Birds of Paradise

World class Kiwi-made cabaret burlesque comedy Birds of Paradise will serve up a unique, flamboyant and feathery feast for the 2010 Christmas party season. Hatched by the multi-talented Morag Magnolia Brownlie, the stunning cast weave dance, drama, music and song, burlesque, astounding costumes and quirky comedy into an unforgettable two hour show.

Featuring “the most stupendous menagerie”, the witty comedy about love and sexual chemistry explores the lost art of wooing through the courtship rituals of some bizarre and ornately costumed feathery friends.

Morag is a true taonga of the performance scene in Aotearoa. The filmmaker/choreographer is a former director and choreographer of the World of Wearable Arts (WOW), Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup balls and Sky City’s New Years Eve spectacles – and has now created this unique cabaret company for her own cast of flamboyant characters.

“Birds of Paradise is essentially a show about love,” she says. “It’s a teasing and witty comedy about sexual chemistry, but it has a deeper meaning beneath its light and playful exterior. Romance and wooing is like a lost art and this is reflected in the plight of endangered species and also the loss of culture from our colonial influence,” she says. “The show is about stripping back the layers and also about Kiwis shedding the black Victorian colonial suppression of sexuality and indigenous culture.”

The show’s cast of intricately costumed flock of birds hail from Aotearoa and the Pacific and includes pukeko, tui, white herons and Rarotongan love birds. Morag is joined by a stand out cast including jazz singer Caitlin Smith, award-winning actor/singer Henry Taripo, dancers The Cuban Groove, Mike Holland and Georgie Goater with a stunning soundtrack and original composition by Sean Donnelley (SJD).

The ornate wardrobe includes designs by Trelise Cooper, Brooke Tyson, World and Missey Milner woven together by Morag into the incredible costume creations and including her own very feathery designs.

Audience members are invited to “dress with style” and come adorned with a birdy fascinator hat or feathery cravat. Platters are available.

Book at www.tapac.org.nz or phone 09 845-0295. Last season sold out. For further information visit www.birdsofparadise.co.nz.

"Full of surprises, moments of pathos and sexually competitive humour. The disarmingly beautiful Birds of Paradise is a unique blend of feathery fantasy and environmental fairy tale.” - Theatreview

Event listed by SWPR Ltd

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