Direct Hit

by Shona M Watkins

Directed by Kerry Girdwood

What happens backstage when egos clash, old rivalries re-surface and resentments flare? Come and find out! This will be a New Zealand Premier of this production, written by NZ Playwright Shona Wilson.

Shona Wilson

Shona is the writer of Direct Hit

Shona M.Wilson
Introducing Shona M. Wilson, playwright and author. Shona is the writer of ‘Direct Hit ‘ the play which is currently in rehearsal at Repertory Theatre. It’s being directed by Kerry Girdwood who has worked with Shona to ‘reshape ‘ her play for the stage. It tells the story of two women who’ve worked together in the past and have unresolved issues.

“ Essentially it’s a play about passion “, Shona told me, “but I’ve added some subplots for entertainment.”

When I asked what her motivation was for writing ‘Direct Hit ‘ she said she’d written a play called ‘Paperless ‘ which was produced by the New Plymouth Little Theatre and directed by Shona herself. “ It was then that I became aware of the need to manage theatre relationships ,” she said.

Play writing is a relatively new venture for Shona who’s been writing since she was twelve. She’s published two children’s books and self published two novels.

Hopefully we’ll have the pleasure of meeting the lady herself when she attends the premiere of her play.

I’m quite intrigued to learn what this play is all about. Do come along and see what local talent has worked so hard to produce for our entertainment....should be good.

Kerry Girdwood

Kerry is the Director of Direct Hit

Postponed!

“Disappointed ‘ doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel,” lamented Kerry Girdwood, Director of Repertory Theatre ‘s latest production ‘ Direct Hit ‘. “ All that hard work, all that effort canned at the last minute “. Indeed!

When I arrived at the theatre to help out with the final dress rehearsal on Tuesday 17th Kerry met me at the door to tell me that she’d decided to cancel the evening although technically the rehearsal could have gone ahead.

“ You reach a point in rehearsal where the cast peaks and they’re ready for an audience. We were ready to go.” Kerry does agree with the government’s decision though. “ The government has gone hard and fast, which I agree with. Look what’s happened in Sydney. They’re just in ‘lockdown light’, people aren’t obeying the restrictions so the virus keeps on spreading “.

What happens now?

“ Well , we just have to wait and see. If we go to level two lockdown next Wednesday, which I doubt, we could have a rehearsal on Wednesday and put the play on for the public on Thursday and Friday but I don’t really see that happening. We’ve agreed that we’ll certainly put the play on later, possibly in October. Yes, that’s the most likely scenario. It’s a good play- unusual, but a good play.”

I do feel sorry for Kerry and her cast but we all understand the need for extreme caution with this virus. ‘Direct Hit’ will go ahead at a later time, most probably in October....that gives us something to look forward to.

Gillian Avery

Gillian plays the part of Lilly Tiverton

Gillian Avery
“The last time I was on stage at Rep was about four years ago, I think. It was when we did ‘Eugenia‘ and I played the part of the Italian landlady at the boarding hostel,” Gillian told me when I asked about her last appearance on Repertory Theatre’s stage.

In ‘Direct Hit‘ Gillian is playing the part of ‘Lily‘, a stage manager. “She’s stayed at home in small town New Zealand but has done rather well in theatre", Gillian said.

How are rehearsals progressing? “It’s all going quite well. Kerry Girdwood, the director, is working us quite hard but we need that. It’s a nice cast and we’re all getting along quite well. There are a lot of lines to learn and that’s a bit of a challenge so I’ve recorded them and listen to them when I go walking.”

“The play is set in the backstage area of a theatre, therefore there’s not a lot of work involved in constructing a set. It’s pretty much sorted already.”

When Gillian’s not treading the boards at Repertory Theatre she enjoys traveling with her husband. “Last years lockdown stopped our travels for a while but we had taken our Vintage vehicle to Normandy in France for the D Day celebrations in 2019. We’d gone there for the celebrations five years beforehand too.”

We’re happy that Gillian’s back at Repertory. I’ve no doubt she’ll learn those lines and give us a splendid performance in ‘Direct Hit’. “It’s coming along really well“, she said.

I’m sure it is.

