Kiwi Stars Collide For a Funeral Like No Other

Kiwi Stars Collide For a Funderal Like No Other

Multinesia Productions presents
AT THE WAKE

A Black Comedy by Victor Rodger. Directed by Roy Ward.
With Lisa Harrow, Robbie Magasiva and Taofia Pelesasa.

From the creative team who bought you Black Faggot and My Name is Gary Coopercomes the Auckland premiere of the deliciously dark comedy AT THE WAKE playing at the Herald Theatre from November 25 – December 6.
“A Black comedy with brio, attitude and guts …” – NZ Listener

Chain-smoking, booze-swilling Joan holds court at her daughter’s funeral. Keeping it together with the help of a $300 bottle of Johnny Walker, this fading diva is thrilled to see her gay grandson Robert - but apoplectic when his estranged father turns up to pay his respects. Nobody is safe as Joan unleashes hell at the wake. Family drama erupts in hilarious style as these unforgettable characters deal with loss, love and misunderstanding.

Penned by award winning Kiwi/Samoan playwright and screenwriter Victor Rodger - AT THE WAKE was inspired by Victor’s own family background, when he asked, “What if my estranged Samoan father, my Scottish grandmother and I were all in the same room?” Dubbed the “enfant terrible of New Zealand script writing” by The Listener, Victor is known for creating vivid characters and complex relationships in a series of hit plays includingSons, Ranterstantrum and My Name is Gary Cooper. His most recent hit comedy, Black Faggot, swept the 2013 Auckland Fringe Festival awards and toured internationally to Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington, Auckland and Edinburgh winning rave reviews from critics and audiences.

AT THE WAKE boasts a stellar cast uniting veteran actress Lisa Harrow with screen favourite Robbie Magasiva and rising talent Taofia Pelesasa, all returning home from overseas acting engagements for this production.

Lisa Harrow is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished performers. Hailed as a “screen legend” by the NZ Women’s Weekly, Lisa studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She played the lead in the BBC series Nancy Astor and was Lizzie Kavanagh in the John Thaw series Kavanagh QC. Her many memorable film appearances include The Omen III and The Last Days of Chez Nous. Lisa most recently played meddling mother-in-law Marion in the TV2 comedy Step Dave.

Robbie Magasiva returns to the stage fresh from starring as prison guard Will Jackson in the award-winning Australian television drama Wentworth. Robbie is best known for his role in the best-selling Sione’s Wedding films. Television series include The Strip,Jackson’s Wharf and Shortland Street. This is his fourth appearance in a Victor Rodger play; critics praised his work in Sons, Ranterstantrum and My Name is Gary Cooper.

Taofia Pelesasa joins the cast after touring to Australia and Edinburgh in Pacific musicalThe Factory, a Pacific musical by Kila Kokonut Krew. Taofia also starred in The Factoryweb series. He appeared in Black Faggot in Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington and Auckland, where his performances were praised as “electrifying”, with “superb timing” and “huge performance energy”.

AT THE WAKE is directed by Roy Ward, who developed the play for its debut season at Centrepoint in 2012. This is his third collaboration with Victor, having directed My Name is Gary Cooper and Black Faggot. Roy is a freelance director, actor and writer and former Associate Director of Auckland Theatre Company.
“A rip-snorting comedy with a larger than life diva” - Theatreview

AT THE WAKE plays
Tuesday 25 November – Saturday 6 December at 8pm, Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
Public Preview: Tuesday 25 November, 8pm
Matinee: Saturday 29 November, 2pm
Tickets: $40 full, $35 concession, $30 groups 6+, preview $20/$25, plus bookings fees.

TICKETS GO ON PUBLIC SALE Wednesday 15 October

Book at www.ticketmaster.co.nz

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