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Home / New Zealand

Political scrap turns deadly over dinner

By Erin Kavanagh-Hall
Wairarapa Times-Age·
7 Jul, 2014 06:47 PM3 mins to read

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GOT THE SCOOP: Marilyn Bouzaid (Edwina Whistleblower, the journalist) and Phil Wishnowsky (right, Marvin Upstart, the lobbyist) dig for dirt on Pat McKenna (Richard Hefferdung, the backer)

GOT THE SCOOP: Marilyn Bouzaid (Edwina Whistleblower, the journalist) and Phil Wishnowsky (right, Marvin Upstart, the lobbyist) dig for dirt on Pat McKenna (Richard Hefferdung, the backer)

For anyone experiencing political fatigue, a night out at the theatre may be just the ticket.

For its annual Murder Mystery dinner, Harlequin Theatre has chosen an "elections" theme: where the action takes place at a "meet the candidates" forum, with lots of colourful characters with a motive for murder.

Director John Mabey said the climate was perfect for a show lampooning political figures - which would hopefully provide some much needed laughs for anyone burnt out from election coverage.

"It's relevant - everyone's talking about it," said Mr Mabey, who is also one of the cast.

The show basically took potshots at "your classic politicians - the ones who talk in a lot of cliches, but don't actually say anything," he said.

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"There'll be a lot characters the audience will recognise from New Zealand politics, like the Kim Dotcom and John Banks affair, the Greens and the Conservative Party."

Harlequin has been hosting Murder Mystery nights for six years. The audience sits down for a meal and the actors present a scenario in which a cast member is disposed of in an often hilarious fashion.

The audience has to guess who the murderer is, following clues from the actors.

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At this year's dinner, Mr Mabey, Linda Voice and Mike Eckford play the three political candidates: the "big money guy" from the More For Everyone, But Especially Me party, the enraged feminist and the old-fashioned conservative.

There's also a journalist "with the dirt on everyone" (Marilyn Bouzaid), the wealthy financial backer (Pat McKenna), the "jealous and bitter" First Lady (Cathy Mabey) and the "annoying" lobbyist and political blogger (Phil Wishnowsky), who tries to "find holes in everyone's policies".

"Then it all comes out that we're all having affairs and have illegitimate children," said Mr Mabey.

"We've gone for the style of Blackadder or Yes, Minister - with the silly names, the risque humour and taking the mickey out of public figures. It's a lot of fun."

The acting is improvised, with the cast holding just a few meetings to discuss the characters and storyline: "With some of these guys, we don't know what the hell they're going to say on the night - which definitely keeps things interesting."

Mr Mabey has been involved with several Murder Mystery dinners at Harlequin, and said past themes had included a summer barbecue, a wedding, a choir practice and a wine tasting.

Harlequin's Murder Mystery dinner, "Meet the Candidates", will be held on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11, in the foyer of Harlequin Theatre, beginning at 6.30pm.

Tickets are $45 - including a meal, dessert and coffee - and can be purchased via www.dashtickets.co.nz

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