The Second Test is based on the true story of the New Zealand cricket team that headed to South Africa late in 1953. This was a big year for the country - the Queen visited, Hilllary climbed Everest, and in the middle of the second cricket test in South Africa, the the Tangiwai rail disaster rocked the nation, and more immediately for this story, it rocked touring cricketer Bob Blair. But life, and the game, goes on.
This play, a revised version of 1953, which was staged last year, tells the story of Blair and his team mates as they make their way to South Africa, and that cricket match. Yes, this is a play about cricket, but it is more than that. It is a one-man play in the sense that there is one performer (Brugh, who also wrote the piece), but you meet several characters, from Prime Minister Sidney Holland to a South African driver. Also featured is film shot by team members, which adds to the story telling quite nicely.
What did I think? Well, if the measure of a good play is whether or not it moves you, then The Second Test is a good play. I smiled and laughed, and yes, there were moments where I had very ladylike tears upon my cheeks. Now, I am a weeper, so I don't imagine all the audience were similarly affected, but at the very least I'd except them to have been moved/touched.
I guess with a cricket team with a history of losing, and there were bound to comedic moments, but I really wasn't expecting to quietly chuckle as much as I (and the rest of the audience) did. There are some very clever moments, and I loved the shipboard conversation about "catching". You'll understand that if you see it! I offer my congratulations to Jonny Brugh and all those involved,
If you'd like more background to the story, you can listen to an interview with Jonny Brugh from the archives for Radio NZ's Arts on Sunday program.
Extra shows have been added for The Second Test, so you have until Saturday 27 February. Check out THE EDGE website for ticket details. I think you'll enjoy those 80 minutes more than you would a drawn out cricket test.
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