Antonia Prebble will be gracing the stage at the Maidment Theatre, Auckland, in the production She Stoops To Conquer running from April 30th – May 23rd. She has recently finished filming the fifth series of Outrageous Fortune.
News originally featured on AntoniaPrebble.com… More info can be found below and the Auckland Theatre Company website (images also from there).
According to the Facebook page…
Outrageous Fortune star Antonia Prebble will make her stage debut in Auckland Theatre Company’s brand new production of Oliver Goldsmith’s ribald comedy of bad manners SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER directed by Michael Hurst at Maidment Theatre from April 30.
Playing opposite Prebble as the awkward Charles Marlowe is the aptly named Arthur Meek, who won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award Best Male Newcomer in 2008 for his hit comedy ON THE CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF HELEN CLARK TAKING ME AS HER LOVER.
Continuing their reputations for imaginative interpretations of classic comedies, Michael Hurst with creative team Elizabeth Whiting, John Verryt and Jeremy Fern, will give the rebels of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER a fashion makeover as they transport the play from the wigs and fans of the 1770s to the bouffants and Vespas of 1959.
Returning to the stage as Marlowe’s off-sider Hastings is Paul Ellis. After his character Fergus Kearney left Waverly standing at the altar on Shortland Street, Ellis lived in the UK for six years before returning to New Zealand where he has juggled his day job at Silo Theatre with performance.
Michael Whalley and Esther Stephens round out the band of badly behaved young lovers as Toby Lumpkin and Constance Neville. Two cousins whose impending marriage is a contrivance by meddling parents to keep wealth and jewels in the family but who in reality not-so-secretly loathe each other.
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER will give audiences a riotous night of theatrical misunderstandings and belly-aching laughter. Tickets can be purchased from the Maidment Theatre on 308 2383 or www.atc.co.nz.
Hang on it says it will be Antonia’s stage debut?!? Hello… She previously did the Reindeer Monologues at The Basement theatre in 2008 and 2007 she was in the production And Then You Die at The Herald Theatre. Oh well, dare I say, break a leg?
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Full press release:
ANTONIA PREBBLE AND ARTHUR MEEK STAR IN SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
Outrageous Fortune star Antonia Prebble will make her stage debut in Auckland Theatre Company’s brand new production of Oliver Goldsmith’s ribald comedy of bad manners SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER directed by Michael Hurst at Maidment Theatre from April 30.
Prebble rose to fame as a core cast member of THE TRIBE before landing the role as the little sister, Loretta West, on OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE. She will take the stage as Kate Hardcastle, the daughter of a wealthy landowner who “stoops to conquer” by posing as a barmaid to lure a husband.
Playing opposite Prebble as the awkward Charles Marlow is the aptly named Arthur Meek, who won the Chapman Tripp Theatre Award Best Male Newcomer in 2008 for his hit comedy ON THE CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF HELEN CLARK TAKING ME AS HER YOUNG LOVER.
“All out fun and frivolity” Daily Mail
In the tireless search for Mrs Right, it’s the Miss Wrongs that make it all worthwhile
Charles Marlow, tongue-tied and uptight, needs a lesson in the art of love. He longs for a wife, but finds it easier to have a bit on the side. The barmaid seems fair game – but there’s more to her than meets the eye.
With its outrageous mix of secret elopements and nocturnal confusions, Goldsmith’s classic comedy has delighted audiences for over two centuries.
“The sheer verve of the exuberantly witty dialogue was quite enough to keep the 21st century audience roaring with laughter.” The Guardian
Continuing their reputations for imaginative interpretations of classic comedies, Michael Hurst with creative team Elizabeth Whiting, John Verryt and Jeremy Fern, will give the rebels of SHE STOOPS TO CONCQUER a fashion makeover as they transport the play from the wigs and fans of the 1770s to the bouffants and Vespas of 1959.
“A few seasons back Michael directed Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT for Auckland Theatre Company,” says Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director Colin McColl.
“The show was transported from the 1600s Italy to a tropical Island in mid-twentieth century with great effect. So I’m delighted Michael Hurst will give another great rumbustious comedy a glorious makeover with his inimitable comedic style and verve.”
“This is SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER as you’ve never seen it before!” says costume designer Elizabeth Whiting, “it’s 1959 so we’ve got teddy boys, winkle-pickers and brothel creepers.
Returning to the stage as Marlowe’s off-sider Hastings is Paul Ellis. After his character Fergus Kearney left Waverly standing at the altar on Shortland Street, Ellis lived in the UK for six years before returning to New Zealand where he has juggled his day job at Silo Theatre with performance.
Michael Whalley and Esther Stephens round out the band of badly behaved young lovers as Toby Lumpkin and Constance Neville. Two cousins whose impending marriage is a contrivance by meddling parents to keep wealth and jewels in the family but who in reality not-so-secretly loathe each other.
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER will give audiences a riotous night of theatrical misunderstandings and belly-aching laughter. Tickets can be purchased from the Maidment Theatre on 308 2383 or www.atc.co.nz.
Cast:
Antonia Prebble – Miss Hardcastle
Arthur – MeekYoung Marlow
Ellie Smith – Mrs Hardcastle
Cameron Rhodes - Hardcastle
Paul Ellis – Hastings
Michael Whalley – Tony Lumpkin
Esther Stephens - Miss Neville
Paul Barrett - Sir Charles Marlow/Diggory
Writer: Oliver Goldsmith
Direction: Michael Hurst
Designers: John Verryt, Elizabeth Whiting, Jeremy Fern and Eden Mulholland
Auckland, Maidment Theatre, 30 April – 23 May,
Mon (4 May only) – Wed, 6.30pm
Thur – Sat, 8pm
Sun Afternoons, 4pm
Sat Matinee, 16 and 23 May, 2pm
Book: 308-2383 or www.atc.co.nz
The artwork looks great for the play.
Wish I could go see it!
I’m enjoying the email updates btw :D Very neat idea!!!
Antonia Prebble (Outrageous Fortune) talks to New Zealand Woman’s weekly about her new play – She Stoops to Conquer where she plays a high-society heiress searching for Mr Right. Antonia (24) reveals she’s single and talks about what she’s looking for in someone:
“So many of my friends are engaged, getting married or having babies. It kind of freaks me out. I guess we’re just in different phases of life. I’m not often attracted to cookie-cutter, conventional good looks. I can appreciate a fine human form without being drawn to it. Someone might be aesthetically perfect, but I may not necessarily find them engaging. I like it when there’s more to someone than meets the eye and I definitely rate intelligence. But, for me, it’s actually talent. If someone’s good at something, that translates into charisma. That’s the common thread in people I’m attracted to.”
And future reference: http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3599/columnists/13205/antonia_prebble.html
Aww, Antonia….true love is difficult to find, isn’t it? You have time, so make a great choice.
Kate, you are a star! Cheers for posting that :) Great find!