Murdoch Stephens
Richard Meros is the pseudonym for a writer from Wellington, New Zealand. He is best known for the book On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover and the theatrical adaptations of his work.[1]
First published in 2005, On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover, received favourable reviews in New Zealand[2] and international press.[3] The book, often shortened to OTC&POHCTMAHYL, asked why Helen Clark, the Prime Minister at the time would want a young lover and then why the young lover would be Meros. The book is a work of metafiction as it concludes that the greatest likelihood of Meros being taken as a young lover would be if he wrote a book on the conditions and possibilities of being taken as a young lover.[4] The Guardian described it as ‘decidedly lascivious’[5] and the NZ Listener called it a ‘mock philosophical treatise’ before praising it as ‘the underground publishing hit of the decade’.[6]
The book was reissued and adapted into a play of the same name in 2007,[7] touring nationally and was nominated for theatrical performance of the year.[8] For his role as Meros, Arthur Meek was awarded the most promising male newcomer of 2008 at the Chapman Tripp Awards.[9] In 2015, the book was once again adapted into a play that substitutes Hillary Clinton for Helen Clark.[10]
In 2007 Meros released Richard Meros salutes the Southern Man, a pastoral account of the cultural persona of a male from the south of New Zealand’s South Island. This was adapted by the same team that made On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover and toured to positive reviews winning best touring production at the Dunedin Theatre Awards.[11][12] The book was reissued for the theatrical tour with an introduction by Duncan Sarkies.[13]
In 2008, Meros released Beggars and Choosers: The Complete Written Correspondence Between Creative New Zealand and Richard Meros volume one[14] which was followed with a second volume titled $30 Meat Pack in 2012.[15]
When Privatising Parts was released in 2011, it was viewed by New Zealand media as a follow up to On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover.[16] This book argued that if the new Prime Minister John Key did not want to lose office he would have to learn the lesson that Helen Clark did not. Meros argues that it was not his reasoning that was ineffective in the first book, but that love, itself was inefficient. He proposed that the government first nationalise love through a State Owned Enterprise and secondly privatise it.[17] This book toured New Zealand and Australia in 2012 and 2013, through a new collaboration with Heleyni Pratley (actor/screenwriter) and Eleanor Bishop (director).[18]
Meros has released four other books since 2011 through Lawrence & Gibson in New Zealand, including novels and a textbook, though none have achieved the success of On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover.[19][20]
He has also written for a wide range of publications in New Zealand from current affairs magazine NZ Listener[21] and daily newspaper the Dominion Post to arts publications White Fungus[22] and Letting Space, literary magazine Hue & Cry, and for the group Political Organisation Aotearoa.
In 2015, Meros was a recipient of Eleanor Catton's Horoeka Grant. In response he wrote the essay 'New Bourgeoizealand'[23] on a politics of lack and abundance in New Zealand.
Pseudonym
Meros is a pseudonym, though it has been speculated that Meros’ real persona is either actor Arthur Meek, publisher Murdoch Stephens or one of the other members of Lawrence & Gibson publishing.[24]
Works
Novels
- On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover Lawrence & Gibson (2005) ISBN 978-0-473-10248-7
- Richard Meros salutes the Southern Man Lawrence & Gibson (2007) ISBN 978-0-473-12429-8
- Beggars & Choosers: The Complete Written Correspondence between Richard Meros and Creative New Zealand volume one Lawrence & Gibson (2008) ISBN 978-0-473-14005-2
- Privatising Parts Lawrence & Gibson (2011) ISBN 978-0-473-18475-9
- Zebulon: A cautionary tale Lawrence & Gibson (2011) ISBN 978-0-473-18836-8
- Easy Whistle Solo Lawrence & Gibson (2012) ISBN 978-0-473-21922-2
- $30 Meat Pack: The Complete Written Correspondence between Richard Meros and Creative New Zealand volume two Lawrence & Gibson (2012) ISBN 978-0-473-22900-9
- Dating Westerners: tips for the new rich of the developing world Lawrence & Gibson (2014) ISBN 978-0-473-27501-3
Essays
- 'On the birth of TEZA'[25] an essay on special economic zones and the TEZA art project.
- 'New Bourgeoizealand'[26] an essay for the Horoeka Grant.
References
- ^ Coleman, Ewan (2012) "Good but only in parts" Dominion Post, 5 October
- ^ Somerset, Guy (2005) "Review" Dominion Post, August
- ^ "Shortcuts". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Mystery man - Uncategorized - The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Shortcuts". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Mystery man - Uncategorized - The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ Laurie Atkinson (2008) Slick, wicked poke at politics, Dominion Post(reprint in Theatreview.co.nz), 17 January
- ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews - Theatreview". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards - 2008". Chapmantripptheatreawards.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Exploring possibilities". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Free-entry 'Play' earns theatre awards". Odt.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews - Theatreview". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective: Richard Meros". Lawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Scoop Review Of Books » Begging to be Noticed". Books.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ Matthews, Phillip (2013) 'Pair of Cryptic Private Jokes' Dominion Post February 2
- ^ "Privatising Parts by Richard Meros and Getting Under Sail by Brannavan Gnanalingam review - Books - The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ Burgess, Malcolm (2011) 'Small and Cheekily Formed' Dominion Post, May 11.
- ^ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews - Theatreview". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective". lLawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Landfall Review Online: Generation Xperimental". landfallreview.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "'Give me back my sandals' - Travel - The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "A stone's throw from Afghanistan". Stuff. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ http://horoekareading.com/new-bourgeoizealand-by-richard-meros/
- ^ "Playing Favourites with Richard Meros". Radio New Zealand. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "On the birth of TEZA". Letting Space. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "New Bourgeoizealand". Horoeka Reading. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.