Culture

Fabulous Arts Aotearoa (Wellington). Directed and written by Ronald Trifero, 4/5.
Mates and Lovers (inspired by the book Mates and Lovers: A History of Gay New Zealand by Chris Brickell, a lecturer in Gender Studies at the University of Otago), invites us to ponder how the past speaks to the present through the medium of the theatrical stage play. Much could be said here about the history of homosexuality in New Zealand - the stories, the lives, the activism and the tears undoubtedly shed - but for this review I will focus on the play’s aesthetics.
 

This production of Mates and Lovers exuded a very rough-and-ready aesthetic. Like the erotic adventures of many in “the Domain” or up on Mt. Vic, this production was rough, earthy and essential. Two chairs and simple costumes were all this production required to vividly evoke an innumerable number of characters, locations and encounters. The actors, Leary and Taurima, embodied each and every character with utter dedication and compassion, their bodies moved fluidly and easily over each other both clothed and unclothed, and they possessed both grace and power throughout the choreographed sequences.

 
Claiming the cover image of the book Mates and Lovers as his inspiration, Nelson recreated this image throughout the narrative, the circumstances behind the image evolving as the play moved chronologically towards today. This was a quaint and simple device used to great effect, my only qualm being that our final two visitations from Toby and Ben propelled us through the latest decade of homosexual history with such haste it almost trivialised the issues of civil unions and gay adoption. Granted, these issues could be seen as minor in comparison to the struggles of homosexuals up until 1986 (the year in which homosexuality was finally decriminalised) but they do represent the ongoing struggle of homosexuals for equal rights and acceptance within New Zealand society.
 

All in all this was a stunning piece of theatre; the production was rough-and-ready, yes, but this aesthetic worked perfectly with the narrative. I simply cannot imagine this play working any other way. I just wish I had the space to say more.