What an absolute deal with it was to see Tea For Two Valentine’s Particular. I arrived early on the Loft at Q Theatre and located a seat entrance and centre, solely then realising that I used to be at a Valentine’s present on my own. Theatre goers file in and determine to go away quite a lot of conspicuously empty seats round me. The one lady present begins (properly, one lady plus one assistant who hangs again with the viewers), as does the viewers interplay. The masked character, Anahera, skilfully performed by Tamara Gussy (Basket Case), is fast to note my predicament, and with wide-eyed and endearing enthusiasm she guarantees to search out me a date by the top of the present.
The premise is that Anahera is Aotearoa’s main courting professional, and that the viewers is in for an evening of interactive theatre, comedy, and clowning. It’s not usually we get to see theatre within the model of commedia dell’arte. Though theatre firm Indian Ink options masked characters of their productions, Pickle King could be their most immediately dell’arte impressed present. There’s a connection between Indian Ink and this present within the inclusion of the character, Pleasure (Catherine Yates), from Soiled Work. Pleasure is the assistant who lets us know she’s there to “assist with the lights and stuff,” thus breaking the fourth wall and easing us into the interactive theatre expertise. Her position is considerably minor, however each interplay with Pleasure brings hilarity. In step with a clown character, she is a caricature, sans a masks, however dons a pair of false buck enamel, an orange boiler go well with, and a thick kiwi accent to rival Rhys Darby’s.
When Anahera enters the stage, one thing magical occurs. She instantly captures the viewers’s consideration via the extreme expressiveness {that a} masked character brings. Her consummate expertise in dell’arte are evident in her vocal work, physicality, and repertoire in improvisation. I get a way of the centuries outdated custom of the artwork on stage, which speaks to director/creator Pedro Ilgenfritz’s (Leilani, One by One) proficiency in dell’arte. Using a easy set permits the masked character to be the medium to the numerous sides of storytelling. Because the dell’arte theatre troupes have carried out for a few years, the social commentary and jokes match the present social local weather and site. Matchmaking is the topic (and recreation), and our on a regular basis foibles in courting are scrutinised. Our widespread embarrassing situations are performed out, however Anahera is at all times on our facet.
That is the second iteration of Tea for Two, which first performed on the Basement Theatre in August final 12 months. Tamara then obtained a scholarship to review masks in Pordenone, Italy beneath Ferruccio Merisa as a part of the L’Arlecchino Errante competition. Anahera is a Columbina-esque character – Columbina being the inventory character archetype of the comedian servant. The supporting and guiding nature of Anahera, which is magnified tenfold as a result of she’s a clown and caricature, had the impact of getting the viewers to let down their guard. Once we had been requested to wink and flirt with full strangers the environment of ease and the playfulness on stage transposed to the viewers, making even the shyest crowd member dare to enticingly lock eyes with a whole stranger. The climax of the present was when two volunteers from the viewers, who had been mates for 4 years, simulated a date situation and ended it with an actual kiss. I used to be actually anticipating a handshake for the laughs, however they went for it and it actually was one of the best factor that would have occurred for the present that night time. The viewers was rapt.
The character, Anahera, was developed beneath Pedro’s tutelage when Tamara studied at Unitec/Te Pūkenga and this historical past makes for a brilliantly crafted present. Our time with Anahera flew by and we left feeling we had a shared and memorable expertise. I believe anybody fascinated by comedy ought to see commedia dell’arte for this type shines a beacon on the essence of what makes comedy. After all, dell’arte is and at all times has been for everybody.
Tea for Two Valentine’s Particular performed Q Theatre Loft Seventh-Tenth of Feburary 2024
