Rutene Spooner stars in his autobiographical solo cabaret at The Meteor in Hamilton. Photo / Supplied
Rutene Spooner stars in his autobiographical solo cabaret at The Meteor in Hamilton. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand's own Greatest Showman, Rutene Spooner, is heading to The Meteor with his award-winning show Super Hugh-Man.
A musical love letter to the great Wolverine and Broadway star Hugh Jackman, Super
Hugh-Man is an autobiographical solo cabaret depicting Kiwi entertainer Rutene Spooner's journey growing up as young Māori boyin Gisborne to becoming a musical theatre performer.
The show is "stepping us through his implausible path to becoming a musical theatre performer — from high school kapa haka misfit to unexpected NASDA alumnus".
At The Meteor for a short season running July 3-4, Super Hugh-Man is set to challenge and abolish the stereotypes associated with masculinity and musical theatre. Spooner documents how Hugh Jackman helped him realise that it is okay to be himself, and to be a male musical theatre performer.
With comparisons to Hugh Jackman portraying both the rugged Wolverine and singing and dancing on Broadway, Spooner cites Jackman's success as proof that it is okay to be "a different type of man".
"That he can be strong AND sensitive, he can haka AND high kick, be fierce AND fabulous."
The show is winner of the Excellence Award at the 2017 Auckland Theatre Awards and is directed by New Zealand theatre veteran Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
