The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school
for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made
a note and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a
large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all
you want. God is watching the apples."
It was amazing. The story was told simply and eloquently -- with spirit and humor. The set, a fairyland of arches, with great toadstools, and a misty overbridge, told in shades of silver and blue, would have done credit to Lord of the Rings. The costumes were stunning. The dancing was superb, doing perfect justice to the brilliant choreography and the music -- by Mendelsohn of course, played by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra -- was scored with perfection.
The full house was ecstatic, as the deafening applause demonstrated.
The reviews, so far, have been breathless.
“The magic and delight never let up. This is an
absolutely splendid production of which choreographer, Liam Scarlett and
the Royal New Zealand Ballet can be justifiably proud.” says dance critic Ann Hunt from the Dominion Post. “One can see why he (Scarlett) is the current wunderkind of British ballet.”
“The dance rises to such heights,” says Jennifer Shennan in her review on Radio New Zealand today.
The RNZB’s largest-ever set and stunning costumes created by New
Zealander Tracy Grant Lord and enchanting lighting design by American
Kendall Smith wowed audiences.
“There is a charmed symbiotic relationship between all the elements of this ballet. Together they have made magic.” says Ann Hunt.
The production offers something for everyone.“An extraordinarily beautiful night at the ballet” that “will appeal across generations.” says Jennifer Shennan
I have to admit a personal interest in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Not only is it a favorite play, but I incorporated it in a novel called Judas Island. And, just for you, the relevant extract follows ...
But just to explain. Harriet is an actress sailing on the pirate brig Gosling. At Valparaiso, the commander of HMS Nympha begs the favor of a short drama after a formal dinner. The seamen from the Gosling find this extremely funny -- but not as amusing as the pirate himself, Captain Jake Dexter.
Harriet lay with her eyes shut, draped with
her silken shawl. She heard a little bell, and the officers shushing the
audience until Captain Mara could be heard.
Then, through a speaking trumpet, the
Irishman announced that they were about to be greatly favored with a dramatic
recital by the Nympha’s Thespians. “A
famous recital from the Immortal Bard’s A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will be flattered with the unexpected presence
of none other than Miss Harriet Gray, of the famous Gray family of the Royal
Opera House, London!She has graciously
consented to play the part of the beautiful fairy queen, Titania.”
The ensuing silence was stunned, most of
the astonishment, Harriet was certain, emanating from the Goslings. Then there was a
polite round of applause from Captain Mara’s officers and guests, after which she
heard the actors make their entrance and gather about.
And then: “If I were fair, Thisby, if I
were only thine!” the actor playing Bottom brayed. His tone was muffled, and
when Harriet opened one eye it was to see he was wearing a most magnificent
mask, a very hairy donkey face, made of rope ends fixed to wire and canvas.
“Help, we are haunted!” cried the other
actor-yokels, reacting melodramatically to the sight of their comrade magicked
into an ass. “O monstrous! O strange!” they cried.
And Harriet listened to the retreating
thunder of their boots, as they yelled, “Pray masters, fly masters!
Help—help—help!”
“Why do they run away?” asked Bottom
plaintively. “Is this a knavery of them to make me afeared?”
“Bless thee, Bottom,” cried an actor-yokel,
briefly reappearing. “Thou art translated!”—and away he went again.
“I see their knavery,” Bottom mumbled to
himself. “They hope to make an ass of me—to fright me, if they could. But I
will not stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and down here,
and will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid—
The ousel cock, so black of hue
With orange-tawny bill
The throstle, with his note so true
The wren, with little quill—
His singing was more loud than tuneful, but
not as loud as the tramp of his navy boots. Then the stamping came to an abrupt
halt by Titania’s couch, which was Harriet’s cue.She sighed and stretched, and inquired in
ringing tones, “What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?”
And when she opened her eyes she looked
straight into Jahaziel Dexter’s face. He had apparently declined to sit on a
chair, for he was leaning on the side of a deckhouse, most disconcertingly
near. If she was about to fumble her lines he was not going to miss a word of
it, she deduced—and never had she seen his eloquent face so wickedly amused.
She delivered him a black scowl, and then
looked away, to smile ravishingly at Bottom. “On first view, I say,” she
exclaimed, “I swear I love thee.”
“Methinks, mistress, you should have little
reason for that,” Bottom objected, and all the Gosling men came out of their daze to hoot in agreement. “And yet,
to say the truth,” the actor philosophized, “reason and love keep little company
together nowadays.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” said Valentine Fish—a
feeble joke, Harriet thought, but one that was greeted with roars of laughter
from all about the rigging.
Harriet waited out the ruckus. Then: “Thou
art as wise as thou art beautiful,” she breathed. Her fingers brushed the air,
hovering over the donkey mask, dared then to caress the hairy hide, while the Gosling men whistled and cheered.
“Not so neither,” objected Bottom to shouts
of agreement, then went on to convey that if he did have wits, he would be well
out of this wood.
“Out of this wood do not desire to go,”
Harriet commanded—
Thou shalt remain here, whether thou wilt or
no,
I am a spirit of no common rate
The summer still doth tend upon my state
And I do love thee, therefore go with me
I’ll give thee fairies to tend thee—
—and four fairies arrived, right on cue,
clumping out of the darkness with a dutiful clicking of boot heels.She cried out their names—“Pease-blossom,
Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed!” and, “Ready!—And aye, aye, aye!” four heavily
bearded and tattooed fairies chorused.
“Where shall we go?” they asked.
