Ngā Reta is a poignant and humorous solo efficiency piece, which explores the person nature of relationships and identification, in total-immersion reo Māori.
The play follows Mia’s journey after receiving a field of letters, ngā reta, within the mail. The letters, from Kuia, element her mom’s life and trace on the identification of her father. This throws Mia into turmoil, forcing her to confront long-suppressed questions of her place in te ao Pākeha and te ao Māori.
This reviewer will not be fluent in te reo Māori, and couldn’t perceive all of the kupu getting used. While it’s a disgrace to not perceive all of the nuance and richness behind the language, it’s nonetheless a rewarding and shifting piece to be part of. The play additionally utilises many different (non-language-based) strategies to create and convey which means. The sole performer, Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana (Ngāti Hikairo, Tainui), embodies the a number of characters convincingly, and ensures that every has a definite physicality. Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana additionally makes use of very relatable and instantly recognisable inflection, so the place phrases will not be understood, which means is never misplaced.
Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana labored effectively with the viewers, interacting in enjoyable and creative methods. Taking drinks to toast with, giving out being pregnant checks to learn, and utilizing folks as basketball hoops, amongst different issues. The viewers have been, in flip, very attentive to the piece, laughing, vocalising, and clapping, in any respect the suitable locations. This was additionally a useful gizmo for extrapolating the which means of the dialogue.
Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana’s efficiency is energetic and exact. As beforehand acknowledged, Luiten-Apirana’s bodily management is masterly, and the characters compelling and well-delineated. The interspersed musical items are very emotive and spectacular. Some of the songs are humorous, whereas others are highly effective and thought-provoking.
The play additionally had some absurdist components, which manifest in numerous America-centric cultural references, together with an impromptu sport present and a seance with Kim Kardashian. These breaks away from the established narrative work effectively to indicate among the inner machinations of the characters, and are a pleasant manner of retaining the play at a excessive vitality. The sound and lighting design labored effectively to intensify these heightened sections.
The sound and lighting are very complimentary of, and cohesive with, the piece at massive. Isaac Hansen’s design evokes most of the settings, and does an ideal job of shortly and cogently nestling the motion in time and place. Dance golf equipment, sport exhibits and numerous home areas are all successfully conveyed. Particularly profitable are the pre-recorded voice overs, that are utilised to nice impact to painting different characters and their voicemail messages. Matt Goldsbro needs to be counseled for the impeccable operation of this cue-heavy present. The costumes, set and props, as an entire, appear effectively thought out, and assist kind a particular stylistic pastiche. A poster of Kim Kardashian on an arapaki/tukutuku panel typifies this.
Ngā Reta is a incredible play to expertise. Te Huamanuka Luiten-Apirana’s efficiency is dynamic and multifaceted. The lighting, sound, set, props, and costume, are cohesive and add lots to the storytelling. The unique use of te reo Māori is superb. It is important that using te reo Māori be normalised in all aspects of life in Aotearoa. It can be heartening that there are areas and appetites for these tales.
Ngā Reta performs on the Te Pou Theatre, from the twenty eighth of November to the 2nd December, 2023.
