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An internationally acclaimed play called Michael James Manaia,
about a Maori soldier who came home from Vietnam,
is opening tonight in Auckland.
Our reporter Raiha Johns went to get the low-down on this one-man play.
The stories that are seldom heard about the soldiers in Vietnam
and their return home is the theme of this play.
While American soldiers
were sometimes eager party-goers,
Maori soldiers would be in the forests laying low,
waiting for the enemy.
This is a one-man play by Takirua Productions.
Te Kohe Tuhaka is the solo actor.
There are plenty of distractions when performing a play alone.
Actors often rely on other actors for cues,
but because I'm all alone, I have to rely on my memory.
Who is this play for?
The youth of today, because it's about our history.
There's no doubt this actor is nervous on the opening day.
I'm all psyched up and keen to nail it.
If I didn't have this nervousness to feed off, I couldn't act.
The play will be shown at Q Theatre in Auckland
up until the 15th of this month.
Raiha Johns, Te Karere.