By Renee Kirk
The audience are seated and eagerly awaiting the start of award-winning writer and co-director Thomas Sainsbury’s Little Blonde Hen. Perching precariously on a barstool beside two of the lovely Sami Sisters, it’s not hard to miss the many ‘World Famous in NZ’ faces (or at last definitely Auckland!) attending opening night.
The Rising Sun Bar is having its debut too… not just a bar on K Road tonight, this is the first time it has been used as the venue for a play. The seating is close to the action, creating an intimate atmosphere for all that is about to unfold.
The audience are welcomed then informed there’s a red balloon hidden under one of the seats.
Hidden seems to be the operative word as the lucky girl has to be told it’s her seat and is then handed her spot prize from D.Vice, amid laughter and applause. What a way to start the show!
The cast includes some top talent and quite a few household names… Antonia Prebble and Siobhan Marshall take a break from the increasingly popular Outrageous Fortune to play the highly strung Elvira and the extremely neurotic Rochelle.
The bride to be, Nicole, is played by The Tribe star Victoria Spence. Well known Shortland Street actor, Beth Allen plays the not so likeable Megan while Claire Van Beek, The Needies, plays Giselle. Serena Cotton, Insider’s Guide to Love, is the straight laced Caroline and the fun and flirty Lara is played by London resident and Co-Director Jessica Joy Wood, The Ferryman, A Simple Procedure.
The hen’s night begins at Elvira’s (Prebble) who has a strict schedule for the evening, armed with stop watch and clip-board.
There are penis straws, Tequila shots, attempts at party games and plenty of gossip and giggles.
Throughout the rest of the evening we become familiar with the particular problems of each of the diverse female cast.
Little Blonde Hen is a warm and witty story about women… their sometimes complex and meaningful relationships with each other and also how they choose to present themselves to the world.
The character flaws are greatly exaggerated which does not trivialise so much as create more opportunity for the intelligent humour that this play is built upon.
This is a delightful journey that makes fun of the dramas we create for ourselves. Wonderfully written and directed this show is a true success in every respect; not least of all because of the very talented and strong cast of leading ladies!