PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: Rangi Old Girl Returns in Different Guise.
Thursday 27 March 2014, 4:20PM
By RedPR
636 views
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a theatre script...must be in want of an audience. Charmingly accomplished (and a former Rangi Ruru student) Penny Ashton (Austen Found/Good Morning) mashes up Bon Jovi, bonnets and big balls…with alacrity!
Fresh from huge success in 2013 where it garnered numerous awards and sold-out houses in NZ and all across Canada, comes Miss Ashton’s theatrical triumph, Promise and Promiscuity; on stage at the Rangi Ruru Girl's' School theatre for two nights only. As an "old girl", this return to school is particularly special as this is the 125th anniversary year for Rangi Ruru.
So it is appropriate that Ashton's show takes us back in history. We follow the fortunes of Miss Elspeth Slowtree as she battles literary snobbery, her mother’s nerves and Cousin Horatio, all armed with a superior wit, blushing countenance and generally being quite bright… you know… for a girl. Balls will be attended, crosses will be stitched and manners will be minded, all with not one ankle in sight.
“…an "attractive ball" of a show.” NZ Herald
“..a textbook example of how to do a great one woman show.” CBC
“… will please both Janeites and Jane-whos?” Winnipeg Free Press
“…most naughty and diverting. Spiffing.” Edmonton Journal 2013
WINNER: BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY, AUCKLAND FRINGE / PATRON’S PICK, WINNIPEG FRINGE / BEST FEMALE SOLO SHOW, VICTORIA FRINGE (BC)
Penny, a Rangi Ruru Old Girl, has sold out shows from Edinburgh to Adelaide to Edmonton. In addition to the above awards she has four Best NZ Female Comedienne nominations, three Adelaide Fringe People’s Choice nominations, a Winnipeg Best of the Fest Award and won best performance by an International Poet at the London Farrago Awards. Penny has represented New Zealand in Theatresports and Performance Poetry and has performed by invitation at The Glastonbury Festival. She also recently discovered she is related to Jane Austen’s rumoured flirtation, Thomas Langlois Lefroy. She is his 5th Great Niece! (This story is told in Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway).
CHRISTCHURCH
Dates: April 11 – 12, 7PM
Venue: Rangi Ruru Girls School Theatre, 59 Hewitts Rd
Tickets: Adults $35 and student $28
Bookings: 0508 iticket, www.iticket.co.nz
For more information contact:
Name: Penny Ashton
Phone: 0272966883
Email: penny@hotpink.co.nz
Website: www.hotpink.co.nz
And then Ashton heads off with the show on the following Arts on Tour, tour:
June
Tuesday 3 Otamatea
Wednesday 4 Kaikohe
Thursday 5 Kerikeri
Friday 6 Whangarei
Sat 7 Onewhero
Tuesday 10 Karamea
Wednesday 11 Reefton
Thurs 12 Onekaka
Fri 13 Mapua
Saturday 14 Hokitika
Tuesday 17 Alexandra
Wednesday 18 Ranfurly
Thursday 19 Queenstown
Friday 20 Gore
Saturday 21 Invercargill
Sunday 22 Stewart Island
Tuesday 24 Mosgiel
Wednesday 25 Geraldine
Thursday 26 Akaroa
Saturday 28 Upper Hutt
Sunday 29 Hastings
July
Tuesday 1 Gisborne
Wednesday 2 Paeroa
Thursday 3 Tauranga
Friday 4 Hamilton
Saturday 5 Whitianga
Wednesday 9 Thames
Thursday 10 Tokoroa
Friday 11 Hawera
Saturday 12 New Plymouth