THE FACTORY is writer and director Vela Manusaute’s musical tribute to the Pacific Island people that migrated and worked in the factories of New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s. A simple morality tale is made into a memorable production through some truly spectacular singing.
The play opens with Kavana (Aleni Tufuga) and his daughter Losa (Milly Grant) leaving Samoa to a sublime choral farewell. The richness and harmony of the Samoan voices is electrifying. Kavana’s wife has been killed in a cyclone and Kavana and Losa are going to New Zealand, the land of milk and honey, so that they can work in a factory and send money back to their family. The importance of family is emphasised throughout the story.
Edward, the son of the factory manager takes an interest in Losa and this does not please either father. This venture into a Romeo and Juliet scenario adds some drama and intrigue to the production.
We meet the rest of the factory workers, all Pacific Islanders, and their story unfolds mostly through song, although there is Samoan and English dialogue. It is not necessary to understand Samoan as the dialogue is structured so that the story can be followed from the songs and the spoken English.
The songs range from modern catchy pop songs to typically extravagant musical fare but the wonderful harmonies and musicality of the singers lends a delightful cohesiveness to the performance. Some of the pop songs are reminiscent of the energy and cheeriness of the John Water’s musical Hairspray. There was a bluesy soulful number sung by some impressive female performers. A spine tingling highlight was a song featuring Milly Grant in which she not only displayed her wide vocal range, but sang with incredible feeling and tenderness.
The contributions of the original score by Poulima Salima, choreography by Amanaki Prescott, lighting and set design by Sean Coyle and musicians Glen Jackson, Poulima Salima and Swap Gomez all added greatly to the show.
The strong cast included Paul Glover, Ryan Bennett, Paul Fagamalo, Taofia Pelesasa, Tavai Faasvalu, Troy Tu’ua, Saipele Maika, Valentino Maliko, Joanna Mika-Toloa, Suivai Autagavaia, Nastassia Wolfgramm, Rosita Gibbons and Loma Teisi.
THE FACTORY has lots of energetic dance routines choreographed to the pop and disco tunes scattered through the performance. Add this to the humour and drama of the show and THE FACTORY makes for very entertaining music theatre.
THE FACTORY opened at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre on 18th June and plays until Saturday, 21st June. The show then moves to Canberra, Wollongong, the Gold Coast and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
For more information about THE FACTORY visit http://www.kilakokonutkrew.com/