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CALENDAR 2 - 20 MARCH 2011

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Updates from the 2011 Artistic DirectorElisabeth EastherSchools Review CompetitionReviews
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The Perfect Double Feature

By Elisabeth Easther - 10 Mar 2011
Last night, March the 9th 2011, I took a wild trip and I still haven’t come down. In less than 3 hours I experienced two world-class performances from two outstanding performers, both at the top of their game. And I can’t wipe the smile off my face so am trying to avoid people in case I’m accused of skiting, smirking or showing off.

A little after 8pm at the Herald Theatre, celebrated English raconteur, storyteller and funny man, Daniel Kitson begun his one man show - "The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church."

It's not at all morbid as the title might suggest but a celebration of life, and how one man's inherent nosiness saw him buried in the letters, thoughts and concerns of one Gregory Church. Described as  "the story of a death postponed by life," Kitson makes some gorgeous observations. If you like a clever well-told story with barely a pause for breath, this has to be seen to be believed.

A virtually full-house were held spell bound as the tale of the letters, and the man who wrote them, was told. A spell-binding sweet, charming, witty, meditation on the human condition, demonstrating the fascination one can have in ordinary people's lives.

This is also a feat of verbal dexterity, Daniel just talks and talks for 90 minutes, occasionally he breathes, he stutters a little which is so very now. One audience member's attempt to be involved was immediately shut down, "it's not that kind of show sir, see the fourth wall." Or something like that.

My companion and I would love to have bailed Mr Kitson up, and joined his fan club, or stalked him only, we were spared being slapped with a restraining order because we had to race from The Herald and run all the way to the Auckland Town Hall's aptly named Great Hall and launch ourselves into out seats, twenty minutes into Martha Wainwright's stunning show.

If I thought I loved her before, I know I love her now.

I've had such a passion for the music of Martha's mother, the late Kate Mcgarrigle, her father Loudon, her brother Rufus, not to mention those Thompsons, Teddy and Linda, the Wainwrights all knocked about with.

But hearing and seeing this darling, daring diva in the flesh was simply magnifique.

Her Piaf songs, her original songs, her versions of her mothers songs, and a couple of classic torch songs lit up the night. And her husband seems like a lovely fellow, he plays the piano so affectionately and most winningly of all, lets Martha be the star. But then it would be hard to eclipse someone of her calibre.

Daniel and Martha, together on the same night, were just so right, the perfect double feature.

 
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