From opera to comedy, Wanganui arts festival one to savour

Wanganui's fifth biennial Arts Festival has a line-up of events that will make many, including myself, think twice before heading out of town for events elsewhere. The festival opens on March 24 with Hot Pink Does Vegas featuring comedy's Queen of Tarts, Penny Ashton, and concludes on April 5 with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Theatre offerings include the most innovative, hilarious work I have ever seen - Wheelers Luck - the comedy-drama Little Voice; Shakespeare's greatest bits performed by David Charteris and Kerry O'Sullivan; Here's Hilda - a portrait of Hilda Gardiner, MBE, a prominent member of the National Party who drove as she lived ? in the fast land and the multi media experience Timor ODDyssey written and performed by Te Radar. A show for children and adults alike is The Magic Chicken ?a mixture of slapstick, magic, mime and live music. Music events include Lakme performed by the Hawke's Bay Opera Bella; several recitals one of which is by organist Nicholas Grigsby and another by guitarist Owen Moriarty; Vocalist Linn Lorkin is staging a world premiere of her songs Kiwiana and the line up also features musical groups such as Lyrica which sings pop, opera and songs from musicals, blues musician Hans Thessink, Ireland's Colum Sands,and a concert featuring great songs from the 1920s- 30s and 40s.. There will be two Waimarie cruises, one with Andrew London's The Cattlestops, and the other with vocalists Janice Gray and Elizabeth Braggins. The Imperial Russian ballet will feature in the festival performing Romeo and Juliet. In addition the festival has a wide range of other events including Floral Art at Virginia Lake, Victoria Ginn's South Asia to South Pacific photographic exhibition, a quilt exhibition. A literary section features a Legends Bus Tour, poetry performances, a book launch and panel discussions. Also Wanganui artists will open their studios at various times during the arts festival. At this week's programme launch John Morgan of Genesis (the festival's major sponsor) congratulated the organisers saying it was a privilege to be involved with such a unique, high quality cultural event. Marty Lindsay of Radionetwork, another sponsor, said the festival should not be looked at as something driving the economy, but as an enrichment to people's lives. Wanganui Chronicle general manager Andy Jarden, noted the quality of the festival was such it was impossible for the Chronicle not to sponsor it. The festival's full programme is available from I-SITE Wanganui, Radionetwork, the Wanganui District Library and the Royal Wanganui Opera House where tickets are now on sale.