Review: Heaven Help Us in Waipukurau

The cast of Heaven Help Us!: back row; Rob Blamires (left), Pippa Purchase, Lindsey Bishop, Leanne Goodger, Keisha Scott Bennie and Lizzie Robertshaw. Middle row: Julie Hales, Connor Hirst, Sarah Rogers and Eileen Von Dadelszen. Front row: Dean Alsop and Abby O'Kane.

REVIEW: by Mary Kippenberger

In the 50s, in ancient times, along with most children in the little Rocky Mountain town I grew up in, I went to Sunday School. Sunday bonnets, demure dresses and shiny shoes. We coloured in pictures of Jesus surrounded by sweet-faced, adoring children and read stories from the Bible. Sometimes we even acted them out, earnestly. I won a prize one year. The only prize I've ever won. I won it for being extra, extra earnest.

Waipukurau Little Theatre's offering, Heaven Help Us! is about as far from my Sunday School teachings as you could possibly imagine. My little 8-year-old self would not have coped but my elderly self coped very well indeed.

I went to dress rehearsal. I expected a few stops and starts. I expected people climbing the lighting rigs making last minute changes. I expected to be virtually alone in the theatre and I definitely didn't expect the chocolates and lollies on my table.

In reality I sat in a theatre full of drama students from the college and watched a flawless performance from a wildly experienced and talented cast. The show opened with the voice of God giving us our "what to do in the event of a fire" instructions. Sam Draper, that unmistakable voice.

Speech done and we were off on a hilarious adventure, who knew heaven would be such a precarious place.

Julie Hales, star of many a stage production, plays the highly stressed AMI Insurance Pearly Gate Administrator, Angela. Julie ably gives this angry, frustrated character some softer more vulnerable moments, allowing the audience to cheer in her corner.

First into heaven's waiting room is Connor Hirst's Charles. More of him later. Lizzie Robertshaw gives her character, Simone, a convincing flirtatious and catty air.

The waiting room fills with the brilliant Dean Alsop's slightly risque Trevor and Eileen Von Dadelszen's batty Dorothy. The audience fell apart at her entry.

Abby O'Kane is a drama student from the college. Now year 13, I have watched her hone her craft from year 9 and for me she represents what our CHB theatres are about. Nurturing young talent and giving them a platform. Abby plays the bratty Natasha. You could be forgiven, after watching her performance, for thinking she was bratty in real life. She is not!

So let's pop back to Connor. This is a very experienced and strong cast. A dream team but I have to say that in among these stellar actors, Connor gave a stand-out performance. He has a face and a body made for theatre. He uses every gesture, every pause, every line to fill his character to the brim. No movement, no thought was wasted. He was crisp, he was fluid and he was amazing. Where will you take this talent Connor?

Sarah Rogers, director, has with the support of all the crew, the effective lighting and sound, the modern, stylistic set, the cast, the back stage and front of stage, given us just what we needed. It's been a funny old year and we needed a laugh. If the audience's reaction tonight was anything to go by we've got just what we needed.

Waipukurau Little Theatre

Heaven Help Us!

By Tim Hambleton

Directed by Sarah Rogers

October 29- November 7

Tickets www.littletheatre.net.nz or Betta Electrical Waipukurau.