ACTION: Rutherford students filled the stage with drama, humour and song in Tutaeporoporo. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS
ACTION: Rutherford students filled the stage with drama, humour and song in Tutaeporoporo. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS
Rutherford Junior High School pulled out all the stops for their end-of-term production
Tutaeporoporo
.
MONSTROUS: Tutaeporoporo was ably handled by Kearn Cook-Martin, Mana Tuhoa, Cornell Leota and Madison Carston.
The ancient story of the Whanganui River taniwha involved the whole school in the making of sets and costumes, designing and preparing ta moko and makeup, arranging and rehearsing songs, writing the script and, finally,performing the finished play.
After a term spent studying myths and legends, Tutaeporoporo emerged as the star of a new production and gave every student a project, working towards a common interpretation of the story.
Mentored by school board chairman Piripi Blake and teacher Tiya Blake, the students got involved in the mammoth job of putting a show together and presenting it.
Piripi welcomed the full house of whanau and friends to the show in English and Maori, then stepped aside to let the performance begin.
Ciaran Mee, a young leader of the school, introduced himself and explained how the production came to be.
NARRATOR: Tuariki (Ciaran Mee), friend of Tutaeporoporo and early casualty.
"As part of our work this term we have read about the different versions of this legend, and we have learned that different iwi in our area have slightly different perspectives on this story.
"We have made all the props and costumes as part of our school day. We have learned about static image design to produce the flyers and programmes."
The story was told through the medium of a kuia relating it to a small group of her mokopuna, all dressed in their night attire and comfortably seated on beanbags.
"Let me tell you a story," she said. "A story about bravery, revenge, heroes, tragedy and true love."
As she told the tale, Rutherford's fine actors made it come to life, speaking from a script written in English and Maori and filled with drama and humour.
Ciaran Mee played Tuariki of Rangitikei, for whom Tutaeporoporo was a pet. But when Tuariki was killed by Whanganui people - a spectacular death worthy of an encore - the taniwha crossed to Whanganui where he terrorised local Maori and took up residence in three underwater caves; one at Waipuna below Putiki, one at Wairere and one at Kaimatira near Aramoho.
From there it became a love story. Te Aokehu, a warrior famed for his manly attributes and desired by all the young women, yearned for the love of one girl, Hineaumoana, but she was betrothed to another. What followed was the story of how Te Aokehu defeated the river monster and won the heart of his maiden. Of course her fiancé was disposed of in battle early in the piece.
COURTING: Hineaumoana and Te Aokehu meet. "Do you want to go out with me?"
Modern touches and up-to-date vernacular gave the audience a few laughs, but it was the personalities of the leads and their retinues that kept everyone smiling. There were moments of high drama when death stalked the stage, and Tutaeporoporo himself - beautifully crafted - was real enough to get a young child in the audience crying, especially when he roared.
THE LADS: Te Aokehu (Kevin Rennie - in cloak) and his boys - Rawiri Whareaorere, Jordan Olding, Rthen Awatere-Simons and Joshua Henare.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Hineaumoana's girls - Raycena Baron, Harmony Neilson, Jazmine Dangen, Thyra Hough-Aki and Adrienne Swan.
The young stars and those with fewer lines but no less importance acted, sang, fought choreographed battles and engaged in a stage version of everyday life on the Whanganui. The singing, particularly the part harmonies, was spectacular, drawing spontaneous applause from the audience. The solos were strong, the unison singing gorgeous, and tight, rhythmic movement gave the impression of the stage filled with young people moving as one.
ACTION: Rutherford students filled the stage with drama, humour and song in Tutaeporoporo. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS
Scene setting music and sound effects were used skilfully to evoke a suitable ambiance.
The evening ended with a few words from school principal Diane Henare. "What a way to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, Maori Language Week!" she said.
She praised the students for their dedication and commitment and the way in which they rose to a tough challenge, and she thanked the school staff for getting behind Tutaeporoporo.
"I think I can go so far as to say that I think I am probably one of the luckiest principals."
