ARTS + CULTURE
NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE OF SIZZLING NEW YORK DRAMEDY Auckland Theatre Company brings the hit show, which coined the famous phrase ‘six degrees of separation’, to ASB Waterfront Theatre in August. The sixth show in Auckland Theatre Company’s (ATC) 2019 season is the New Zealand premiere of Olivier award-winning play Six Degrees of Separation by American playwright John Guare. Adapted into the 1993 feature film starring Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith, the astounding story – based on real life events – depicts the lives of suave, sophisticated and wealthy Manhattan art dealers Flan and Ouisa Kittredge, who are all about keeping up appearances in 90s New York. Their world of comfort and respectability is suddenly turned upside down following the arrival of Paul, who claims to be the son of famous actor Sidney Poitier. Only when they begin to piece together the truth, do the cracks in the veneer come into clear view, and, with them, a sharp lesson in human connection. A cultural touchstone, Six Degrees of Separation not only gave rise to This month Ponsonby News the popular catchphrase but is delighted to be able to giveaway two also stunned audiences with tickets to ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ its blistering satire of class starring the incredible Jennifer Ward-Leyland and race relations in 1990. at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 14 - 29 August This multi award-winning work has lost none of its Check out the giveaway details on our Instagram brilliant intellect and whip@ponsonbynewsnz #SixDegreesGiveaway. smart humour. It’s easy to enter, just tell us which Instagram friend you would take with you to watch the play. Headlining the cast in the Giveaway competition runs from 1 July till 30 July.
MiNDFOOD season of Six Degrees of Separation is Grey Lynn resident Jennifer WardLealand CNZM (Vermillion, Lysistrata, Dirty Laundry) as dazzling aristocratic
wife Louisa, Andrew Grainger (Filthy Business, The Cherry Orchard, Nell Gwynn) in the role of art dealer Flan, and Lisa Chappell (Shortland Street – The Musical, That Bloody Woman, Polo) as Kitty. Tane Williams-Accra (Shortland Street 2015 - 2019) will make his Auckland Theatre Company debut as the charming con-man, Paul. ATC Artistic Director Colin McColl, who is directing the play, says, “Six Degrees of Separation is a comedy of manners. It pokes fun at the pretentiousness of New York elite society, but the wonderful irony is that they, too, are all living on their wits. It’s like a mirror, reflecting the upper-classes as essentially the same as the con-man who reinvents himself to get ahead.” Also in the cast are well-known actors Mark Wright (The Audience, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Streaker), Bruce Phillips (Take A Chance On Me, 360, Brokenwood Mysteries 2), Brynley Stent (Peer Gynt [Recycled], Funny Girls, Jono & Ben) and Shimpal Lelisi (Sione’s Wedding, The Naked Samoans, The Good Soul of Szechuan). Joining them are vibrant newcomers Joe Witkowski (Filthy Business, Under the Mountain), dancer Matthew Moore and recent Toi Whakaari graduate Leo Maggs. In the creative team, McColl is joined by renowned New York stylist and Costume Designer Lucy Jane Senior (Polo, Boys will be Boys, Other Desert Cities). Lucy will bring her trademark elegance and impeccable style to the production. Set Designer John Parker (Shortland Street – The Musical, Still Life with Chickens, Red Speedo), Lighting Designer Jo Kilgour (Filthy Business, Amadeus, Nell Gwynn) and Sound Designer Sean Lynch (The Audience, The Daylight Atheist/Joan, Rendered) complete the experienced creative team. In a similar vein as previous hit ATC shows Other Desert Cities, The Glass Menagerie and August: Osage County, Kiwi audiences will relish this fiercely intelligent and entertaining American satire. F PN
The MiNDFOOD season of Six Degrees of Separation plays at ASB Waterfront Theatre 14 - 29 August. Tickets available from Auckland Theatre Company, www.atc.co.nz
120 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2019
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