Dee Brough

Dee plays the part of Ginny Hastings

Dee Brough
I always enjoy talking to Dee Brough. She’s intelligent, caring and knowledgeable.

As well as her active involvement with theatre Dee’s employed at UCOL, is involved in unionism and is the chairperson of Community Education Whanganui Trust. “ We’ve got twenty eight courses currently available “, she told me.” It’s really a response to demand. For example a few years ago we had a lot of people wanting to learn to crochet so we ran courses on crochet but now there’s no demand for it so we’ve dropped it.”

Unionism? “Really it’s usually just a matter of getting people to talk to each other which often leads to a satisfactory outcome for everyone.”

Dee’s been a member of Repertory Theatre since 1987. “ I’ve done just about everything really. I’ve been the secretary, the treasurer, media manager and ordinary committee member. My favourite job in productions if I’m not on stage is that of stage manager. I like to look after the cast.”

Currently Dee’s rehearsing the role of ‘Ginny Hastings‘, a director who’s enjoyed success overseas and has returned to New Zealand to work with Lily (played by Gillian Avery). “These women have a history....boyfriend trouble in the past, but towards the end of the play they begin to understand each other. The characters are very well drawn and yes I really like the play“, she enthused.

It will be interesting to see how this play is received when it plays to the public.

I’ll see you there theatre goers.

Mikayla Archer

Mikayla plays the part of Fran

Mikayla Archer
Recently married Mikayla Archer (née Walker) is enjoying her role as ‘Fran’ the props lady in ‘the play about a play, ‘Direct Hit‘.

What’s Fran the props lady like? “ She’s quite nervous and she’s got vertigo so she drops things all the time. She does try hard though. There’s a bit of rivalry between her and some other cast members but they sort it out. Fran does make some pretty major mistakes which adds to the drama and the humour ,” Mikayla told me.

Two years ago Mikayla played the part of one of the Ugly Sisters in our Christmas Pantomime, ‘Cinderella‘. “ That was so much fun,” she smiled. “‘Direct Hit‘ is different to other plays I’ve done. In many ways it’s quite true to life, quite believable.”

Mikayla has piqued my curiosity about ‘Direct Hit ‘ so I’m really looking forward to seeing it.

Polly Pyefinch

Polly plays the part of Tina

Polly Pyefinch
“I love it. It’s my passion. I love helping people heal after all the terrible things that have happened to them", Polly Pyefinch told me when I asked her how she enjoyed the role of prison chaplain at both the Palmerston North and Whanganui prisons. ”I did a post graduate diploma in chaplaincy from Otago University.”

Pauline Pyefinch has filled other roles too. She’s been a teacher aide, a gymnastics instructor and a tutor. ”I’m a Jack of All Trades really,” she chuckled, ”I’ve been a clown too.”

The role she’s playing in Repertory Theatre’s latest play in rehearsal, ‘Direct Hit’, is that of Tina. “ Tina’s the prompt in the play they’re rehearsing within the play, but she really wants to be a director. Her boyfriend’s been cheating on her so she’s gunning for him.”

What does she think of ‘Direct Hit‘, the play? “Well, it’s got a bit of everything in it, “she said. “It’s got a bit of drama and it’s got some comedy. Really exciting stuff happens”, she said.

I look forward to seeing what that exciting action is.

Russell Penton

Russell plays the part of Tony

Russell Penton
“This is the fifth show I’ve done with Repertory Theatre“, Russell Penton told me. “I was in the rehearsed readings earlier this year, the Heritage Weekend last year, ‘The Daylight Atheist‘ and the one we’ve just done this year, “Shenanigans' Wake’”.

Russell returned to New Zealand from Australia a year or two ago and has been active in Whanganui theatre ever since. While he was working in Sydney he managed to get a lot of work as a film extra. “I enjoyed that but there’s quite a lot of waiting around though”, he said.

In ‘Direct Hit' Russell is one of two males in the cast. “Well there’s me and the sound guy but you hear about him but you never actually see him. I really like being the only guy with all these gorgeous women around. My character is described as being pretty dishy too but really he’s a bit of a scoundrel two timing his girlfriend.”

Is he enjoying the rehearsals? “ Yes. I’m loving it!” Russell grinned.