Rose Beauchamp and Helen MoulderThe Legend Returns and CYNTHIA'S CHRISTMAS AT CIRCA
Circa Theatre is pleased to announce that Miss Cynthia Fortitude and Miss Gertrude Rallentando will be gracing our stage in Circa Two this Christmas with not ONE, but TWO presentations - The Legend Returns and A Vote for Cynthia, under the banner of CYNTHIA’S CHRISTMAS AT CIRCA. This is the fifth time that Miss Fortitude, described by the Mongolian Morning Tribune as “the greatest living soprano of all time” has returned to us. In The Legend Returns she will be accompanied on the piano by her indefatigable and long-time companion Miss Gertrude Rallentando, but Miss Rallentando will not appear in A Vote for Cynthia - Miss Fortitude’s enthusiastic bid to become Prime Minister one day.
CYNTHIA’S CHRISTMAS AT CIRCA is a unique opportunity for theatre goers to experience Miss Fortitude as an opera singer AND aspiring prime minister and although the longsuffering Miss Rallentando only appears in one show, she has a great influence on the happenings of the other. Every week from Thursday to Sunday, The Legend Returns and A Vote for Cynthia will have two nights each, but alternating each week, so fans will need to check the dates.
This is the first time in the history of Circa Theatre, that two completely different shows involving the same character will be played in repertory. In 1983 King Lear and The Dresser were presented on alternate nights, but although some of the actors were the same, the characters in each play were quite different.
Helen Moulder and Rose Beauchamp have been touring New Zealand with The Legend Returns for over ten years now, in fact this could be seen as their tenth anniversary celebration. They have even taken the show to San Francisco and an hilarious recording of the show is often broadcast on National Radio. A Vote for Cynthia on the other hand is a new piece, first presented this year at Circa on three Sunday nights in July. Since then it has been touring the country, playing in theatres, country halls, wineries and other small spaces.
CYNTHIA’S CHRISTMAS AT CIRCA is a unique opportunity for theatre goers to experience Miss Fortitude as an opera singer AND aspiring prime minister and although the longsuffering Miss Rallentando only appears in one show, she has a great influence on the happenings of the other. Every week from Thursday to Sunday, The Legend Returns and A Vote for Cynthia will have two nights each, but alternating each week, so fans will need to check the dates.
This is the first time in the history of Circa Theatre, that two completely different shows involving the same character will be played in repertory. In 1983 King Lear and The Dresser were presented on alternate nights, but although some of the actors were the same, the characters in each play were quite different.
Helen Moulder and Rose Beauchamp have been touring New Zealand with The Legend Returns for over ten years now, in fact this could be seen as their tenth anniversary celebration. They have even taken the show to San Francisco and an hilarious recording of the show is often broadcast on National Radio. A Vote for Cynthia on the other hand is a new piece, first presented this year at Circa on three Sunday nights in July. Since then it has been touring the country, playing in theatres, country halls, wineries and other small spaces.
The Legend Returns
A heartwarming and wickedly funny look at a fading opera diva and her longsuffering accompanist
This double-act, written by Helen Moulder in collaboration with Rose Beauchamp and Michael Wilson, who also directed the piece, defies description. The celebrated opera singer and musical snob, Cynthia Fortitude, with her expressively silent and long suffering companion/accompanist, Gertrude Rallentando, devote their lives, so Cynthia says, to "taking our concerts of serious music to all corners of the globe …. mainly third world countries." After tumbling their way through snippets of arias, anthems to virgins and other vocal meanderings, they premiere their triumphant first and unfinished opera - "Stan" - with all its gods, goddesses, atomic particles, cloned sheep and Pinus Radiata forests. This is Monty Python, Edna Everidge, Hinge & Bracket and Victor Borge - all rolled into one.
The Legend Returns, premiered at Circa at the 1998 Fringe Festival. The show arose from the characters Helen and Rose developed over many years in Hens’ Teeth. Since the premiere, The Legend Returns has toured New Zealand with Arts on Tour, played at various festivals, been broadcast many times on Radio NZ, (in fact is one of their most popular requests) has had seasons at Josie's Cabaret (San Francisco) 1999, Centrepoint Theatre 2001, the Court Theatre 2002, a return sell-out season at Circa 2003, and in 2004, played in Taupo, Hastings and Hamilton. It has just returned from a tour of Nelson and Marlborough.
