Our Cheap Date

One of the up-sides of being a “senior” (and not having a great deal of money) is the Cheap Tuesday Movie deals on offer.  So…. any film that takes our interest, we wait to Tuesday and get to see it at the princely sum of $8 for a senior ticket.  Can’t get better than that now, can you?  We were very keen to see “Billy T James” which tells the story of this much loved Kiwi comedian, and filed into the theatre with three other oldies for the 10.00am showing.   Born William James Te Wehi Taitoko, by the time he died of heart failure aged 42 he had won numerous awards and wide acclaim for his talent as musician, singer, comedian, actor, writer and artist.  He honed his talents as a singer and comedian on stages around the world as part of the Maori Volcanics Showband.  After his return home an agent discovered Billy performing cabaret in the Avondale Rugby League Club in 1978 and he was cast as Dexter Fitzgibbon in the television variety series Radio Times,  and later went on to star in  the TV series The Billy T James Show. He is remembered for his infectious chuckle, black singlet and yellow towel, and his ability to poke fun at all Kiwis, Maori and Pakeha alike.   This film also touched on the cultural differences that took place after his death, when the wishes of his Pakeha wife were over-ruled by his iwi (tribe).  It revealed another aspect of how Billy’s bicultural identity brought about conflicts from both sides.  The coverage of the so-called “body-snatching” at the time of Billy’s death made headline news, and the film presented both sides of the story.  Never-the-less, this action of going against the family’s wishes (by force) certainly shocked ordinary New Zealanders.  In the official press release for the film, the makers promise that "audiences will leave with laughter in their hearts and tears in their eyes."  And we did.

Billy T James on screen

Our cheap day out continued as we lunched at the local Cossie Club.  Robin had received a birthday voucher which was cashed in for a free meal in the bistro, and enjoyed a Kiwi Burger for lunch, complete with beetroot, salad, bacon and egg all on a beef patty, just the way he likes it.  And I had enough points on my own Cossie card to purchase my meal of pizza and a large latte.  So our lunch was consumed without any hard cash changing hands.  The Cossie club was strung with flags in case anyone needed reminding that the Rugby World Cup games were taking place throughout New Zealand.  It certainly did look nice and colourful.

Flags in the bar area