Big transport job for cabaret

While setting up for tomorrow evening's Cabaret on Ruby event on Lake Wanaka's Ruby Island, event director Lynne Christie gives audiovisual specialist Damon Schwalger some piano-playing tips on the site where the island's original cabaret dance floor will be rebuilt. Photo by Lucy Ibbotson.

That was the inventory of items airlifted across to Lake Wanaka's Ruby Island yesterday evening, ahead of Sunday's sold-out Cabaret on Ruby event - a resurrection of the legendary dances which took place there 80 years ago.

In just over an hour, Aspiring Helicopters pilot James Ford travelled the nearly 1km distance between the island and Waterfall Creek at least 10 times as he ferried the hefty items across to the spot where 200 people will gather tomorrow evening for music, dancing and reminiscing.

''It's a logistical jigsaw puzzle,'' event manager Maegan Johnson said of the preparations.

''If it [the cabaret] was on the mainland it wouldn't be an issue at all.''

As showers were on the cards during the event, Ms Johnson assured ticket-holders a marquee would be erected for shelter.

Today and tomorrow will be spent putting together the dance floor and stage, erecting signs, boating across instruments and musicians and setting up the audiovisual zone, where people with a historic connection to the island and the original cabarets will share their memories via images and recordings. The cabaret - which runs from 5pm until 11pm and features a jazz trio and a seven-piece ragtime group - is organised by Lake Wanaka SouNZ Inc, the proceeds going to the Ruby Island Trust.

Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black issued a warning to those planning to listen to the cabaret from boats near the island that he would be patrolling the area and issuing infringement notices to anyone without life jackets and boat lights.

''No exceptions,'' he said.