Sapphic and serene

Making my way from the bus stop, I climb a hill through woodland gardens to Highwic – a beautiful 19th-century house that once boasted glorious views of its Auckland surrounds but now boasts a view of Westfield Newmarket. The original Wellington show was hosted at Katherine Mansfield House & Garden, but Highwic is a stunning Carpenter Gothic replacement.

Cellist and singer Ms Weeds, seated outside the entrance, smiles at me as I arrive and imparts a few notes for me. The arriving audience gathers in a small gift shop at the entrance, but is free to explore the house until the show starts.

After a brief introduction, the audience is guided into a living and dining room where the entirety of the show takes place. The ticketing website says "audience members are encouraged to stand and move around the room if possible" but most people find a chair or sit on the floor for the duration of the performance.

Fox Swindells of Theatreview reports that the original Wellington performance "did present some challenges as we moved between spaces". This time, only Vixen Temple – the personification of Katherine Mansfield – briefly leaves the room while Ms Weeds and narrator Kerryn Pollock are reciting. The audience is free to remain seated or standing in one spot for the entire show (although I reposition myself from time to time to best see Temple as she moves through the space, to ensure I'm not blocking anyone else's view, and to give my legs a rest).

Kerryn Pollock softly narrates the life of Katherine Mansfield, giving important context to Vixen Temple's affective dramatic readings of excerpts of Mansfield's writings.

Ms Weeds' haunting vocals and cello add to the emotional shape of the evening. She has an impressive vocal range, dreamily flowing between sultry highs and resonant bassy lows. Her only backing is a bassline on the cello, which can make it difficult to hold a consistent key at times.

I am struck by the conflict that Mansfield feels about her sexuality – revelling in the joy of queer love, yet regarding it as a vice that should be hidden from the world. Vixen Temple's passionate performance beautifully conveys this range of emotions.

The Magic of Her Body is a great way to introduce yourself to one of New Zealand's most renowned writers and queer icons. It is a must-see for any aspiring New Zealand literature lover, thoughtfully presented in a pleasant and laid-back environment.