Matters Thespian

We get off the point for a moment. And then Liam Neeson gets us back on track.

We have received polite enquiries as to what the Proprietor has been up to lately. Apart from mucking about in the vineyard, berating obstreperous animals, etc.

The answer is that he has been pretty busy ...

Late last year, two movies:

The Vow -- Director Michael Sucsy, with Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum, Jessica Lang, Scott Speedman, Jessica McNamee. Shot in Toronto in the fall.

The Hunter -- Director Daniel Nettheim. With Willem Dafoe and Frances O’Connor. Shot in Tasmania pre-Christmas.

Then a pilot:

Alcatraz --  Producer JJ Abrams, Creator Liz Sarnoff, Director Danny Cannon, with Sarah Jones, Jorge Garcia, Jonny Coyne, Parminder Nagra. Shot Jan - Feb in Vancouver and San Francisco.

Then, astonishingly, the old laggard was seen on the Stage, in Toa Fraser’s play Bare at the Civic Theatre, Auckland (proceeds to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal), with Ian Mune, Rhys Darby, Lucy Lawless, Anthony Starr, Keisha Castle-Hughes,  Annie Whittle, Ian Hughes, Kirk Torrance, David Fane, Morgana O’Reilly, Curtiss Vowell, Michael Hurst, Don McGlashan, and more.

We say astonishingly, because this is the first time the Prop has appeared on stage in 33 years! This may be some sort of record in malingering and general actor-slackness ...

Back on the point, there were Two Paddocks enthusiasts in the casts and crews of all four productions. Quite a lot actually.

And, just to drop another name, our in – house statistician has run the numbers and the results are in -- it’s official -- our friend and colleague Liam Neeson has drunk more Two Paddocks this year than even the Proprietor. Well done that Man!

Next week the Prop is off to Singapore to a major wine event, the Berghound in Asia Symphony of Wine and Flavours, and then on to Hong Kong to see distributors and clients, and several more wine/TP events. See you there.