RogeR Hall’s four flat whites SPONSORS PRINCIPAL PARTNER PRINCIPAL FUNDER CORE FUNDERS Welcome to the fourth play in our 2009 acts of PREMIER PARTNER MAJOR SUPPORTERS transformation season Proud to be NZ’s Most Official caterers of When I read the first draft of We’ve gathered together my thanks to everyone at Awarded Winery and Auckland Theatre this brand new comedy — I some of New Zealand’s most Auckland Theatre Company Sponsor of Auckland Company Theatre Company found myself screaming “This assured comic actors for this who have contributed to happened to me!” world premiere production; bringing FOUR FLAT WHITES Stuart Devenie, Annie Whittle, from page to stage for the MEDIA PARTNERS TOURING VENUES Once again our master playwright Roger Hall has George Henare, Darien Takle, enjoyment of audiences in come up with a work that is Toni Potter and Peter Daube. Auckland, Hamilton, Taranaki funny, poignant and right on The creative team of Director and Tauranga. the button in its observations Janice Finn, Designer Tracy Enjoy! of Kiwis abroad, as two Grant Lord and Lighting deliciously mis-matched Designer Andrew Malmo, couples embark on an Italian have all been involved with sojourn full of adventure and successful Auckland Theatre Colin McColl misadventure. New Zealanders Company productions of SUPPORTING PARTNERS are all great travellers and it is Roger’s plays in the past — AUCKLAND ART GALLERY TOI O TAMAKI / BDO SPICERS / CANON / common knowledge that you and we welcome them back for this season. CYCLONE COMPUTERS / INFLIGHT PRODUCTIONS / THE LANGHAM / MARKETING IMPACT learn so much about a person (sometimes TOO much) when It’s a huge pleasure to present BRUCE MASON CENTRE / MAIDMENT THEATRE / SKYCITY THEATRE you travel abroad with them! a new work of Roger’s — and RogeR Hall’s four flat whites from the CAST Adrian — Stuart Devenie director Alison — Darien Takle Harry — George Henare Judy — Annie Whittle It could be something to do The bewildering business of gently provoking tears at how All other parts played by Peter Daube and Toni Potter with being in a tiny country at getting from A to B, dealing life is rarely a culmination of the bottom of the world that with a different language, our youthful dreams. CREATIVE encourages New Zealanders different currency, not to This is the fifth Roger Hall to be intrepid travellers. mention driving on the other play I have directed and as a Whatever it is, we punch above side of the road, are rich premiere it has been a happy Direction — Janice Finn our weight when it comes to pickings for comedy. process of discovery with a Set & Costume Design — Tracy Grant Lord ‘taking off’. The Big OE is a As an intrepid traveller himself, very accomplished cast who Lighting Design — Andrew Malmo right of passage for young Roger Hall has written another bring talent and an intelligent Sound Design — Mike Clarkin kiwis, instilling a lasting love great play, this time featuring energy to the production. of exploring other countries, two mismatched couples Equally, it has been a pleasure mostly on a very tight budget. who take a ten day trip to Italy collaborating with the designer PRODUCTION As we get older the ways together. The vagaries of travel Tracy Grant Lord, who has and means of travel tend to can cause a rift in the closest lovingly brought a bit of Italy to Production Manager — Mark Gosling Technical Manager — Bonnie Burrill become more comfortable but friendships, so when travelling the stage. Senior Stage Manager — Fern Christie the difficulties of dealing with companions are not only new Janice Finn Stage Manager — Laura McCabe Assistant Stage Manager — Mitchell Turei different cultures remain – acquaintances but people with Director Lighting Operator — Robert Hunte Sound Operator — Mike Clarkin well, difficult. a different outlook on life, it’s Properties Master — Bec Ehlers Wardrobe Supervisor — Sophie Ham a cue for Roger to write what Flyman (SKYCITY Theatre) — TJ Haunui Flyman (Bruce Mason Centre) — Junior Apera comes close to a theatrical Dresser (SKYCITY & Bruce Mason Centre) — Sara Taylor farce. The laughs are in the Set Construction — 2 Construct recognizable set-ups, but the pay-offs aren’t always that simple. There is a poignancy FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY is the fourth Auckland Theatre Company production for 2009 and opened on 11 June. FOUR FLAT WHITES IN ITALY that demonstrates Roger’s skill is approximately 2 hours 20 minutes long with an interval. Please remember to switch off all mobile phones, pagers and watch alarms. at dishing up the laughs while NEW :\iXd`Z[`ee\inXi\jlggc`\[Yp with Full HD video Quality