Thoroughly Modern Maui
16th October 2022
ToiToi, Hastings, New Zealand.
Review by Rob Harbers. Feature photograph by Khalid Parkar.
In the space of a scant hour, all-round entertainer Rutene Spooner managed to make the stage his home, while welcoming an invited audience in for a good korero about some of the issues (still) facing Maori today – all coated in honeyed glitter.
In his own words, “The lovechild of Shirley Bassey and Prince Tui Teka”, Rutene took his guests on a musical journey that evoked the spirit of Maui, while calling on the same warrior spirit to assist with contemporary challenges. In a similar way to Tami Neilson’s show presented in the same setting a couple of years ago, this is a piece that deals with some hard truths, and deserves a wide audience. But the medicine is assisted in its digestion by a spoonful of sugar, in the form of original music sung in Rutene’s powerful voice and assisted by his backing band, Pork Bones and Harmony. Also a strong element of humour – in one highlight, the last few years being described as ones we might have bought from Wish!
The issues confronted all had a common source, that being the ever-giving bundle of joy that is racism, but it was different outpourings of this that informed the material Racial profiling, assimilation (and the loss of identity that this can entail), mispronunciation of Te Reo – these were but some of the themes dealt with. And while they were all delivered with exquisite grace and aplomb, there was at the same time a clear sense of the toll of such onslaughts – the awareness that behind the jesting lies some uncomfortable truths. Truths that need to be exposed, brought out in to the light, where they can be dealt with.
It is a quote that has many fathers that “the job of …. is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable” and this is a mission proudly borne by this show. While not acknowledged as much as it deserves, there is still a strong underpinning of racism – from the institutional to the interpersonal at play in this country, for all the superficial pretence to its absence. And it is material such as this that serves to expose it, and thus needs to be seen by as many people as possible. But again, there is an entertainment value as well – keeping this well clear of being a lecturing harangue. In the words of John Cleese “If I can get you to laugh with me, you like me better, which makes you more open to my ideas. And if I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth” – and that lies at the heart of this show.
So after what, for me at least, was something of a false start to the Festival, now we’re on track! Exposing us to what we otherwise wouldn’t be – that is the job of an Arts Festival, and this show delivered that. From the depths to the heights in the space of 48 hours – such is redemption, and a great inspiration to be looking out for the next show. Bring them on!
Were you there at ToiToi for this Hawkes Bay Arts Festival gig? Or have you seen Rutene Spooner perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Note: Ambient Light was provided a pass to review this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only.
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