It might be 100 years after the event but celebrating Prohibition era music and style is the aim of next month’s two speakeasy nights at Centrestage.
‘The Prohibition Playhouse: a speakeasy spectacle, of swing and secrets’ was born after Great Lake Big Band treasurer and alto sax player Hollie West noted that the 2020s were flying past and deserved a 1920s retrospective.
Director and Centrestage president Kylie Dumble agreed that after the “super successful collaboration last year on ‘The 39 Steps’ with the Taupō Concert Band,” Centrestage would be keen to team up again with another local music group.
“Hollie was saying the big band hadn't had a lot of opportunities to perform lately, especially with the Bras and Brass fundraiser being cancelled, and were keen to do something 1920s and I thought, yeah, we could do that.”
The happy meeting of the minds, both sober at the time, has resulted in the theatre being turned into a speakeasy – the type of illicit establishment that sold bootleg liquor during Prohibition.
“You will need to find the secret entrance and use a password to be let in,” Dumble said.
“Costume is encouraged – think Peaky Blinders, it's going to be rizty so get dolled up.”
The Centrestage wardrobe will be available for those who need to rent, but the group’s Facebook page will also demonstrate how to easily make a 1920s costume.
But one thing’s compulsory. “No ticket, no password. No password, no entry.”
The aim of the evening was to provide an immersive experience, said Dumble.
“Less of a sit down and watch performance… more of a club atmosphere. You can go to the bar and get a drink if you're not keen on that song, you can get up and dance, you can sit in the lounge and have a chat with your mates, but the entertainment is going to be top notch.”
The singers had been in Centrestage productions before, she said, such as Rent, Mamma Mia, The 39 steps, Jesus Christ Superstar.
“They're also people who are involved with the local music community. It's a real coming together of the two communities, theatre and music, because we have so much crossover.
“It's great to be able to do stuff together and let everybody stretch a little. The jazz band
will be doing some new arrangements which builds up their repertoire, and it's a good way for us both to show each other's audiences what we're up to and what we can do.”
The $45 tickets for the Prohibition Playhouse on Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30 at the Matai St Playhouse include dessert, tea and coffee, with bookings now open on Trybooking.
More information is available at www.centrestagetaupo.co.nz
