Popular reprise for rugby comedy

JULIA WADE

10 Apr, 2021

If the idea of watching a bunch of rugby-playing country men tipto in tutus and do their best to perform delicate ballet moves all for a good cause sounds like a fun night out, then Waipu is the place to be in late April.

Penalties, Pints and Pirouettes, a play by local writing talent and Waipu dairy farmer Neil Troost is set to take to the stage of Waipu’s Coronation Hall on six nights over two weeks, from April 20-29, and with two thirds of the tickets already sold, it’s proving popular and well-supported by locals.

Directed by Blair Strang, the comical story unfolds with a group of rugby club guys  – including Neil – who find themselves training for a ballet performance at the local PTA variety night, by a gay man who they thought was going to be a hot dance teacher called Kelly: ‘While stumbling through rehearsals and their personal lives our reluctant heroes finally work out that maybe Kelly and ballet are the best thing that has happened to them and their recession-damaged town. But is it too late for them to pull things together without dropping the ball on opening night?’

Comedy is a common theme for wordsmith Neil, who has penned seven plays with storylines exploring the funny side of life from farcical relationship mishaps in Desperate and Dateless to the mischief of imaginary friends in Crazy for You, to the intriguing drama Blame it on the Ball, involving detention-bound teenagers and a crime which cancelled the school dance.

The 52-year-old father of two, Lucy 12 and Flynn 9, and husband to Kathy says Penalties, Pints and Pirouettes was actually written over 18 years ago, after he became inspired by the Waipu rugby team rendition of Swan Lake in a community fundraising variety show.

“It was first performed in 2008 and I played the lead, ‘loose forward Tony’. This time round, the lead is played by Johnny Fetelika, as I, having aged 15 years, am now playing ‘tight forward Henry’,” he says. “It is exciting to see my words come alive on the stage and see how the director has put their own flair on the story.”

Drawing inspiration from life around him, Neil often jots down notes of funny jokes or situations he happens to come across for future reference and says most of his characters start out as mixtures of people he has met, ‘until they take on a life of their own.’

“Though initially plot-driven, PPP soon became driven by the characters, in order to flesh out the storyline,” he says. “Actually, the best part of writing is when the characters do take over the story and I can't type fast enough to keep up with what they are saying. This doesn't always happen, but when it does, I know I'm onto something special.”

n Tickets for Penalties, Pints and Pirouettes can be found at trybooking.com, but get in quick as they are going fast.

Donning a tutu to bring his character to life or is it just another day on the farm? ‘Tight forward Henry’ aka Waipu dairy farmer/playwriter Neil Troost, getting ready to take to the stage for his comical play, Penalties, Pints and Pirouettes. PHOTO/SUPPLIED