MIDSUMMER – “Laugh your way into wisdom” The Listener

Midsummer director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford talks to drama on the waterfront about her process for this delightful play (with songs).

Midsummer (a play with songs) by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre, is ON NOW in Circa Two. This modern gem, directed by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford and starring comic talents Kate Prior and Byron Coll, is being viewed by critics as “hilarious and poignant” The Listener.

Lyndee-Jane Rutherford shares with us how, when she first came across the script, she thought ‘Oh wow, this would be a bit of fun’ to direct, but she explains that it ‘turns out to be one of the hardest things’ she’s had to do.  With fast paced comedy and no stage directions, the script definitely challenged her process and directing approach. 

Director Lyndee-Jane Rutherford.

Lyndee-Jane is an ‘instinctual’ director, shaping a piece as it’s worked on the floor. It became evident to her quite early on in the rehearsal room, that her talented cast like to approach text in a different way, which changed her usual approach as she saw how they needed and wanted to work. It involved more ‘working it out then doing it’.

One thing that was pretty much set from the start of rehearsals were the blocks used as part of the set. They were great to play with and an important part of establishing conventions from day one. “It took a long time, we must have had about 1000 photos of different spaces created with the blocks. It was a process of create, create, create, and then peeling it all right back to find the moments that worked.”

Choosing the right materials for the blocks was a journey on its own. “There were lots of conversations with ‘polystyrene men’ and ‘polystyrene women’, to check ‘so can people jump on these? Can they be thrown around? How sturdy are they?’ we got them really wondering ‘What are you using them for?”

Lyndee-Jane Rutherford is excited to share Midsummer with Wellington – with a perfect balance of spirit, nostalgia and hilarity, she thinks audiences will appreciate the uplifting and bloody enjoyable ride.

On for only two more weeks, and selling fast, don’t miss this “funny, arresting and touching two-hander”. Dominion Post.

To book tickets for Midsummer, visit www.circa.co.nz or call the box office on 801-7992.

MIDSUMMER MID-PRODUCTION WEEK

Circa Two is buzzing with Scottish flair and folk. We’re mid-production week for MIDSUMMER (a play with songs), and if it’s not laughter you’re hearing bounding out of the theatre, than it’s the compelling sound of Byron and Kate’s voices, bringing to life the beautiful turns and tunes of David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.

The two, a pair both on and off stage, have been living the show day and night. With friends bating “OOooo, you’re acting together, just the two of you … - good luck”, it’s been a testament to their four year relationship to date. The two met on a job, and so they already know each other’s working language better than anyone. But as Kate says, “although all the niceties go by the wayside, no matter who you’re working with you need to be professional with your fellow actor…” Bryon confirms “I haven’t been stepped over yet”, to which Kate admits, “I have been bossy.”

But working so closely can be tiresome at times, literally, as when one is about to drift to sleep, the other has a theatrical epiphany, the next hour or two can go by, chattering and creating.  

But the two are in their element, enjoying the challenge and joy of staging the New Zealand premiere of this gem of a show.

Kate has always been a huge fan of David Greig, after having read his play Casanova, soon after leaving drama school a good ten years ago.  She’s excited by Greig’s approach to devised writing/directing, and his work with the theatre company ‘Suspect Culture’.

Byron is loving the cultural context of the play, the vibrant Scottish Celtic world that textures this piece. Bringing out an instrument or two, or three, to throw together a song, makes it such an enjoyable and organic experience for the duo.

With so many great lines to choose from, Byron and Kate plucked these two favourites to share:

“Love is actually just another word for ‘need’ and that when people say ‘I love you’ they say it because they want the other person to say it back to them to make them feel good and it’s actually quite an aggressive thing to say.” Bob, MIDSUMMER.

 “I realised that we were in the middle of the shortest night of the year – midsummer - floating on a tiny patch of night in the middle of a great sea of day this darkness that only belonged to us” Helena, MIDSUMMER.

Directed by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford, this fast paced modern gem is an unmissable treat for the senses.

“You float out laughing as if you’ve just swallowed sunshine on a spoon” – Guardian UK *****

BOOK NOW 8017992 www.circa.co.nz – $25 Preview Tickets available for Fri 20^th and Sun 22^nd Sep. Season runs 21 Sep – 19 Oct