It must be homecoming season as a popular Queenstown dramatic duo returns to the Whakatipu this weekend.
Blaise and Sarah Barham spent over 20 years here before migrating to Dunedin, and are due back at Arrowtown’s Athenaeum Hall for two nights of a double bill ‘Evening of Comedy, Tragedy and Romance’.
Brought to Arrowtown by the Barhams’ production company, Sahara Breeze (SBZ), the line-up’s two shows are full of emotion and drama – Slawomir Mrozek’s Out at Sea and Wonderful by Richard Huber.
The former is an absurdist and satirical piece directed by Blaise, featuring Sarah on stage alongside performers Aimee Freeman, Brent Caldwell, and Chris Cook.
In Out at Sea. ‘Fat’, ‘Medium’, and ‘Thin’ are stranded at sea, deciding who should be eaten first using political and democratic manipulation and processes.
In Wonderful, the Barhams play Lady Hermione and her butler Roberts in England in the roaring ’20s, navigating ‘martinis, monocles, romance and fountains’.
Both production shave stellar reviews and have been great fun to tour, Blaise and Sarah agree, and they’re excited to perform them in a place where many of their friends still live and can be in the audience.
“I really hope Queenstown and Arrowtown haven’t forgotten us,” Blaise laughs.
The couple have spent the last few years in Dunedin studying post-graduate theatre and basically living in Allen Hall, but it’s paid off by their success so far.
“We’ve been really humbled by the amount of positive feedback we’re receiving.|
The Barhams are also taking the opportunity to use the double bill to raise funds for Ukraine – attendees can choose to donate on the night – as a nod to the themes of war and Eastern European influence in the two shows.
They reckon it’s a night for everyone, a little bit cartoon-ish, plenty of clever conversation, and a lot of outright humour.
‘An Evening of Comedy, Tragedy and Romance’, April 14 and 15, 7pm, Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall. Tickets $23.35 for students, $34.05 general admission via Eventfinda
