Shamon Productions presents: Silent Night at Bats Theatre

23 November 2011

Shamon Productions presents

Silent Night

Performed by Yvette Parsons, directed by Stephen Papps

6-10 December 2011, 7.00pm
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
BOOKINGS: book@bats.co.nz or 04 802 4175
COST: $18 /$13 / Groups 6+ $14 each
www.bats.co.nz

Aperitifs, Apparitions and Asparagus rolls...

With tea trolley polished, Cameo Cremes plated up and sherry at the ready, Yvette Parsons’ intimate solo show Silent Night is roaring to go at BATS Theatre, 6-10 December.

It’s Christmas Day and somewhere in Sunnynook - Irene McMunn, is throwing a party!

While Irene prepares her unit for her Christmas party-tea she regales us with stories of her past – the Tangiwai disaster, the effects it had on her and her family, courtship and marriage to her late husband Len and her relationship with daughter Elaine.

Irene also shares the secret about her special ability – she receives direct messages from God. Luckily, her parish priest, Father Carlisle is a pillar of strength and a steadfast shoulder to cry on.

And as if that wasn’t enough to contend with, Irene’s cat Monty has gone astray.

Inspired by her childhood experiences living in the rest-home her parents ran, Yvette wrote Silent Night in 2007. The script was then developed as a playreading as part of Auckland Theatre Company’s workshop for playwrights in May 2008.

Yvette says, “Irene McMunn is representative of the iconic New Zealand woman who came of age between the wars. This generation of women have always held a special fascination for me. I hope that in creating the character of Irene McMunn I help preserve a fast disappearing facet of New Zealand's cultural heritage, freed from the usual clichéd depiction; connecting her story with the real world we live in, and with our hearts.”

Always quick to spot a souvenir sherry set, ornamental doily or a right royal trinket, Yvette has collected an eclectic array of memorabilia for the impressive set of Silent Night. This story of loss, loneliness and stoic survival, laced with plenty of humour is complimented wonderfully with a set full of nostalgic paraphernalia.

So join us at BATS for a hilarious and poignant Christmas Party with Irene!

“Yvette Parsons delivers a tour-de-force performance as poignant as it is parodic…within seconds of her entrance Parsons has the crowd howling with laughter…Silent Night is a phenomenal play.” - Nik Smythe, www.theatreview.org.nz (Auckland season)

“Yvette Parsons creates a kiwi Eleanor Rigby in her haunting portrait of an elderly widow…with a pertinent reminder that at the heart of the Nativity story is an uncompromising insistence on the intrinsic value of every human being, especially those who are marginalized, isolated or suffering.”- Paul Simei-Barton, NZ Herald

“It was a superb portrayal and fully warranted the audience's cheers.” - Gail Tresidder, www.theatreview.org.nz (Nelson season)

ENDS

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