By - 3 Mar 2011
So it’s begun and Theo (5) and I (40) are as excited as can be. Since the Auckland Arts Festival published its program I’ve had more than a little time to peruse its pages. I’ve circled almost everything, then decided I needed to whittle it down a bit, and be a little more selective as there are only so many hours in the day!
...But I'm a glutton for culture so, tonight I'll be going to
Massive Company's Havoc in the Garden. A tale of families forced to
confront some unpleasant truths. Written by the outstandingly
talented British writer, Lennie James this is an exciting
collaboration. Massive Company under Sam Scott's talented
directorship has produced some of New Zealand's finest actors
including Madeleine Sami, a performer I hold in the highest
esteem.
And tomorrow, Theo and I will see the long awaited Vietnamese
Water Puppets. Theo is not only excited to have a legitimate reason
to stay up past his bedtime, he's also certain he'll need to bring
his goggles to this watery spectacle in the midst of Aotea Square.
I've tried to explain we wont be getting in the water, but he's
adamant he'll be ready if he's called on to participate in any way
So we'll report back on Friday after the puppets. Theo's attention
span has been made ever more elastic since starting school and he's
going through a very effusive phase too, everything is the best in
the world. He has declared the NZ Symphony Orchestra's rendition of
the theme from Star Wars to be the most amazing in the universe
before even hearing it, the Vietnamese Water Puppets will be the
most best underwater puppet show of all time. And as for Passing
Wind, where Linsey Pollak makes musical instruments out of a range
of quirky materials, vegetable, mineral, possibly even animal -
well anything with a whiff of a fart joke is a sure way to win a
young man's heart - parp!
I'm also beside myself with excitement at the thought of seeing
Martha Wainright. Although I hear she's selling fast, so I may have
to content myself with standing at the back of the Town Hall, or
even outside to listen through the walls. I'm a huge fan of
Martha's entire musical family. Her dad Loudon, brother Rufus and
the late Kate, Rufus and Martha's amazing mother. I'd really like
to meet Martha but I suspect I'd just say "goodness but I love
you". And she'd say "thank you" and I'd say "you're welcome" and
that would be that.
And when I heard the news that Martha's brother Rufus has just
had a child in a big old blended family situation, with Leonard
Cohen's daughter Lorca - I realised there was hope for the world
yet and in 20 years time, the spawn of Wainwright Cohen could well
visit Auckland to play in the Spiegeltent. You can guarantee that
I'd be there with bells on!