Wednesday night’s dress rehearsal of The Pink Hammer. PHOTO/KAREN COLTMAN
KAREN COLTMAN
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The Harlequin Theatre stage set is a recently-redundant builder’s workshop – ready for last night’s opening of the Pink Hammer play.
On stage, a cast of five brought their characters’ intense personalities to the “man cave”, much to the discomfort of the owner.
Masterton Theatre Company director Deborah Percy said the play exhibited human frailties with the coming together of four very different women and a man whose partner had deserted him.
“There are funny moments in the play but also times of sharing life stories and accepting the vulnerability of others,” Percy said.
“Directing a play that is written by a New Zealander about New Zealanders is a great opportunity as is directing a wonderful cast of extremely talented local actors.
“It’s been a true privilege and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed.”
Percy said exploring the narrative, developing each character, building the inter-personal relationships, and then inhabiting the stage space in a natural meaningful manner required passion, dedication, energy, and skill.
The play begins with an advertisement for a basic carpentry skills course taught by a woman.
It attracts four women unknown to each other.
But the teacher doesn’t turn up, so the teaching is left to the woman’s husband who is bamboozled by the women who insist on having the course they have paid for.
But for him, empowerment is something you plug into a wall socket, and so ensues a “slice of life play” rich with humour, sadness, and friendship.
Cast members are Carol Buck, Rachel Garrity, Judy Brown, Emily Pratt, and John Mabey.
The Pink Hammer was written by the late Michele Amas, of Wellington.
- Tickets are available from iticket.co.nz.
