A season of Green

THE RETURN: He performed New Zealand playwright Mervyn Thompson’s Coaltown Blues in Gisborne last year and now touring singer/actor Chris Green returns to present three different shows over two weeks. Picture supplied

An intensely personal play with music, was how touring performer Chris Green described the one-man show he brought to Gisborne in 2017. Music and the intensely personal is what Green will bring on his return next week — but this time across three shows.

It’s Only LifeGreen opens with It’s Only Life, a collection of songs by American songwriter John Bucchino, the New Zealand touring artist will perform as part of the St Andrew’s Lunchtime concert series on Wednesday.

Bucchino’s name might not be familiar but his songs will be. The American songwriter’s work has been recorded by artists who range from Art Garfunkel to Patti LuPone. Stephen Schwartz, musical theatre lyricist and composer for hit shows Godspell, and Wicked, has described Bucchino songs as threaded with “insightful lyrics and gorgeous melodies”, “rich harmonic textures and subtle . . . inner voicings”.

Green will also perform three of Bucchino’s songs in his show Sweet Dreams at Unity Theatre in two week’s time.

Singer/actor Chris Green presents It’s Only Life at St Andrews Church, Wednesday at 12.30pm. Free but koha/donation appreciated.

UnderAward-winning young playwright Cassandra Tse wrote this poetic monologue about love and memory for Green who will perform it in his solo show at Unity Theatre next week.

May was an athlete and an artist, ambitious, headstrong, brilliant, beautiful — and now she has disappeared. To find her again, the man who loved her tells and retells their story, but starts to learn that “remembering is a game for two players”.

Tim Stevenson, Theatreview: “Under is a beautifully crafted, skilfully presented piece of theatre . . . sensitive, nuanced, delicate, often reaching up to the poetic.”

Under, written by Cassandra Tse and performed by Chris Green at Unity Theatre, Ormond Road, March 14-20, 7.30pm. Tickets $20 (or $35 for Under, and Sweet Dreams). Book at i-Site. Door sales available if not booked out.

Sweet Dreams and other stories in songIn a mix of pathos and comedy, Green presents a concert of songs of human stories by artists from Elton John and Jimmy Webb to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Green will be joined by local singer Lulu Vermeulen and Wellington pianist Thomas Nikora in a programme that includes a sprinkling of songs from shows such as Les Miserables and Chess. New treats are also promised. Among them are the intriguingly titled Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, and the haunting My Brother Lives in San Francisco.

Chris Green presents Sweet Dreams, featuring singer Lulu Vermeulen and pianist Thomas Nikora. Unity Theatre, Ormond Road, March 23 at 7.30pm and March 24 at 3pm. Tickets $25 (or $35 for Sweet Dreams and Under). Book at i-Site. Door sales available if not booked out.