products from the heart of italy to your home nnn%[i\Xdf]`kXcp%Zf%eq G_'0 /*++(0, present 2009 TOUR By Albert Belz. Featuring an adaptation of short stories by Witi Ihimaera. Directed by Sam Scott. * S GISBORNE Lawson Field Theatre, Jul 30th – Aug 1st. 06 868 8288 www.ticketdirect.co.nz Make movies as stunning as your photos HAMILTON Clarence Street Theatre, Aug 5th – 8th. 0800 224 224 www.ticketdirect.co.nz .co.nz TAKAPUNA Pumphouse Theatre, Aug 19th – 22nd. 09 489 8360 www.pumphouse.co.nz KET WELLINGTON Downstage Theatre, Aug 26th – 29th. 04 801 6946 www.downstage.co.nz UPPER HUTT Expressions Theatre, Sept 3rd – 5th. 04 527 2168 www.ticketdirect.co.nz C PAPAKURA Hawkins Theatre, Sep 10 & Sep 11th. 09 361 1000 www.iticket.co.nz TI *service fees apply. For full booking details visit www.massivecompany.co.nz massivecompany www. earlybird discountLABLE AT ALL VENUES Learn more at canon.co.nz/world of eos AVAI WHAT’S IN A NAME? and ordinary! What’s next, are really good (really good H is for honest. You bigger, braver and better, and exciting and happy. Yeah FELLOW orthotic shoes? But Roger’s actors always want to be in will never catch Roger whatever is making you yeah, and there are hot sunny characters are ordinary. His Roger’s plays) and, you have being dishonest about a anxious wouldn’t be troubling days in England. But the grey, PLAYWriGHT plays are not peopled by to hand it to Roger, he’s got character’s motivation, fears, you at all. If you were Picasso damp ones are quintessential psychics, flamenco dancers his finger on the pulse with hopes, shortcomings and or Ernest Shackleton or and, I believe, the piercing FIONA SAMUEL and transvestites. They are the topic yet again, and the satisfactions. He knows what Angelina Jolie, you wouldn’t sadness of unfulfilled filled with teachers, book director’s not certifiably insane they are. ‘H’ is also for hints, be losing any sleep over longing is what gives Roger’s Gets to THE club members, dairy farmers’ (this week) so what the heck, because he drops these whatever silly little thing is comedies, even the most side- wives and men who wear it might be fun... there is no throughout the script for the messing you up. But you’re splitting, their distinctive and nittY GrittY of cardies. These characters love ‘might’ about it. It will be fun. actors and the audience to not those people; you’re you essential tone of melancholy to garden, bitch about their It will be a delight to hear a find so that, by journey’s end, (see ‘ordinary’ again). And so and regret. There, that’s ROGER HALL friends, envy their neighbours, theatre chock-full of people let we will know the characters as you’re getting your knickers settled it. No parts for me R is for responsible. Sure, wear money belts when abroad go a huge collective laugh that well as if we had created them in a knot about something ever again. responsible for keeping and tuck their singlets into rolls in like a wave on a great too. And we will feel a little small. Roger also does Put them all together, they theatres open when the words their underpants. (I made that surf beach. And that wave bit as though we have — that seething, spleen venting, spell — well, come on, we all ‘new New Zealand play’ last one up). They are careful, is followed by another, and we too are compassionate, yearning, wistfulness and know what they spell. We’re a excited the same frisson as frustrated, quietly courageous. another, and another. Suddenly clear-eyed, and have spent disappointment really well, literate, middle class audience an outbreak of swine flu, but They are probably you and me. you feel supremely witty many hundreds of hours alone but those letters are not in his who read books. They spell Roger is also responsible in G is for greatest fun you and talented, as if you and in a room making things up, name. New Zealand’s funniest, most the craft sense. He doesn’t can have while dressed — all the other lucky actors are things that are entertaining L is for lust. Yes, he does diligent, most committed raise an issue without being cast in one of Roger’s causing this to happen all by and recognisable and true. He that one well. Although and passionate observer of considering it; he doesn’t ask plays. You get the script. It’s yourselves because you’re so flatters and deceives us in this usually in conjunction with ourselves, who has been a question without offering not fat. In fact, it’s just the right brilliant. You’re not, of course. way. Did I say he was honest? yearning, wistfulness and going strong for thirty years answers. He doesn’t, to use size. You read it, paying special But it feels effortless, deeply I lied.