hoet 14th Apr 2014
The Owl and the Pussy Cat breaks the mould on what is often an assumption that Children’s Theatre is for children, often fun for the younger generations with adults purely there as chaperones. The Tim Bray production of The Owl and the Pussy Cat is a colourful delight for both children and adults.
The narrative is deceptively simple: a nonsensical poem from which the adapter Tim Bray and director Amanda Rees manage to wriggle dramatic potential, with the resulting magic displayed in the Bong Tree that burps, farts, whistles, blows kisses and advances the story. Bray’s plot makes a strong case for the power of creation and the enchantment of storytelling – both of which the production marvellously delivers.
The art of Foley is used to great effect; the simple use of everyday objects to reproduce sound effects to enhance the action is expertly performed. From the sounds of the lapping water on the Pea Green Boat to the vocal distortions of the actors, so precise is the delivery that one could be fooled into thinking it was recorded.
A superb job is done by all the performers. Anthea Hill, as the enchanting Pussy Cat, captures the nuances and subtlest of the feline species purrfectly. The Owl (Paul Glover), although not necessarily appearing wise, does make for a strong companion, with Glover breathing life into the nocturnal creature.
But Piggy’s honey pot antics capture the heart of my 8 year-old companion: “Piggy was funny and grumpy and full of snot, I want to see it again.” This coming from the male child who saw little 4 year old girls dressed up as kittens in the foyer and instantly became a reluctant audience member. Bryony Skillington has a magnetic quality that draws you into her expressive face and gestures that take you on a journey.
Donogh Rees’ skill and talent shine through in all her characters, her voice resonant around the theatre, setting the tone for everyone to match. Amber Curreen’s timing with her Foley effects is precise; her deadpan sense of humour works perfectly in the delivery of her line, “Advance the Story.”
Costumes by Chantelle Gerrard cleverly give the poem its Victorian time period with old fashioned tubular hoop skirts (the poem was first published in 1871).
Jo Kilgour’s witty, lighting and use of a hypnotic spiral adds a brilliant touch to the Bong tree with both the child and adult mesmerised. Admittedly my wayward adult imagination fleetingly thinks, is that tree what I really think it is? Who knows? I’ll leave it up to your imagination when you see it, and yes you must see it, and journey with your child “to the land where the bong-tree grows.”
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