Who Wants to be 100? Anyone Who’s 99

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 3 April
Auckland Theatre Company

Following the tradition of Taking Off, Middle Age Spread, Take a Chance on Me and Spreading Out comes Roger Hall’s latest comedy

Who Wants to be 100? Anyone Who’s 99
(Laugh. Cry. Take Notes.)

Auckland Theatre Company warms this winter up with a heart-racing new comedy by New Zealand’s best-loved playwright, Roger Hall: Who Wants to be 100? Anyone Who’s 99, on stage at SKYCITY Theatre from June 7-30.

Welcome to the Regina Rest Home where the old boys network is alive and kicking with a retired Q.C., an ex-All Black, a former university professor and a famous potter amongst the residents. Restless, irrepressible and determined to enjoy their twilight years they declare war on illness, old age, guilty wives, greedy off-spring and the quality of the catering!

Directed by Alison Quigan (Mum’s Choir, Shortland Street) and starring leading New Zealand actors Mark Hadlow, Raymond Hawthorne, George Henare and Ray Henwood as you’ve never quite seen them before, Who Wants To Be 100? is classic kiwi comedy about that place everyone dreads – the rest home.

With his finger on the pulse of the baby boomer generation’s deepest concerns Who Wants To Be 100? is vintage Roger Hall comedy, says actor Raymond Hawthorne:
“Four old men sit out their days and amuse themselves – and the audience - regaling each other with their colourful lives as they lead a hilarious crusade against the inevitable - it’s gilt-edged Roger Hall at his best.”

Celebrated for guiding the baby bomber generation through the share-market crash, middle-age and retirement, Halls says it was only a matter of time before he set a play in a rest home: “Rest homes have become something of a hot topic as they move from being run by church and charitable organisations to being run solely for profit”, says Hall, “I visited a few homes and talked to some staff and some residents but the play is almost as much about those who have to place their loved one in a home, as it is about those already in there”, concludes Hall.

Continuing a long tradition of presenting Hall’s plays, Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director, Colin McColl, says Who Wants to be 100? touches on the pleasures and pitfalls of rest-home living perfectly: “This wonderful play addresses yet another serious issue creeping up on my generation - old age - and in true Roger Hall style, he shows us the way with humour, pathos and some very useful facts!”, says McColl.

Back in the Director’s chair for this production, Alison Quigan is thrilled to be working with such a hot team: “I have New Zealand’s greatest playwright and four of the most experienced and exciting actors in the country- whipping these old boys into shape is a challenge I’m looking forward to!”, says Quigan.

Who Wants to be 100? Anyone Who’s 99 promises audiences tears, laughter, and even (yes!) lust.

Who Wants To Be 100? Anyone Who’s 99 premieres at SKYCITY Theatre from June 7-30. Book through Ticketek 09 307 5000 or online at www.atc.co.nz
Who Wants to Be 100? Anyone Who’s 99

SKYCITY Theatre, 7 – 25 June

Starring: Kate-Louise Elliot, Mark Hadlow, Raymond Hawthorne, George Henare, Ray Henwood, Catherine Wilkin
Director: Alison Quigan
Designers: David Thornley, Andrew Malmo, Judith Crozier

Performances Times:
Tuesday – Wednesday 6.30pm
Thursday – Saturday 8.00pm
Sundays 4.00pm
Preview Performance Thursday 7 & Friday 8 June at 8pm - all tickets: $35
Matinee Saturday 2 July at 2pm – all tickets $35

Tickets: $25 - $54 (booking fee applies).
Bookings through Ticketek 09 307 5000 or www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

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