What: Hinewai
Venue: The Meteor
On: 20 & 21 February 2020
This year the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival has cast its net wide to encompass other city venues thereby sidestepping anything Tāwhiri-mātea (the god of wind and storms) could throw at it. The relaxed and good nature of the Festival was also transported to The Meteor and accordingly the convivial audience was not phased by a delayed start to Hinewai.
Hine was advertised as ‘reclaiming the sacredness of Papatūānuku, Earth Mother, through ceremony, dance and waiata.’ If only sisters and writers Whetu and Komako Silver had known when preparing the blurb that Hine would be acknowledged with a standing ovation, heartfelt karakia and waiata enveloping the cast and audience as one at its conclusion, that would have been the icing on the cake.
Hine used a mix of storytelling techniques including short monologues, poetry, music, contemporary dance and kapa haka. Traditional Maori instruments, taonga puoro, were present from the start and later a violin and electric guitar tastefully accompanied the ancestral sounds of Aotearoa.
A simple set was enhanced by mesmerising projection, and the ocean footage was particularly captivating. The overriding message of Hine was of humankind’s need to make a change and help heal the world in which we live.
However, the script had light moments too, particularly the local references to ‘H-Town Hard’ and ‘MLV’. Clever writing and direction meant that the audience could either enjoy the spectacle or become fully absorbed in the nuances and messages within the sincere performance.
The Silver sisters and their extended Hine whānau should be proud of their mahi. Hine was a poignant experience that is likely to sit within the psyche of the audience for seasons to come.
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