Modern Maori Quartet – Two Worlds

The Modern Maori Quartet return to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival after their successful debut in 2018.  Looking dapper in their red and black outfits they could cut it with the ‘rat pack’ but their roots are firmly in the Maori tradition of singalong parties.

They bring us a tale ‘between two worlds’, a story of four men in a kind of purgatory waiting between death and the eternal afterlife. The booming female god-like voice requests each of them tell their story, to end their waiting.

The resulting stories are relatable to all of us but also provide a gentle reminder of the plight of indigenous populations across the globe. There is the story of unrequited love, finally fulfilled, only to be thwarted by health issues, sadly so common in indigenous people. There is the soldier who left his loved one dead on the battlefield and returned to a life where his war efforts and his sexuality went unrecognised. There is the man plagued by his ethnicity in a white man’s world, a man who turns to the bottle. And there is the young Maori who leaves his home for the city and university only to be overwhelmed by the stresses of modern society and its expectations.

While the subject matter could be considered less than cheerful, the group has skilfully crafted a show that is held together with uplifting music and song, much of which is performed in Te Reo Maori.  The quartet is to be commended for their rousing harmonies.  They essentially perform acapella, supported only by an acoustic guitar or beats drummed out on a tea chest.

There is some clever stage direction and the show is a fine example of how a simple setting can be used to full advantage by an intelligent lighting design.

Two Worlds sends a subtle message in an engaging and fun show. These lads are brimming with talent, harmonies, stage presence and pride in their heritage.

Let’s hope they make 2020 a hat trick at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Jenny Fewster

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