InterACT Disability Festival 2013
In an evening of exceeded expectations the InterACT Disability Festival 2013 Gala evening was an absolute pleasure to watch. This series of short performances featured dance, rock n, roll, heart felt monologues and even a bit of opera thrown in.
Angels and Demons
If you watch too much TV you might miss out stumbling upon an inter-dimensional portal at, of all places, The Warehouse and meeting the love of your life – such is the moral of this humorous crowd pleaser. Luke, a video game junkie is at the Warehouse when he chances upon another dimension replete with otherworldly stereotypes, sirens, and an angel who could possibly be ‘the one’. It is a clichéd plotline which promised platitudes, fortunately interAct produced a winner. It’s combination of earnest performances, unapologetic and winsome cheesy-ness and the script’s comedic flair, made this an entertaining theatrical romp.
Angels and Demons
Janelle Colquhoun
Blind due to diabetic complications at the age of 29, Colquhoun held fast to her dreams of becoming a professional singer; eventually singing with Opera Queensland. She has also established her own production company focusing on performers with disabilities. Colquhoun delivered a combination of popular operatic and contemporary numbers. Hers was a mesmerizing performance which may have ended too soon. The finale ‘Don’t Cry For My Argentina’ showcased her powerful vocals and stage presence which left the audience wanting for more.
Janelle Colquhoun
Touch Compass – Portable Diverse Dance
Integrating dancers with and without disabilities, Touch Compass Production’s Rogue series has been described as a kind of Rubik’s cube of dance. A jigsaw of short duets representing a range of urban interaction. Energetic and immersive, the dancers’ varying degrees of agility melded into a collective, successfully envisioning a world where dancers from all walks of life perform together seamlessly.
Touch Compass
The Mutes (from Mars)
This rock/pop band’s members have varying degrees of disabilities from Down Syndrome to Aspergers. Their aim: challenge perceptions on disability, while whipping up impromptu rock parties for game audiences. This is a band with a lot of heart and pride, minus the rocker-angst. An audience favourite on the night.
The Mutes (from Mars)
Variety Voices
Variety Voices consists of children from the age of 7 – 18 singing contemporary favourites in the vein of Glee and X-factor. The powerful vocals from mint-sized performers were among the highlights.
Johnny and the Side Effects
Johnny Matteson is a singer songwriter whose work is inspired by his journey through the mental health system. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, Matteson has produced a single ‘Fighting Shadows’, which he about his battle with ‘barriers that don’t really exist’. A performance at once heartfelt and resilient.
Julie McNamara
McNamara performs the monologue ‘Let Me Stay’ which is a tender tribute to her mother, Shirley, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. McNamara’s Shirley is cantankerous and adorable, with a penchant for giving inappropriate ‘speeches’ at the most inopportune of occasions. This is a love letter that is determined to turn even the testiest of moments into a loving memory. McNamara succeeds with aplomb, aided not least by her mother’s delightful character, whom despite her illness, is ‘having the time of her life.’
Julie McNamara
The InterACT Disability Festival is both inspirational and entertaining. It’s a wonderful demonstration of the arts enthusiasm we have right her in Aotearoa.
Reviewed by Maree MacLean