Embedded Files
Martine Baanvinger’s solo play Red Heavens portrays the true story of Angelina Moleta, an Italian pioneering immigrant whose fate is intertwined with the forces of nature, a bitter family feud and her deep connection with Wetekia Ruruku Elkington, a high-born Māori woman. The play is inspired by the book Angelina by New Zealand author Gerard Hindmarsh.
As a former Island Bay resident now retired and living in Whakatū, Te Tau Ihu, (Nelson) it was a thrill to see a wonderful piece of theatre that tells a story of both places.
Just like Angelina in Red Heavens, the story of Angelina Moleta, “home” is both places for Dave, our son Harry and me. And, Golden Bay where we have our family bach, was the artistic home for the play. ‘Red Heavens’ portrays the true story of Angelina Moleta, an Italian pioneering immigrant on Rangitoto/D’Urville Island, whose fate is intertwined with the forces of nature and her deep connection with a high-born Māori woman, Wetekia (Ruruku) Elkington.
Angelina (nee Criscillo) who grew up on the active volcanic island of Stromboli, is betrothed to her cousin Vincenzo Moleta at an early age. In 1906, he brings her as a 16-year-old to the even more remote Island, in the Marlborough Sounds.
Through hardship and an unlikely friendship, she grows into womanhood and motherhood. After the tragic death of their son, who, due to their isolation, dies of peritonitis on the island, Angelina convinced her husband to move closer to the Island Bay Stromboli community and settle in Berhampore. She lived out her life there, dying only three months after her beloved Vincenzo.
The bitter and beautiful tale is inspired by the bestselling book ‘Angelina’ by Golden Bay writer Gerard Hindmarsh, Angelina’s grandson. Martine Baanvinger, also from Golden Bay, does Gerard’s book and Angelina’s story proud.
Her masterful dramatisation coupled with the very clever use of simple props, complemented by striking lighting and evocative sound by another Golden Bay resident, Mark Manson, sweeps you up into the life of Angelina. You can see smell and hear the raw beauty of Rangitoto/ D’Urville in the performance.
It also gives a rich insight into the lives of the Stromboli people, including tips for making pasta, how to keep your husband happy and how to get around him by making him think what you want is a good idea. There is also much made of Angelina’s glory box, the contents of which were too good to bring out into the harsh world on the island. I was once privileged to be shown an Island Bay
Stromboli woman’s glory box, like Angelina’s, untouched because the beautiful work was too good to use.
Playing to a full house at Nelson’s Theatre Royal, Baanvinger wowed the audience, many of whom took to their feet in a standing ovation. The show has toured the country to critical acclaim and attracting people descended from both the Moleta and Elkington families. This is their story, and it’s our story as a country told in a simple and moving way.
Google Sites
Report abuse