h-member-login

MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER  header call 
Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
Nadia n.lewis@xtra.co.nz 021677978
Reporting: Julia news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 0274641673
 Accounts: Richard info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021678358

 

Archives

Local thespians present classic story of life in a village

 

21 MF-Mangtheatre-6Lovers of live theatre will be applauding the creation of a new local entertainment group who will soon be taking to the stage to bring a theatrical masterpiece to town. 

‘Under Milkwood’ the much loved classic play by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, will be performed at the Mangawhai Library Hall by newly formed community theatre group, Mangawhai Players (MP) on November 29, 30 and December 1.

MP founder Susan Dugdale, a former english and drama teacher at Hawkes Bay and Wellington schools and community theatre actor, moved to Mangawhai with her husband two-and-a-half years ago and was keen on joining a local theatre group but discovered there wasn’t one. 

“So I posted an invite on local social media asking for people interested in being in a production to come along to a meeting. From there word just spread,” she says. “I thought Under Milkwood would be a perfect beginning vehicle, it has multiple parts, small and large, so something for everyone. It's beautiful – timeless language and themes. About a village in a village!”
A lover of the theatre since childhood, the play is one Dugdale ‘knows well and loves’ first seeing it performed at Napier’s Municipal Theatre when a teenager, and has acted in it as well as directed. 

Incredibly the 12 actors will play the 60 characters who feature in the play, ‘alongside providing the narration that weaves their stories together’. 

“Some performers, which include six children, have extensive backgrounds in performance while others are new to the joys of being on stage, however they are all share the fun and pleasure of working together,” she says. “We’re also fortunate to have the support of Rush coffee owners Hayden and Emma Prujean. In addition to covering costs, they are both involved in the production, Hayden has taken on the challenge of lighting the show while Emma, an accomplished singer-songwriter, will provide and play original music.” 

Showcasing a 24 hour glimpse into the lives of villagers from the small seaside Welsh town of ‘Llareggub’, Under Milkwood consists of some seriously interesting and somewhat peculiar characters, including Captain Cat, the retired blind sea captain who dreams of his drowned shipmates and long lost lover Rosie Probert; Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard who nags the ghosts of her two dead husbands; school teacher Mr Pugh, who schemes and dreams about getting rid of Mrs Pugh; Mr Mog Edwards, draper, who adores the sweet shopkeeper Miss Price; ‘and many more wonderful eccentric characters’. 

The play is an ‘unforgettable journey, a glorious celebration of life, love and language’ Dugdale says. 

“It’s sad and sensual, bawdy and beautiful. As the Reverend Eli Jenkins says, ‘We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood’. I guess you could say pretty much the same of any small town anywhere… even Mangawhai.”

 For more information contact Susan Dugdale, susandugdale@gmail.com, 027 282 2252 or visit facebook.com/mangawhaiplayers/ 

 
ABOUT US
  CHECK IT OUT
The Mangawhai Focus is the only 'Mangawhai' community Newspaper and is the paper of choice within the local area.

For more information on distribution and circulation please 
click here
 

Directory

Archives

Contact Us


 

 

 

FOLLOW US

facebook   twitter   174855-378

CONTACT US


Sales: 021 454814
  sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Editorial: 027 4641673
  news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Office: 021 678357
  info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz