Bruce Mason Centre: Ballet Noir – What becomes of the Broken Hearted

Mary-Jane O’Reilly’s reimagining of Act 2 of the classic ballet Giselle brings to bear her pop-art cabaret sensibilities and classical virtuosity.

The setting has been transposed from a forest to the Forest Bar – a louche hangout for a group of women – the Cynics –  disillusioned and jilted, who no longer believe in the naïve, discredited concept of true love. The era is the late 1940s – reflected in the classic post-war black and white contours and romantic melodrama of Film Noir – steeped in the stark and oppressive atmosphere of incipient menace.  The Cynics begin in svelte vintage skirts, jackets, and hats of the era interspersed with transitions into classical mid-calf tutus covered in layers of black tulle.

The story references Giselle the ballet throughout, both in its movement vocabulary and in the depiction of its characters.  The young peasant girl Giselle becomes an innocent abroad, an ingenue whose love for Albrecht is enduring even in the face of mockery from the world-weary Cynics – the Matriarchy – who are Wilis in the original 1812 ballet.  Myrtha the Queen of the Wilis is transformed into the Ice Queen, a cold-hearted and intransigent mother figure. 

Albrecht and Hilarion are brash, self-confident young men, clothed in sharp vintage suits and hats, caught up in their own machismo. They are treated with disdain and suspicion by the Cynics and especially the Ice Queen, who rules the roost.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Bruce Mason Centre website, here.

 
Encore Theatre Collective is proud to present a dazzling new production of Seussical The Musical, based on the immortal works of Dr Seuss. Seussical brings to life many infamous and well-loved Dr Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird and, of course, the Cat in the Hat. These characters and stories weave together in a whimsical and wacky musical extravaganza, played out against an uplifting score, and highlighting the show’s universal messages of love and acceptance – reminding us all that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Since launching in 2019, Encore Theatre Collective has made an incredible mark on the Auckland theatre scene and redefined the standard of youth theatre in New Zealand. Hot on the heels of their sold-out season of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the June season of Seussical features 120 of the country’s finest young talent, ranging in age from 9-23.

With spectacular choreography, unbelievable production design, and slick vocals, Encore Theatre Collective’s Seussical The Musical is the theatrical offering of 2021 that you will not want to miss!