JOAN: I would like to put out a challenge/idea! Why not have a big show out at the beautiful Bason Botanic Gardens this summer?
Karen Craig did wonders last year with her production of Macbeth in the gardens and everyone raved about the venue. It is special out there and the
fair which also took place worked so well. We have a wealth of artistic talent in our city. Our singers and dancers are as good as you would get anywhere. Our choirs are joyous. Our musicians are fantastic. Alongside them all, we have people of talent and expertise on areas of planning, donating, set-building, lighting and sound. We also have excellent bars, cafes and restaurants. Carefully co-ordinated with vision - and we have plenty of people with that - we could make for one or two amazing evenings of fun and entertainment for all our citizens.
This big thought came to me as I left Jane Winstone's on a recent Sunday afternoon. I had been delighted by a concert given there by four of our talented singers, the group Aria, made up of the gorgeous Shelley Walls, Iutita Kilmister and Morag O'Malley, and, with them, Tim Davies. The ladies are always so radiant and vital and their songs were sharp, melodious and with harmonies to die for. They are always so professional and sing in such a relaxed way, due, I am sure, to careful and intensive rehearsal. I am a Tim Davies fan. I first heard him in the local production of Les Mis and his voice is a rare gift. I try never to miss a concert that he performs in and on Sunday he was on fire! (I have to say that his happiness in being newly married shone through!) He sang as well as any musical tenor that we have in New Zealand, and I have heard many.
All four of these talented artists gave of their time for free and ticket money went to the local Alzheimers Society. In fact, $1200 was raised.
So why not let more of us hear what our talented citizens can put together? I really hope this idea won't just drift away but that performers, food-people and folk with further ideas will contact me. Of course the Bason Trust would be vital and Karen Craig also! So how about it, people?
MIKE: It was a pleasure to be able to accept an invitation to act as MC for Age Concern's thank you to all its volunteers. Seated in the War Memorial Hall, the large numbers attending were treated to an afternoon tea, courtesy of Jo Power and his team, along with some musical entertainment. Jazz duo Metamorphosis - Rick Baum on keyboard and John Scudder on double bass - set the tone with some gentle, relaxing melodies, of which I would have loved to have heard more. As they were packing up later, struggling to zip a recalcitrant bass into its protective covering, I commented on how awkward it must be to have to lug such a large instrument around. Rick wryly agreed, saying his father's instrument of choice was the piccolo, which (with great delight) he said he could slip into his pocket!
Next was David Richardson, a member of a barbershop quartet, at present in recess.(Wanted - a tenor and a bass. Please contact David!) For this occasion David showed his versatility as an instrumentalist, playing both banjo and accordion - though not at the same time!
On the banjo he performed some old George Formby numbers, clearly favourites of his audience, many of whom would remember that Lancashire showman of the post-war era. With his piano-keyboard teeth, big smile and cheeky lyrics, George was one of the top acts before TV, when radio, music hall and holiday shows on the pier (especially Blackpool!) were all the rage.
In the final bracket Lyn Whiteside, well known in Whanganui musical circles as the conductor of the Community Choir, accompanying one of her pupils, Alyssa Hartley. This young lady has won a plethora of competitions, both speech and vocal, being awarded the De Lacy Cup and Junior Scholarship. Her on-stage confidence was recently demonstrated in Amdram's The Wizard of Oz, as a leading, bouncy Munchkin. Alyssa sang two numbers on Thursday, to a most appreciative audience. They may well have been watching a star of the future.
Volunteers are the backbone of the community and Whanganui is fortunate to have such a large number, covering so many different activities. However, there is always a need for more. If you are interested in adding to that number, please contact Age Concern.
JOAN: October 30 will bring a very special, not-to-be-missed, occasion to Whanganui! I recently mentioned my visit to see Sweeney Todd in Wellington, how marvellous it was and the links between the lead singers and our city. I had been struck by the thrilling tenor voice of James Benjamin Rodgers, who played the romantic lead of Anthony in the production, but did not know that he has family members here in the city. He now lives in New York but is, for the second time, giving a concert in Whanganui in 10 days time. As well as coming home to see his family, he likes Whanganui. A young man of taste, indeed.
It is rare for us to have the chance to hear singers of this calibre outside of our Opera Week and I am certain that you will wish to go and hear him. The concert is at 2pm in the Memorial Hall Concert Chamber, which fills up very quickly, and you can book at the Opera House. I will talk a bit more about this rather dishy young man with a golden voice next week.
MIKE: A special celebration took place at the Sarjeant on the Quay on Friday, October 14. It was the centenary, to the day, of the death of Herbert Babbage, a Wanganui artist of the impressionist school.
Born in Australia, moving to and being educated in our city, Babbage left for Britain early in the 20th century, studying in both London and Paris. Following a two-year spell back here, he returned to Britain in 1911, living in the artists' colony in St Ives, Cornwall.
An aficionado of Babbage's work, Jim Norris, a patron of the Sarjeant Gallery, went on a pilgrimage to Europe with his wife Linda, following in the artist's footsteps. In addition, he was able to make contact with several relatives of Herbert Babbage here in New Zealand.
The result of his efforts was a book on the painter, entitled When the Lark Rises. Containing 55 images, it is on sale at the Gallery and at Paige's Bookshop. In our article in mid-May, I mentioned that Jim was hoping to persuade the Sarjeant to put on display during October, the Babbage works it has.
This has happened, and Jim answered questions from Jennifer Taylor Moore, Curator of Collections, in front of an enthusiastic audience of about 50. The exhibition, Waiting for the Tide, consists of 10 Babbage paintings and continues until early November.
¦Suggestions and comments to mjstreet@xtra.co.nz