The Star: June 15, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Thursday June 15 2017 33
The actor behind the mask
• By Georgia O’Connor-Harding
USING FACIAL expressions to
express a story is normally an
actor’s lifeline for executing a
great stage performance.
But not for Andrew Ford, 34,
who has delved into mastering
the art of deception and disguise
in a show featuring predominantly
masked
characters.
Auckland-based
Ford, who grew
up in Sumner,
will set foot on
the Isaac Theatre
Andrew
Ford
Royal stage as a
bombastic villain
in a comedy about
love, death and preserves.
He said the show has been a
challenge because he has had to
emphases his body movements
and voice, rather than rely on
the simplicity of facial expressions.
“It is great because it gives you
permission to give really big,
larger than life performances,
which I enjoy doing,” the former
Hagley Theatre Company student
said.
As part of Indian Ink Theatre
Company’s 20th anniversary national
tour, Ford has been cast as
COMEDY: Andrew Ford as George Reaper and Vanessa Kumar
playing Anmachy in The Pickle King.
George Reaper in the company’s
award-winning play, The Pickle
King.
He describes his character as
over-the-top, flamboyant and in
love with the sound of his own
voice.
Ford has had a colourful
career since he graduated from
Auckland’s Unitec in 2008.
Five times Ford has performed
in Christchurch’s Anthony
Harper Summer Theatre show
and was recently in this year’s
performance of Robin Hood.
Shortland St fans may have
seen Ford make a guest appearance
on the soap as an “insensitive
doctor”.
He said things happen very
quickly behind the scenes and
actors need to be at the top of
their game.
Although a comedy, The
Pickle King tells the story of a
blind receptionist working at a
crumbling hotel in Wellington
who believes she is cursed as
everyone she loves dies.
In spite of the curse, she falls
in love with a another hotel
employee and at the same time
a mysterious new guest (Ford)
checks into the hotel who she
believes to be the Grim Reaper.
“For me, the main message
about the show, and it may be
corny, is about having the courage
to love someone . . . she feels
cursed but still falls in love,”
Ford said.
As part of Indian Ink’s anniversary
celebrations, the original
performance of The Pickle King
about 15 years ago has been
changed from a heterosexual to
a same sex love story.
Ford said very little of the
script needed to be adapted and
it was nice to see audiences were
accepting of the gender change
in the show.
The show also touches on
immigration and the difficulty
many face when they move to
a new country and find their
qualifications mean nothing.
•The Pickle King will run
at the Isaac Theatre Royal
from today until Saturday.
To book tickets go to http://
isaactheatreroyal.co.nz
•Free mask workshops
will also be run by Indian Ink
Theatre Company. For more
information, go to https://
indianink.co.nz
Pupils land
von Trapp
family roles
NOT ONE, but three Cathedral
Grammar School pupils have been
chosen to star as the lovable von
Trapp children in a nationwide
tour of The Sound of Music.
Daniel Bridgman, Eloise Parkes
and Madeleine Glossop were
picked out of 200 hopefuls from
around the country to perform in
Ben McDonald Ltd’s professional
production.
The pupils will play the younger
three of the seven von Trapp children,
with Daniel as Kurt, Eloise
as Marta and Madeleine as Gretl.
Auditions were held at the Isaac
Theatre Royal recently.
Cathedral Grammar School
executive assistant Linda Marsh
said it was fantastic news and
the pupils were delighted to have
secured the professional roles.
Following a month of rehearsals,
the tour will begin in the
North Island at the end of September.
The show will be performed
in 23 centres from Kerikeri to
Invercargill.
It will be on at the Isaac Theatre
Royal on October 21 and 22.
One step
closer
to your
dream lifestyle
Want to learn about
Selwyn’s fresh water?
JUNE 30 - JULY 2
HORNCASTLE ARENA
10AM - 5PM
Adults $8 - Under 12’s free
Come along to one of our
seminars at Lincoln University.
Hosted by Selwyn Waihora Zone Committee. Moderated by Sue Jarvis, Lincoln University.
DATE TOPIC PRESENTERS
Thurs 22 Jun
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 06 Jul
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 20 Jul
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 03 Aug
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 17 Aug
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 31 Aug
12pm and 7.30pm
Thurs 14 Sep
12pm and 7.30pm
Land and water
issues – what and
how we got here.
Water quantity
Water quality
Te Waihora/
Lake Ellesmere
CPW
(Central Plains Water)
Farming to limits
in Selwyn
A first step...
what more needs
to be done.
Ken Taylor - Our Land and Water Science Challenge
David Perenara-O’Connell - Taumutu Rūnanga
Tim Davie - Environment Canterbury
Melissa Robson - Landcare Research
Tim Davie - Environment Canterbury
David Perenara-O’Connell - Taumutu Rūnanga
Susan Goodfellow - CPW
Ron Pellow - South Island Dairy Development Centre
David Birkett - Foundation for Arable Research
Panel discussion
Lunchtime seminars: Held in the D6 lecture room (Landscape Building) from 12pm to 12.50pm.
Evening seminars: Held in the S1 lecture room (Stewart Building) from 7.30pm to 9pm.
Star Media is proud to be sponsoring Canterbury’s first ever Playhouse Challenge
Live Auction Saturday July 1 at 4pm
Proceeds to charity - Birthright Canterbury and Tenants Protection Association
starhomeshow.kiwi
Star Media Event
For more information find us at
facebook.com/canterburywater