Allo’ Allo’, Prada Americas Cup, and Christmas Lights 2020
|Stroke Rehab
In my search of events for All-Things-Christmas 2020, I found so much to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas in Auckland.
We'd been to the Melbourne Cup 2020 races at Ellerslie racecourse, on a beautiful November day, full of eye-catching couture of spring colours, not to mention fashionista hats.
The Prada America's Cup World Series yacht races was sure to be a different, not to be repeated spectacle in December for the 2020 festive season, amongst so many other events. Christmas markets, pop-up festive stalls at strategic spaces, Christmas tales & ballet at the theatres, neon Christmas Lights etc.
‘Allo ‘Allo: A little bit of France in New Zealand?
It was quite by chance, that I found 'Allo 'Allo Le Dinner show being advertised, just browsing through the entertainment lists like the gig guide in Auckland for Christmas. It was billed as 'Allo 'Allo: Le Christmas Dinner Show: The Fallen Madonna' – imagine that, an 1980's revival, right in our own backyard.
We have many fond memories of live stage performances in London when we used to live in the UK during the 90’s era. Christmas/New Year-time was an excellent time to visit the many theatres that advertised stage-shows, as the festive season drew many away from the centre of London so excellent seats were plentiful. This show in Auckland sounded just great... it should be fun to go.
made a xmas fascinator for the performance, with french blue-white-red spirals
So real… actress looks very like ‘edith’ {carmen silvera} of the original cast.. sounds just like her too…
For those that are perhaps too young to know the significance of 'Allo 'Allo, it had a 'cult' following in the UK, when we lived in London in the pre-2000's. 'Allo 'Allo was a very popular British sitcom on TV; everyone, who was an afficionado could readily recite the words of his or her favourite cast member who had unique catchphrases in the series. It later evolved into the stage-play, and we were fortunate to watch it 'live' at The Palladium, in London in 1992.
The gist of the original sitcom: ...there was the lovable René, played by Gorden Kaye who portrayed the character really well. His cafe in a little cobbled street in a French village, was used by the French Resistance as a safe-house for British airmen. Covert operations under the guise of just normal day-to-day goings-on, and obvious caricature of the cast: sexy French maids, René's caterwauling wife Edith, the supercilious Herr Flick of the Gestapo, a bungled theft, stern fraulein, and more; the mind really boggled. The comedic shenannigans that came with it were hilarious, double entendres delivered with a straight-face. The cast were at the top of their game.
What could we expect with the 'Allo 'Allo Le Dinner Show 2020 in December, I wonder? Being end-of-year, the show could be a tongue-in-cheek date, a French-colours-red-beret work party, a birthday event, or a Anniversary bash... 'Allo 'Allo : Le Dinner Show was billed as a top-of-the-line comedy and classic French cuisine as the bonus. Ooo, can't wait.
When the day dawned of the show, it was bright and hot during the day though a bit of a cool breeze when the sun had set. A more intimate space than the shows we had been to in the past, it was held at Parnell Conference Centre, which was a hotel as well.
It included a three course meal in between acts, just as if you were 'live' at Cafe René, of 'Allo 'Allo fame; great thinking on the part of the organisers of the event. There was no need to be concerned about being breathalysed, on journeys home after the show, if you were staying at the hotel, or an 'uber' could easily be found for taxi-rides; which was fantastic.
Dressed in colours of the French flag - our 'Allo 'Allo evening started with a bang even before the actual show began - ... 'Edith' and 'Yvette' greeted the patrons (us) larger-than-life in costume at the door of the Cafe René.
The cast gave a stupendous performance, and immediately enveloped us in an intrigue during war-time France – a game of espionage, secrecy, innuendos for which 'Allo 'Allo is very justly famous. What has befallen the...Fallen Madonna ..?
It was uproaring, hilarously fun evening, with the each meal course served between acts, as a great buffer and talking point, for what was to come next. The meal was deliciously, freshly prepared, crisp greens, poached to perfection salmon; mains had choices of chicken, plus deliciously done Au Gratin et Ail, (a French classic), scalloped creamy garlic potatoes.
