Rehearsal in the Gardens (Part One)

Remarkable Theatre rehearsed their forthcoming show on a beautiful sunny summer's afternoon in the Queenstown Botanic gardens. This is the first time we have rehearsed this show in situ, and it was wonderful to see how it will look under the trees and wide open skies.

Zelia Horrell gets us into the spirit with the Prologue from Rush! as she offers to take us back 'to yesteryear'.


Zelia Horrell

Next, in a scene written by Malcolm MacKay, the legendary Bully Hayes (Jason Fullerton) is proved to live up to his name as Mrs Buckingham (Lisa Moore) plans to expose him with the assistance of the Barbarous Barber (Andrew Edgar), while former admirer (Melanie Grindell) looks on.

Andrew Edgar



Jason Fullerton



Melanie Grindell and Lisa Moore



Andrew Edgar and Jason Fullerton

Susan Auty portrays the hardships of young motherhood in Life in the Mines, while her good-hearted husband Bill (David Cantwell) slumbers though it all in a touching scene written by Victoria Keating-MacKay.

 

Susan Auty

 

David Cantwell



 

Belinda Fraser gives her rendition of a traditional folk song while practically doing the laundry in canvas town.

Belinda Fraser

In another scene from Rush!, Joe Lawson (Jason Fullerton) and Duncan MacKenzie (Andrew Edgar) discuss the necessity of keeping their discovery of gold a secret from all, including Jackie O'Fea (David Cantwell), everyone's favourite drunken Irishman. 

Jason Fullerton and Andrew Edgar



David Cantwell

Margaret and Betty fix up a wardrobe malfunction in Plain Against Jane, written by Andrew Edgar.

Ailsa Williamson and Belinda Fraser

Director Tiffany Menzies has cleverly pieced together the thoughts and written communications of Gabriel Read (David Cantwell), F Walker (Samuel Farr) and Rebecca (Melanie Grindell) in Letters. 

David Cantwell

Samuel Farr



Melanie Grindell

In The Proletarian Tycoon (adapted by Victoria Keating-MacKay), Eamonn Nicholas as Jerry proves that beer is the answer! 



As Sarah the bartender, Zelia Horrell likes 'thirsty people with gold'



Jane Robertson as Mrs Mac can't wait to 'diddle that mole, Sarah'



Eamonn McNicholas and Jane Robertson



'Without me, I wouldn't have gotten my beer!'

Belinda Fraser is Julia Eichardt telling the audience a bit of local history and offering them a room in the hotel - the first in Queenstown to have electric lighting!

David Cantwell treats us to a poem, The Spell of Otago, which was originally The Spell of the Yukon by Robert W Service.

'I wanted the gold and I sought it'



'There's the land. (Have you seen it?)'



'You come to get rich (damned good reason)'

There's a land - oh, it beckons and beckons

Tales of Gold at Remarkables Market

The Remarkable Theatre's latest production will be Greed, Glamour and Grudges: Tales of Gold to be performed in the Queenstown Botanic Gardens on 27-29 April. To help advertise the show, some of the cast performed a couple of sketches and song at the Remarkables Market at the weekend.
 

Some apricots are Central Otago's natural golden fruit



Lisa Moore performs a poem



David Cantwell as Gabriel Read talks of how he first found gold in the region



"You can see why people travelled from all over the world to get their share; all because of my discovery"

Lisa Moore returns to the stage as Mrs Beeton to share some tips from Mrs Beeton's book of Household Management. 


"It is important to keep an organised home and provide quality food for dinner guests"



"Are you listening, madam?"

David Cantwell re-introduces himself with a a poem, The Spell of Otago.

 



"There's a land - oh, it beckons and beckons"



"And I want to go back - and I will"

If you are in the area, come and see what promises to be a great show.

Greed, Glamour and Grudges: Tales of Gold, Queenstown Botanic Gardens
Friday 27 January - 6pm & 8pm
Saturday 28 January - 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
Sunday 29 January - 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
Entry by gold coin donation