An Adagio Christmas

I'm not in the PR business; so often I get sent emails asking me to help promote things and they get deleted. Sometimes I'm asked to go to shows and mention them. I usually don't. Often I am asked for my opinion on albums/shows/etc and when I give it (in an email reply) the promoter/publicist tells me "yeah well that's just your opinion". Meaning, they did not want my opinion at all - they wanted their opinion with someone else's name attached.

But - I am in the business of being fair. If I hate an album or show I will say so. I like to think I do not hold back. And that means that if I love an album or show I will say so. I'm aiming for consistency; if you read me when I am saying I dislike something you really know I disliked it. And then, hopefully, if you read me when talking about how I really liked something - then you also really know that I really liked it.

So maybe sometimes I am in the PR business. But it has to be when it suits me.

Well it suits me to recommend the show An Adagio Christmas at Wellington's Downstage Theatre from now until December 20. I thoroughly recommend that you see the show.

Mixing existential theatre, acrobatics, song, movement, comedy, the show is both a total joy and brilliantly performed.

Music supports the show, providing themes, gracefully accentuating the performances, adding punctuation, creating moods, leading the way and falling in behind. As with all great music often it is the spaces, the silence, that are most effective.

The music is provided by Jeff Henderson and Rosie Langabeer. They do an amazing job, playing - between them - various percussion instruments (including home-made drums), piano and keyboards, guitar and bass, clarinet, trumpet and, yes, yes the Saxamaphone!

I don't want this to be a review - you will read those elsewhere. You can check the Dominion Post no doubt; and of course Theatre Review.

I don't want to tell you about the amazing stunts, the graceful moves, the laughs, the thrills, the positive feeling the audience can't help but soak up and help spread - I want you to experience that for yourselves.

You can click here to get some idea of what happens via the official site, featuring some still images from last year's show (and the booking information is there too).

And I will name the cast - because alongside Langabeer and Henderson there are incredible performances from Mason West, Angela Green, Rowan Heydon-White, Asalemo Tofete and Jenny McArthur. They all get a chance to shine - and they all deliver.

So there you go - a recommendation. You may wish to take it - you may wish to ignore it. But if you get a chance to see this show (i.e. if you live in Wellington) I would take it. I will probably go and see the show again.

So, have any of you seen it? Or are you intending to?

Join Blog on the Tracks on Facebook

Newest First

Oldest First

Stu as "Stu"   #1   03:57 pm Dec 07 2009

and here I was thinking you were the PR rep for the Wellington 'groove collective'.

Don 1   #2   04:35 pm Dec 07 2009

"So, have any of you seen it? Or are you intending to?"

Sorry, can't go. CYFs won't spring for a flight.

Stella   #3   06:51 pm Dec 07 2009

Nice one, Don1 #2.

Yeah, I'd consider going to see it just to see what the reporter who decided to make a mountain out of this particular molehill thinks is so inappropriate for children. Of course, everyone else will have the same idea and ticket sales will double, which must be good for Downstage.

m.s.p   #4   06:57 pm Dec 07 2009

"I am in the business of being fair. If I hate an album or show I will say so."

Yes you are and yes you do, and thank god someone does. You provide a compelling and vital public forum for discussion and it would be pointless and boring without you.

Show sounds amazing, will try check it out.

Scott A   #5   07:06 pm Dec 07 2009

Ha! Don1 got in first, but I was going to say "I'd go, but my CYFS caregivers won't let me!"

Truthfully, it doesn't sound like my sort of thing, but it sounds like the sort of thing of lots of people I know. I'm sure today's media (negative or no) has made them pick up their ears, and I'll point them to this post for further reading...

Crystal   #6   10:13 pm Dec 07 2009

I saw this show on opening night last week! Was a fantastic show.. The whole cast was briliant!! I recommend anyone and everyone see this show. Well worth the $25.00 :)

Tony Who   #7   08:35 am Dec 08 2009

Aaaaaaah so that's why you don't come to any of my gigs ... <*phew*> I thought it was because we sucked!!

Simon Sweetman   #8   11:53 am Dec 17 2009

Went to it again last night, as a paying customer, and loved it at least as much as the first time!