Reviewed by John daly-Peoples
Moe Miti
Red Leap Theatre
Q Theatre
August 22 – 27
Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
In Red Leap’s “Moe Miti” three generations of Pasifika women examine their identities in order to imagine their future by contending with the past.
The work is located in the shifting space between waking and sleep, between ancient myths and contemporary angst. The characters seem to alternate between being demi-gods and flawed humans.
Pepe, a young woman born in New Zealand, is estranged from her mother Valu but she has to has to engage with her as well as her culture, represented by Aiga, their mythic ancestor from which she is also alienated. In searching for her identity, she has to understand, transition and transform.
Throughout the work figures glide in and out of deep shadows and shining surfaces along with changing times, places and histories. This surreal environment is enhanced by a mesmeric soundtrack and dramatic lighting.
While there are occasions when the house lights are on full most of the time the stage is a in half light, figures are indistinct and the action set in an amorphous environment.
Central to the staging is a large translucent rectangular shape which acts as a transition point between the past, present and future with connections to the monolith in 2001 A Space Odyssey and a Tardis. The background also features rays of light signifying notions of the spiritual
The clash between mother and daughter, between the ancient and the new is expressed in the metaphor of the daughter running uphill, laughing and the mother going downhill, crying.
The cast of three Katerina Fatupaito, Ma’aola Faasavala and Malama Tila manage to convey characters which are deeply rooted in the mythology of Samoa as well as presenting contemporary individual striving to negotiate their place in the world.
Being part god part human, they present the mythic Samoan creation story in parallel with drama and aguish of the mother / daughter relationship.
New Zealand Arts Review 