And meats - mouth-watering and succulent. Dessert was light and refreshing, just the thing for a warm balmy night in Auckland.
It was certainly a night to remember. In next to no time, it was already 10.30pm – the night of entertainment was due to close at Cafe René. It felt as if we were still in war-time France, and the French resistance would be thrown into disarray for ever imagining that they would thrive, survive, win through, and outwit the Germans...
Would we be there again, next time... of course, it was a such a brilliant, pleasurable way of spending the festive season 2020, just before Christmas, the stellar performance of the whole cast. In a way, it seemed kind of surreal to be eating & drinking and be quite merry, when half the world away, lockdowns were probable for the Christmas period 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic....
![The prime suspects [Prime productions ltd]click image to go to their facebook page](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5604eff6e4b07f7a3e2c2067/1608625189196-YVYWDXIRZ8X721ULWQRD/prime-productions-allo-allo.png)
The prime suspects [Prime productions ltd]
click image to go to their facebook page
Americas Cup Village 2020: Auckland Viaduct Harbour
Next, was the Prada America's Cup racing in Auckland, again, just on our doorstep. In the City of Sails, Auckland was the place to be, down at the waterfront where the Viaduct harbour and surrounding area has been renamed ‘Americas Cup Village’ for the duration of the yacht racing. The competition is actually the main event in Feb/March that is preceded by two supporting events.
First the Prada America's Cup World Series In December where all the boats (current Cup defender plus all the contender boats) , compete in a round-robin format over three days, with the fourth a special Christmas Day event as a knockout competition.
Second is the Contender competition in January, to decide who will race against the defender (i.e. Emirates Team NZ) named the Prada Cup,Friday 15 January – Monday 22 February 2021.
The main event boat versus boat for the prized Americas Cup trophy, will be contested until mid March 2021 (6-15, 2021, weather permitting). The Viaduct is the perfect location for Americas Cup: originally working maritime wharves and a fuel tank farm, it changed to high-class marina facilities, entertainment and events during the late-2000s, and has improved more since then.
The Americas Cup boat sheds (aircraft hanger - size) for each boat and crew are clearly visible which give spectators a visceral experience of being very close to the action.
Viaduct Marina, Wynyard Quarter, walking and cycling Te Wero bridge at Wynyard Crossing, stretching across to Silo Park area and more .. are a few of the names of the entertaiment district at Viaduct Harbour, and of course the spectacular Skytower, lit-up at night with ethereal colours.
Prada Americas Cup World Series in Auckland
''… The PRADA America's Cup World Series will take place from the 17th -19th of December, followed by PRADA Christmas Race, on the 20th of December. The awesome yacht racing weekend, is on glorious Waitemata Harbour: the course ranges from up towards Takapuna and Milford beaches, to the other direction to Mission Bay and beyond. In fact, part of the Prada America's Cup course could extend toward Beachlands & Maraetai …! This weekend of racing will mark the start of an great summer of America’s Cup action in Auckland... '': the headline news.
Te Rehutai, {Maori for “the sea spray”}, is NZ's answer to the defence of Prada America's Cup. Streamlined and sleek, aerodynamic 75 foot foiling monohulls, the iconic Americas Cup yacht's spectacular shape is brand new. Showcasing the design-teams' phenomenal effort, in magnificent Waitemata Harbour, Te Rehutai seemed to whisk lithely through the air, delicately balancing on a thin high tech foil just below the water’s surface - quiet as a whisper. Some say that boats were likely to reach in excess of 50 knots – it'll be amazing to watch as the only one where all four teams (Italy, the United States, NZ and the UK) get to compete in the pre-Christmas regatta.