This double-act, written by Helen Moulder in collaboration with Rose Beauchamp and Michael Wilson, who also directed the piece, defies description. The celebrated opera singer and musical snob, Cynthia Fortitude, with her expressively silent and long suffering companion/accompanist, Gertrude Rallentando, devote their lives, so Cynthia says, to "taking our concerts of serious music to all corners of the globe …. mainly third world countries." After tumbling their way through snippets of arias, anthems to virgins and other vocal meanderings, they premiere their triumphant first and unfinished opera - "Stan" - with all its gods, goddesses, atomic particles, cloned sheep and Pinus Radiata forests. This is Monty Python, Edna Everidge, Hinge & Bracket and Victor Borge - all rolled into one.
The Legend Returns, premiered at Circa at the 1998 Fringe Festival. The show arose from the characters Helen and Rose developed over many years in Hens’ Teeth. Since the premiere, The Legend Returns has toured New Zealand with Arts on Tour, played at various festivals, been broadcast many times on Radio NZ, (in fact is one of their most popular requests) has had seasons at Josie's Cabaret (San Francisco) 1999, Centrepoint Theatre 2001, the Court Theatre 2002, a return sell-out season at Circa 2003, and in 2004, played in Taupo, Hastings and Hamilton. It has just returned from a tour of Nelson and Marlborough.
LENGTH One hour 20 mins. No interval.
A VOTE for CYNTHIA
Cynthia Fortitude for Prime Minister!
Cynthia Fortitude for Prime Minister!
With Helen Moulder as Cynthia. After an illuminating experience on Paekakariki Beach, Miss Fortitude has decided to form a political party and stand for parliament. Come and hear for yourself Cynthia’s Five Point Plan for the Glorious Transformation of New Zealand Culture and Society. With Operatic Highlights by Verdi, Handel, Puccini, Haydn, Donizetti, Sullivan and Miss Fortitude herself. Written by Helen Moulder and Alison Holcroft and directed by Jeff Kingsford-Brown, A Vote for Cynthia will be available in 2009 for homes, halls, libraries, shearing sheds, galleries, fundraisers etc. Call Helen in 0274 987 580 or email: opera@xtra.co.nz
WILLOW PRODUCTIONS
Supported by Creative New Zealand, Willow Productions was formed in 2002 by Helen Moulder, Sue Rider and Sir Jon Trimmer for the creation of Meeting Karpovksy, which opened at the Court Theatre in November 2002. This was followed by a season at Circa in 2003 and a tour of New Zealand in 2004. In 2006 they wrote and produced Playing Miss Havisham, a solo piece for Helen Moulder, which has toured NZ extensively and has recently returned from a tour of Queensland. In 2007 Willow Productions created Cynthia Fortitude’s Farewell – her first, with the Wellington Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Michael Vinten with Helen Moulder and Jeff Kingsford-Brown. They also tour The Legend Returns.
DATES:
NOVEMBER
Thur 20 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 21 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 22 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 23 4.30pm The Legend Returns
Thur 27 7pm The Legend Returns
Fri 28 7pm The Legend Returns
Sat 29 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sun 30 4.30pm A Vote for Cynthia
NOVEMBER
Thur 20 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 21 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 22 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 23 4.30pm The Legend Returns
Thur 27 7pm The Legend Returns
Fri 28 7pm The Legend Returns
Sat 29 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sun 30 4.30pm A Vote for Cynthia
DECEMBER
Thur 4 6pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 5 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 6 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 7 4.30pm The Legend Returns
Thur 11 7pm The Legend Returns
Fri 12 7pm The Legend Returns
Sat 13 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sun 14 4.30pm A Vote for Cynthia
Thur 18 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 19 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 20 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 21 4.30pm The Legend Returns
Thur 4 6pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 5 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 6 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 7 4.30pm The Legend Returns
Thur 11 7pm The Legend Returns
Fri 12 7pm The Legend Returns
Sat 13 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sun 14 4.30pm A Vote for Cynthia
Thur 18 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Fri 19 7pm A Vote for Cynthia
Sat 20 7pm The Legend Returns
Sun 21 4.30pm The Legend Returns
