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Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: A Forbidden Love - Review Louisa Tipene Opetaia

Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: A Forbidden Love
Aueeeee e te tau… the forlorn lover’s cry rings through the theatre at the start of the
performance - a familiar heartfelt lament that anyone who has lost a loved one can
relate to. What has happened? Kia rite… prepare yourself for the unique retelling of
this well known pūrākau.
Hatupatu - aue he haututū ia! The youngest of three brothers who are also his
tormentors. You were bullied. We get it! Eds Eramiha captures the child-like qualities
of this pōtiki who will never be equal to his tuakana. He also demonstrates the fierce
qualities and haka expertise needed for his character while being endearing enough
to earn the love of Kurungaituku.
Kasina Campbell is the bird-woman, the kaitiaki of the birds, lizards and ngāngara.
With her claws, beak and screeching cry, she embodies the āhua of ngā manu. But
she is also a woman - feminine, ethereal and prone to the charms of the handsome
young warrior. She captures our hearts as she seduces Hatupatu - playing with him
in her lair. Sizing him up, flirting, feeding, and entrancing him. Her upside down entry
into his cage and their first contact rivals that of Spider-Man and Mary Jane locking
lips for the first time. Phew! This couple’s chemistry is electric!
Hatupatu and Kurungaituku consummate their relationship quickly and powerfully.
Forbidden love forges a strong trauma bond but these two are so different - it can
only ever end in heartbreak. Resentment, anger, love and hate lead us to the
inevitable tragic and violent conclusion but along the way we are thoroughly
entertained.
The immersive experience involves gravity defying feats and audience interaction
that places us right in the thick of the drama. The lighting, sound, costumes, and
makeup help to transport us to ancient times, back and forth from the spirit and
supernatural world. Aerial theatre is new for me. After I got over my initial safety
concerns for the actors and crew, I was able to let myself truly experience the
wonder of the tale they tell.
The graceful bird woman, the buzzing flies, the enchanting miromiro - the actors who
play these characters embody them so completely that they are no longer human.
When Hatupatu incurs the wrath of Kurungaituku - only magic can save him. His
means of escape from her rage is to hide in a rock, secure from her fury and deadly
sharp claws. The rock can still be seen today on the side of State Highway 1 near
Ātiamuri. Standing as a symbol of love gone wrong.
Hey Reddit! AITA? Am I The Asshole? I (21M) killed the pets of my love
because she pissed me off. She chased me so I hid in a rock and then I killed
her.
Verdict: YTA Sorry e Hā. You’re The Asshole!
Hatupatu’s name lives on in our minds but it is Kurungaituku that left a lasting
impression on my heart.
I shouldn’t have to worry about spoilers for this review because every kid that grew
up in Aotearoa should know about Hatupatu and the Bird Woman - but I guarantee
that you’ve never seen the story told like this before! Move like the Bird Woman is
pursuing you and get your tickets to one of the remaining shows right away!

Hatupatu | Kurungaituku: A Forbidden Love - Review Mike Ross

Hurō e hoa mā! Attending this production was a joy. It’s a story with Te Arawa roots but a classical Māori frame. It’s central characters are Hatupatu and a supernatural creature named Kurungaituku. Hatupatu, played by Eds Eramiha, is a lighthearted, youthful, rascal who engages with the audience. His physical presence, self belief and melodic voice owned the stage (and fluttered hearts of some in the audience). However to his older brothers he is a careless, over confident, nuisance and they speak to and treat him that way.

Kurungaituku (Kasina Campbell) is a stunning bird like character. She is strong, assertive, confident and heroic. She controls her world and her nobility is portrayed in her movement. Almost in contrast to Hatupatu she is intentional, thoughtful, elegant and powerful. She sits in elevated places and as an observer chooses when to fly into this world.

Through a series of events Kurungaituku is attracted to Hatupatu and a relationship develops.

The show is economical in words and rich in movement. It is a sensory experience, which moves through a sequence of events conveyed in the tone of voices, in the Māori language, the cries and movement of our birds, our waiata, haka body messages on the stage and in the air, accompanied by light and sound. It is present in the chase that came into the audience, flew through the air, and traversed worlds, yesterday and today, at times frantic in pace and then in slow-motion.

These elements have the hand prints of both Tānemahuta Gray, the artistic director and Wētini Mītai-Ngātai, the kapa haka choreographer. Their ideas are embodied by performers and a stage crew who adeptly move across, along, below, above and hang suspended in space as a stage. It is professional, with each word, movement, audio, visual transition designed to hold the audiences attention.

Ko ngā pūrākau tuku iho, whitia e te rā, whakaoreorengia e te tinana, pararē te waha ki te kōrero kia mōhio mai kei te ora tonu tātou. Kāti, rere atu rā e te manu hōkioi, rere atu rā ki te taumata.