1. Weekend | Saturday, September 17, 2016
7
HIghlights included
electric bikes;
Flagstaff Hill and its
sundial; the Duke of
Marlborough and
Haruru Falls. Pictures
. Ellie Hutchinson
SEA LEVELTOSKY HIGH
(Package price from $680)
Flying Kiwi Parasail
You can see the Bay of Islands from about 360m
high with Flying KiwiParasail. Single or tandem
flights take offfrom the back of their boat’s deck.
Felix and Johnny are safety consciousandwill
only take you out when the conditions are just
right so it’s best to book at the beginningof your
visit in case they need to pop you into another
time slot.It’s worth waiting for stunning
weather. “New Zealand’s highest parasail
experience” provides viewsright out to Kerikeri
and Motu Kokako, the island with the Holein
the Rock. Dolphinsfrequent the area so it is
likely you’ll meet some frolicking inthe calm
waters.
Coastal Kayaking
Felix doubles as kayak guide, taking morning
and afternoon tours up the Waitangi(weeping
waters) River. The double kayakmakes for afun
trip. Isat back and relaxed as my partner
negotiated the sheltered mangroves that provide
their own little ecosystem, where oystersgrow
inabundance and native birds nest. It’s
approximately a one and ahalf hour paddle to
the magnificent Haruru (big noise) Falls, where
the water cascades over horseshoe-shaped cliffs
—very impressive whenviewed up close from
akayak.
Don’t worry ifyou get covered in sea spray,
there’s time to dry off while Felix makes you a
hot drink beforeheading back downstream.
apo.co.nz
OPEN ORCHESTRA WEST
West Side Beats
2-4pm, Saturday 24 September
The Trusts Arena, Waitakere
Join the APO for an interactive orchestral experience!
Orchestral classics, including Sibelius’ superb Finlandia and Hedwig’s Theme from
Harry Potter, will be performed alongside a new classical/hip hop crossover song
featuring REMIXERS from APO’s award-winning REMIX the Orchestra project.
No bookings required. See apo.co.nz for full programme details.
Thesound
ofmusicals
Beyond the Barricade performers (from left) Julie-Alanah Brighten, David Fawcetter, Katie Leeming and Andy Reiss
are going beyond New Zealand’s main centres. Picture / Andy Reiss
A tour by West End
performers will bring
show-stopper tunes
to smaller venues
Performance
What: Beyond the Barricade
Where and when: 21-city New
Zealand tour begins Turner Centre,
Kerikeri; Tuesday, September 20.
In Auckland, Great Hall, Auckland
Town Hall, September
24 and 25.
I
fyou’re going to travel to the other
side of the world to perform, you might as
well make it worthwhile. The singers with
Beyondthe Barricade are doing
just that.
The past principal performers
from the West End’s Les
Miserables —Andy Reiss,
David Fawcett, Katie Leeming
and Beauty and the Beast’s
Julie-Alanah Brighten —
appearat21New Zealand
venues from Kerikeri to
Invercargill.
Though they’ve done many
performances from the likes of The
Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys,
Evita, Wicked, Miss Saigon, West Side Story,
MammaMia,JesusChristSuperstar and The
Lion King, this is their most extensive tour.
Reiss, who has playedmany roles inLes
Miserables, including Jean Valjean, was
surrounded by suitcases and preparing to fly to
New Zealand whenhespoke to Weekend about
the trip.
“It’s going to be afantastic experience which
allows us to see as much of the country as possible
and perform to as many people as we can while
we’re there. “We certainly intendtomake the
most of it.”
Reiss helped start Beyond the Barricade some
17 years ago, originally as afundraiserfor
charity. The idea caught on withregular British
and Europeanperformances throughto shows
on ships includingthe Queen Elizabeth, Queen
Mary 2and Queen Victoria. Last year the show
toured Asia for the first time withperformances
in Manila, SingaporeandHongKong.
“These are solid pieces of music
thattell stories people love, but it
does surprise me that they
continue to be sopopular all
aroundthe world because some
go right back to the 1950s, 60s
and 70s,” Reiss says. “It’s
wonderful to know they stand
the test of time . . . and that
there is an internationalbase, a
well of interest,inmusical
theatre.”
Does he have afavourite? He names
West Side Story,due in Auckland next June, as
one of his favourite shows, but is loyal to Les
Mis.“In terms of the amountofenjoyment I’ve
had from Les Mis, it would be remissof me not
to includeit.”
Dionne Christian
● Meet one of the new stars of SweeneyTodd:
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,coming home
forhis first major NZ role. Seenzherald.co.nz