Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants

a slightly isolated dog, Wellington

www.deathandthedreamlifeofelephants.com

 

From the latest reviews:

"What makes this wondrously theatrical mix of hyper-naturalism, magic realism and surrealism work for me is the constant recognition of true human experience." 

 

"Tracey Monastra's sliding panels of translucent plastic, four rows deep, transfer splendidly to the Downstage end-on space. Adam Walker's rows of overhead household lights, augmented by backlighting to create some stunning shadow effects, is simply brilliant. Thomas Press's soundscape adds immensely to the atmosphere, often in subtle and sometimes in suddenly dramatic ways."

"all (the actors are)... working together to maintain a mesmerising rhythm, flow and dynamic pacing which...makes for a riveting performance."

John Smythe theatreview.org.nz

"strikingly original"

"it was the brilliant staging, the low-key, slightly off-beat acting, the wry comedy and the excitement of watching a group of performers riding high that really caught the imagination."

"real poetry is in the lighting, and the fleeting images projected on to the brilliantly conceuived and operated sliding panels."

"all the ingredients that made the first production so successful are still on display, seemingly new-minted."

Laurie Atkinson, The Dominion Post

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Part dream, part reality, part film noir, this complex journey follows a 30-something ‘everyman’ through the streets and back alleys of modern Wellington on a quest for a mysterious elephant. 

Winner of three Chapman Tripp awards for Production Design (set/lighting) of the Year, and Director of the Year in 2009, this original STAB commission follows in the footsteps of APOLLO 13 in its use of theatre magic and technology.

Julian is lost, his life at a standstill. Almost a year after his mother’s death, he finds himself unable to  see a way forward. So the universe conspires, creating a strange mystery that revolves around an elephant, in order to get him moving again.

An eccentric stranger appears and sends Julian on a search for an ornamental elephant statue.  One of hundreds in his mother’s collection, the statue possesses alluring and deadly powers.  As he searches, Julian goes deeper and deeper into a surreal, sometimes pleasurable and often dangerous dream world. 

Reality loses certainty as he hires an iconic private detective, meets Dennis: his psychic transvestite cousin, and falls (a little) in love with Yvonne: the obsessive compulsive who becomes the Femme Fatale of his dreams. 

Julian maneuvers this landscape (made theatrically with sliding, translucent plastic walls) with increasing difficulty.  His purpose and place in the world, as well as the elephant, continually elude him.  Anxieties growing, Julian faces his isolation and mortality in a strange and violent dream that could end his life. 

Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants piqued our interest not only as a live performance but an experience across multiple platforms - on the streets of Wellington, on the radio,  in a city-wide treasure hunt, and by delving into an interactive website due to launch March 2011. 

This contemporary  company is one of the most interesting and creative working in theatre today.  Their ethos is  to make entertaining and provocative experiences for audiences, to strengthen, reflect and celebrate Wellington.  They do this by opening their process up to the community and developing partnerships wherever possible.  In the making of …Elephants this included Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington Buddhist Centre, Lychgate Funeral Home, Victoria University and many other local businesses.

(Production photography by Matt Grace)

Creative team:
Leo Gene Peters, Director/Creative Producer
Tracey Monastra, Design
Meg Rollandi, New Media Design 
Andrew Foster, Dramaturg
Thomas Press, Composition and Sound Design
Rowan Pierce, Filmmaker
Charlotte Gordon, Production Manager
Adam Walker, Lighting Design
Paul Tozer, Technical Director
Angela Green, Producing support (by arrangement with Downstage)
Matt Grace, Production Photography 

Performers:  Vaughan Slinn, Sara Allen, Aaron Cortesi, Hannah Banks, Uther Dean, Paul Waggott, Harriette Cowan 

Funded and supported by:
Creative New Zealand

Reviews from 2009 season.