END OF SUMMER TIME
By Roger Hall
Auckland Theatre Company
Director – Alison Quigan
Set/Costume – John Parker
Lighting – Phillip Dexter
Sound – Sean Lynch
With Andrew Grainger as Dickie Hart
ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland
Until 5 July
Reviewer Malcolm Calder
Andrew Grainger as Dickie Hart Photo Andi Crown
Gidday Dickie,
Great to see you last night. I think we last met when you’d just moved up to Wellington and I was still milking in the ‘naki after our African adventure. Then you moved again. Up north.
After Glenda pretty neatly convinced you both to take that Takapuna joint with a sea view, you never stopped grumbling and grouching about the place. For years. Y’know – its humidity, traffic, its prices, its pretentious people and so on. Not to mention its upsy-downsy football team of course. As for natural disasters, lockdowns, etc … I won’t go on.
But, bluddy hell mate, since then it’s almost like you’ve had what that Ayckbourne mate of yours would call a car-thar-sis. Family disruptions aside, it seems that you’ve stopped moaning and fallen in love with the place. Auckland! Never thought I’d see the day.
Blow me down, you seem to have become an advocate for just about everything and everyone. From Auckland’s buses to its ferries, from its oddball characters to its libraries. To lots of its bits too – from Riverhead to Moolfud even if the grandkids are your excuse to explore lots of Maccas and KFCs.
Quite honestly, mate, it seems like you’ve discovered some sort of extra-special non-energetic energy in your post-Covid life. Part of me thinks you have somehow grown an extra leg. Or at least grown up. And good on ‘yer.
Never even dreamed I’d see such a contented, reflective and accepting Dickie. I can see you now sitting on that playwright feller’s beach gazing contentedly at Rangitoto.
Nice looking apartment too and that ever-helpful sheila deserved the flowers as well.
Probably a few lessons in there for me. Perhaps, after 50 years – yes FIFTY years – it’s time for me to stop getting irate about suss hotel food, Mendela, Pienaar and 747s.
Yes it was pretty definitely good to see you again. Might even visit sometime.
Cheers mate
Jock
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