“To have my love to bed!” cried Harriet,
and waited out the whistles and bawdy comments until she could make herself
heard again.
And pluck the wings from painted butterflies
To fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes,
Nod to him, elves, and do him courtesies!
“Hail, mortal!” cried the fairies, each in
turn, and, “Lead him to my bower!” commanded Harriet, rising from her couch.
“Tie up my lover’s tongue, bring him silently.”
And off the extempore stage she wafted,
while the audience stamped with delirious approval.
Well, the memory added a little extra touch to a wonderful performance that needed no extra touches at all. Brava and bravo, Royal New Zealand Ballet. Everything -- dancing, costume, music, set, acting, humor -- was absolutely perfect, in every sparkling detail.
I have a friend who has just returned from a Namibian safari. She was kind enough to share some of her photographs with me. And absolutely no lions were shot.
Except with a camera, that is. Click on the pictures to enlarge them. And enjoy.
A novel with an anti-whaling message has taken the title of the
Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the New Zealand Book Awards for
Children and Young Adults.
Wellington author Mandy Hager was awarded the top prize for Singing Home the Whale at a ceremony at Wellington's Government House on Thursday.
Singing Home the Whale is the 2015 Book of the Year for children and young adults.
The book, which is set in the Marlborough Sounds, tells the story of a
teenage boy who protects a baby orca after its mother was killed by
whalers.
It also won the Best Young Adult Fiction award.
Judging
panel convenor Bob Docherty, a children's book reviewer and literary
consultant, said the novel would have won in any year it was entered,
and the decision was unanimous.
"Mandy Hager is writing out of
her skin at present and her understanding of the human condition and
human attitudes towards each other and other inhabitants of Planet Earth
are beautifully presented.
This novel should be compulsory reading in
any country that still hunts whales."
Hager claimed $15,000 for her twin prizes.
The
awards promote excellence and provide recognition for the best written
and illustrated books for children and young adults published by New
Zealand authors each year.
Docherty said the quality of this year's entries was outstanding.
"The demand for stunning books is clearly there, and the future of publishing in New Zealand looks healthy."
WINNERS
Best picture book - Jim's Letters by Glyn Harper, illustrated by Jenny Cooper
Best junior fiction - Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley
Best non-fiction - Motiti Blue and the Oil Spill by Debbie McCauley and Tamati Waaka
Maori language - Nga Ki by Sacha Cotter, translated by Kawata Teepa
Best first book - Maori Art for Kids by Julie Noanoa
The entire populace thinks it is a total bore, but our prime minister wants to go out with something permanent on his record: he wants the country to have a new flag.
And even if we don't want it, we get to choose the new one.
So, I thought, why not let the world (or at least my readers) to have some input, too. For reference, here is the current (old) flag of New Zealand.
Quite smart, really. Two problems: (1) the Union Jack is a bit outdated, as we lost most contact with Britain, which backed out of being the "Mother Country" in favor of the EU; and (2) people confuse it with the Aussie flag, which is the same but with extra stars (and their stars are not as pretty).
And here is the 40-strong long list for the replacement:
If you click on the image, it will enlarge, so that you can study it at leisure, if so inclined.
This lively historical novel explores the scandalous marriage of Sir George Grey & his feisty young wife Eliza Lucy. New
Zealand in the mid-1800s is brought vividly to life, with well-known
historical figures & boldly-drawn Maori characters. Fascinating! Judy
is home from London to launch this new novel. Please join her, &
Penguin Random House, for a highly entertaining evening.
After two brilliantly successful short story collections, we are delighted to be launching Sue Orr’s long-awaited first novel. Set in a farming community in 1970s New Zealand, it explores individual bravery versus silent, collective complicity. Stunning! Please celebrate with Sue, Penguin Random House, & poet Paula Green who will launch the book. Wednesday 26 August 6pm, in the bookshop
BOOK LAUNCH Unbreakable Spirit – Karen McMillan Facing the challenge of cancer in New Zealand
Karen McMillan, a woman of unbreakable spirit, will be joined by other cancer survivors who have contributed to this inspiring book. ‘I know if you read Unbreakable Spirit, you will gain great strength from it’ – Judy Bailey
Please join Karen and other contributors for a joyous celebration of overcoming adversity. Wednesday 2 September 6pm, in the bookshop
From Boyhood to Womanhood: The Incredible Story of New Zealand's Sex-Change Pioneer Liz Roberts An
honest, sometimes brutal, often hilarious account of the first New
Zealander to undergo full sex-change surgery. Her dramatic story
documents the life of a creative, warm-hearted person who had the
courage to be herself, against all odds. Inspiring!
Everyone welcome to celebrate diversity with Liz Roberts, Alison Mau & Upstart Press Wednesday 9 September 6pm, in the bookshop
Ladies’ Litera-Tea Sunday 1 November 1pm - 5.30pm Raye Freedman Arts Centre Epsom Girls’ Grammar
The line-up is stunning! View the programme HERE Tickets go on sale 10am Thursday 20 August $60 (includes lavish afternoon tea!) Book early – this event sells out! No door sales
See you at a book event soon!
Carole, Tanya, Mary-Liz and Patricia – and a warm welcome to Zoe (you’ll meet her on the weekends)
Karen McMillan, a woman of unbreakable spirit, will be joined by other cancer survivors who have contributed to this inspiring book. 
Carole, Tanya, Mary-Liz and Patricia – and a warm welcome to Zoe (you’ll meet her on the weekends)
BOOK LAUNCH 
Unbreakable Spirit
Sunday 1 November 1pm - 5.30pm
