Mates and Lovers: A review by Charlie Holland

Charlie, from Huia Publishers, recently won our Mates & Lovers competition. She won two tickets to the Wellington play and a copy of the book, in exchange for writing a review of the show. Here's what Charlie thought...

"Before I even start this review, I have to confess that I knew nothing of this play or the book of the same title written by Chris Brickell before entering the Booksellers competition. All I had in mind was an evening at the theatre on a Saturday night, considering it had been a while since I had treated myself to some good ole’ Kiwi entertainment.

Very pleased that I had won the tickets and a book, I thought it best to look at some of the reviews and write-ups about the play before heading along. The reviews were nothing but praise for the writer, director, actors and music composer – my interest was increasingly growing. There was one prominent factor that did become very apparent, Mates and Lovers, had a gay theme and that my knowledge of gay history was minimal.

Then I started to wonder if I should speed-read the book before seeing the play? I had two days; could I read it that fast? Would I understand the incidents being portrayed in the play?  Would I know what characters were being referred to? In the end I decided to go and just enjoy it.

I mentioned the play to my partner, who is usually averse to going within a five kilometre radius of a theatre and surprisingly said she would “love” to come. Four other friends decided to join us as well, so with seats secured, we all attended the final night of Mates and Lovers at Downstage Theatre in Wellington.

The play started with the two actors, Simon Leary and Paora Taurima, dancing and moving in such a way that at times they became one person. The music was nostalgic and I felt as though I were voyeuristically sharing the two men’s intimate space. The atmosphere suddenly changed as the actors began to portray life for gay men in very early New Zealand.

Starting in the 1700s and the European explorers with young Māori boys, the actors portray a series of different characters during different times. I did, however, enjoy how they commonly referred to Wellington landmarks like Miramar and Mt Victoria along with Wellington people such as Carmen and Fran Wilde who they named the dog after.

They also referred to the modern use of the iphone application ‘Grindr’– a step up from the coughing codes in public bathrooms. With the characters regularly posing for photographs throughout the play, it was a clever way of showing “snapshots” of history.  

The whole play was made up of so many “snapshots” that it would be too lengthy to mention all. They all seem to make up a mosaic of gay history, disjointedly connected to one another. I laughed at the war time singing, girls at the dock and the ‘brick letters’.

I was anxious and troubled at the “sheep-shaggers”, shootings and the night club brawl that resulted in the death of a young man. And, I had tears welling in my eyes by the character bathing his dying partner – their love was unconditional.

My friends and I agreed that if the Mates and Lovers ever came to Wellington again, we would definitely go see it a second time.