As you may know, Bret McKenzie is one half of the supremely funny Flight of the Conchords (New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo) and winner of an Oscar for the songs (the song Oscar?) for the 2011 Muppet movie.
About 10 years or so ago – a friend of Bret’s came up with the idea of having a Muppet festival in Wellington (a city with a strong connection to puppeteering thanks to Weta and the movies of Peter “Meet the Feebles” Jackson). And it’s happened. The local cinemas are showing the Muppet movies, there are puppeteering masterclasses, documentaries, exhibitions and a live show. This is no ordinary live show, it’s hosted by Bret, Kermit, Piggy, Bert and Ernie, Red (Fraggle), Oscar T. Grouch … so many of the Muppets. Oh and the NZ Symphony Orchestra and a choir.
The company I work for produced the website for the festival … and as a result, Leigh and I got to go to the dress rehearsal. Amazing. I don’t have the skills to explain the emotions I felt watching Bret and Kermit sing Rainbow Connection with a full orchestra. Suffice to say, it was magical.
We’re going to see the finished, polished show tonight. And I can’t wait to see it all again.
Whether they take this on tour … I don’t know. It seems feasible (it’s a surprisingly small cast – most puppeteers do many, many characters).
If you hear tell of The Jim Henson Retrospectacle coming town, it comes highly recommended.
The Obligatory Blog 
This sounds brilliant! I would be there in a heartbeat! Love to you and Leigh
It was truly magical. Such pure joy. So many grins. Great, great show.