Where in is best place to get good photos of the America's Cup action? Big TV monitors were there to give updates of the action at various open-air venues, such as Aotea Square, in the centre of the CBD. So we had a mission to find some vantage points along some of the courses on Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, time and opportunity permitting. There are five courses marked out for the Americas Cup regattas, to be decided on depending on the prevailing wind conditions
all the courses are close to land
* The action photos were taken by me, (One-Handedly) on my compact Sony camera, is not a professional SLR, and with my left hand (was a right-hander before my brain-haemorrhage/stroke). Full zoom extension (where tiny trembles generally show up as major wobbles, even with shake suppression switched on), the boats were 500m to 750m away from shore - I'm improving. By the way, all cameras are right handed. Murray only had one comment: ‘wow, these are amazing -you have outstanding balance and patience to get these shots… great effort’.
Prada Americas Cup World Series Day1, Course C was chosen, closest to Auckland CBD with Mission Bay, Orakei, Tamaki Drive, having a clearest viewpoint. Four races will be sailed on the opening day with racing set up between Rangitoto Island and Orakei/Wharf, between Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, to start off.
Day 2 of the World Series Cup, the race organisers chose Course C again: Mission Bay, Orakei. The first race pitched the ranking leader American Magic against the Italians of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. The boats came quite close to shore, as I was filming I had quite a good view...
Day 3 saw the wind shift dramatically, so they moved the final day (World Series) of racing to Course B, on the north shore of Auckland City. Leaving home a little late, we arrived to find most of the spare car spaces taken, so it was either park a long way from any good location to take photos from (and walk there), or go home, or get lucky. Lucky favours the persistent; idling just across from the beach, and 5 minutes later someone thankfully drove out of their space just in front of us! A likely looking spot to take photos was about 50 metres away, though it meant my having to walk on grass verges leading on to the beach. Doing a balancing act as the grass-verge was sloping [my legbrace: a lasting reminder of my haemorrhage/stroke - level is fine, sloping ground is a challenge], and clutching my new camera, we stationed ourselves next to beach-goers having a BBQ.
Stands of iconic Pohutukawa trees, traditionally called NZ-Christmas trees as they bloom profusely at Christmas, graced the scene. What a treat to be having Prada Americas Cup World Series and Christmas races in 2020, in Auckland. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team up against INEOS TEAM UK first race to start off. Te Rehutai, the name of Emirates Team NZ boat, after many trials and tribulations, won the Day 3 round robin races and ultimately the Prada Americas Cup World Series Regatta. An exciting summer of racing awaits in Prada Americas Cup 2021...
In this new age of ultra-high tech sailing, one mis-judgement could be the balance between losing an opening, or gaining the advantage, … overtaking with adroit manoeuvres to win the day, upwind or downwind, but then a botched tack or jibe… anything could happen.
Speed, strategy, light wind conditions could favour some teams. Reliance on foils was definitely the way to go, but hydraulic issues beset more than one of the teams, nearly capsizing them when least expected, almost loss of control of the boat – it was exhilarating to watch, this high speed sailing expertise on show, where things happened so quickly you dare not blink otherwise you could miss the action.
Christmas Lights Auckland 2020
Night-time scenes of Americas Cup Village in Viaduct Harbour and also dotted around close to the Central business district Auckland are various glittery collections of Christmas lights, visible from afar.
During our London days, the Oxford Street & Regent Street Christmas lights were a major highlight, as there was great anticipation before the big Switch On as to what lighting designs were to be unveiled – would they be based on the previous year or something fresh altogether.
The Skytower Auckland as a backdrop looked almost ethereal, lit-up at times with different colours and hues which made each photo very dramatic and unique. The Christmas-light-installation on the Skytower-area was avant-garde and exciting, perhaps opposed to the London's Christmas lights which may be a more traditional – great fun for all the family to enjoy. Festive Christmas 'bauble'/globes, of varying sizes, many of which were dotted around in the shopping centres and outside pavilions – great for a rainbow splash of cheery, Christmas-colour.
Awesome Skytower Fireworks for New Year Eve? - a light-show spectacular; fantastic way to bring in the New Year 2021.
Wherever you went in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic will put a different look on the festive celebrations. Whether it be a 'soft' or 'hard' lockdown, or anything else in-between, its going to be a new COVID-altered reality for Christmas 2020, and during the early part of next year..
But in the meantime, from us to you, have a Warm, Safe & Joyous Christmas, and a Fantastic New Year 2021.
