Christchurch season a sell-out success!
We sold out all three nights of Angel at The Loons, and had to put on an extra show Saturday afternoon. Here’s what The Press reviewer Alan Scott had to say about the show: 
Angel was an exceedingly accomplished piece of theatre. It is a mime drama with elements of circus. One hour long, and with just one performer, it had the audience completely absorbed. Performer Olli Ricken had you captivated, but what was special was the complete integration of her mime with the beautifully evocative piano music that accompanied it. Musician Arielle Atman’s seemingly intuitive response to the drama gave an extra dimension to the show. Ricken, dressed as an angel with a clown’s red nose, is actually a fallen angel who plummets to Earth in the opening seconds of the drama. With her wings torn off and stranded in this vale of tears we call Earth, she begins her search for the way home. She clowns, she mimes, she dances and she balances, conjuring up different scenarios in her struggle to reach heaven again. At one point she even tries to blow herself up, suicide-bomber style. Ricken’s strength is her ability to always be completely in the moment, to use that old theatre phrase. Whether smiling or crying, her face has a believable intensity, and when you add in her masterful physicality, you have a gifted storyteller. Director Lucette Hindin has clearly shaped the story into a dramatic whole that is very coherent, as well as theatrically refined … Angel was certainly a delightful piece of theatre and Ricken is a very skilled performer.
Angel turns Suicide Bomber
An angel, trapped on earth, has resorted to terrorist activities in order to return to her natural state of loving bliss. The angel, known to the public only as “Angel,” has made an internet broadcast claiming that “we are all entitled to be loved unconditionally for who we really are” and that she will be “doing all of humanity a favour” if she carries out her explosive plans.
Angel is a funny and touching contemporary clowntheatre show. Created by the most talented of Christchurch’s independent circus, theatre and music artists, Angel takes an irreverent and playful look at modern spiritual alternatives.
Angel tells the story of an angel fallen to earth and longing to return to heaven. A sweetness pervades the piece as the angel discovers and pursues earthly ways of achieving enlightenment.
Three uniquely talented women have brought their expertise together in the creation of Angel: Olli Ricken (circus tutor at Christchurch Polytech) is masterful as the angel, gifting the audience a depth that her 17 years of experience in clowntheatre and circus allow her. Lucette Hindin (the clinic) brings to the piece her unique skill and ten years of professional experience creating cutting edge and beautiful devised theatre. Arielle Atman, intuitive pianist, has created music for Angel which on its own would satisfy an audience for an hour. Angel catches these three at the height of their creative careers. Angel is a funny, thoughtful, and expertly delivered piece of theatre.
Glistening Arts presents
Angel
The Loons Theatre
18, 19 and 20 February 8pm
16 Canterbury St, Lyttelton
ph. 328 8230
Wellington: Bats Theatre
6 March, 9 – 13 March 6:30 pm
Preview 6 March 4pm ($12 and $10)
Full $16, Concession $13
Bookings at Bats ph 802 4175
Contact
Olli Ricken 021 175 3512
Lucette Hindin 021 175 9845
ANGEL
Angel is a new circus/theatre performance to be created by Olli Ricken (actor) and Lucette Hindin (director). We hope to premiere it at The Wellington Fringe Festival in March 2010 and thereafter tour it in New Zealand and overseas.
Synopsis
An Angel falls to earth. Hoping to find his way back to heaven, he searches his environment and the people he encounters: “Can you help me find my way back to heaven?” His child-like search leads him on a journey through humankind’s spirituality, trying everything on offer to reach enlightenment and attain the “stairway to heaven” only to find heaven on earth and perfection in the here and now.
Angel will be a beautiful, professional, entertaining and original show. The combined talent and experience of Olli and Lucette means this performance will be a surprising and delightful creation – Angel offers an innovative perspective on a universal theme, an uplifting night out, as simple as it is deep.
