KAHUKU: A BUTTERFLY ROMANCE at Te Raupararaha Arena, main hall, Porirua
reviewed by Lyne Pringle 8 Feb 2010 |
Awesome costumes, whimsical beauty and delight
Empress Stilt Dance under the direction of Emily Buttle continues to forge new directions; in this instance the debut of Kahuku at the Festival of Elements in Porirua on Waitangi day. This 15-minute piece (still in development) explores the interface between stilts, aerials, stilt acrobatics and dance. [more]
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SIR JOHN FALSTAFF AND THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR at Gladstone Vinyard, Wairarapa
reviewed by John Smythe 8 Feb 2010 |
I want to get it, not duck it
Despite being hugely popular in its time (if the seven quarto editions published before the first folio are anything to go by), the full three-hour play – as performed for this year’s VUW Summer Shakespeare – cannot be said to be one of William Shakespeare’s more profoundly insightful comedies. [more]
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WHAT'S IN A MAN? at BATS, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 5 Feb 2010 |
Trite, contrived and unconvincing
When it comes to shows about what it is to be a man, Geraldine Brophy’s The Viagra Monologues, which played at Bats three years ago, is a hard act to follow (so to speak). Using it as a yardstick, What’s in a Man? fails to shape up. It even falls short of the standard the same team set with their first show together, What is Humour?, in last year’s Comedy Festival. [more]
See also reviews by:
Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post);
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THE LONESOME BUCKWHIPS: BUCKAPAPA at The Classic Studio, Auckland
reviewed by Nik Smythe 5 Feb 2010 |
BUCKEN AY
Hailing from Otago’s world-obscure province Corstorphine*, these Buckwhips are a somewhat twisted travelling family musical act. Inevitable comparisons: the lackadaisical air the band carries echo the Conchords; their siblinghood brings to mind the Osmonds, with a touch of A Mighty Wind for good measure. [more]
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VERNON GOD LITTLE at Downstage Theatre, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 5 Feb 2010 |
Bizarre dark satire finally delivers the goods
It would be comforting to write off DBC Pierre’s Man Booker Prize-winning satire, bodly adapted for the stage by Tanya Ronder, as a paranoid fantasy … But ‘reality’ television proves how bizarre Americans can be, especially in the southern states, and as the story unfolds what initially seems far-fetched takes on an unnerving sense of credibility. [more]
See also reviews by:
Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post);
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THE LOVER at Basement Theatre, Auckland
reviewed by Nik Smythe 4 Feb 2010 |
When frustration tests fidelity against fulfilment
When asked who my favourite playwright is, the name Harold Pinter tends to spring to mind first. Famous for the parts he doesn’t write, his invariably intriguing pieces marry contemporary realism with an uneasy, almost supernatural tension. [more]
See also reviews by:
Janet McAllister (New Zealand Herald);
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PIRATES VS NINJAS at BATS, Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 4 Feb 2010 |
The essence of human conflict distilled
More than just a bloodthirsty romp, Pirates Vs Ninjas is a savage satire. It confronts us with all the flaws that are fundamental to so-called humanity’s endless compulsion to wreak vengeance, violence and tribal war at every level of society, in spite of all the cautionary tales that prove it’s a lose-lose scenario. [more]
See also reviews by:
Ewen Coleman (The Dominion Post);
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CURRENCY at Happy (Cnr Tory & Vivian), Wellington
reviewed by John Smythe 3 Feb 2010 |
Committed performances save naïve works
These three short plays collectively capture the angst of twenty-somethings whose individuality, creativity and idealism become subsumed by the ‘earn money’ imperative. It’s a syndrome that afflicts us all. [more]
See also reviews by:
Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post);
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PSYCHOPATHS at The Shed 10 (enter 77 Cook St), Auckland
reviewed by Lillian Richards 3 Feb 2010 |
The contorting power of fear
Thomas Sainsbury wrote this play – one of many, many, many – about the entrenched fear that pervades every day living, after his brief stay in New York. In this era of wars waged on notions of faulty logic, the influence of fear in our lives is a crucial one, fruiting paranoia and the very real threats that lurk within the hyperbole. [more]
See also reviews by:
Caoilinn Hughes
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"mmm yes palate exactly.
So abstraction is ok but only if it meets certain tangible criteria with regards to c..." - Lucien Johnson [read full comment]
"A devoted group of young enthusiasts on a misguided tour de forcing. Their energy was beguiling as ..." - Sunny Amy [read full comment]
"The entertainment value of a comedy this long would be vastly improved if we willingly suspended our disbelief..." - John Smythe [read full comment]
"Is it worth seeing? Is it good entertainment? Ask that of the audience at Gladstone and, based on ..." - biggles [read full comment]
"Absurdism is relative, Lucien. As with satire, it only works if we can locate ‘reality’ in th..." - John Smythe [read full comment]
"A couple of questions for you John: why is a naive approach to this subject matter such a disagreeable t..." - Lucien Johnson [read full comment]
"comment now posted on John Smythe's review
" - Lucien Johnson [read full comment]
"The third play, First June, represented savings as something you weren't ever allowed to have access to. That'..." - Michael Wray [read full comment]
"All fixed now" - Editor [read full comment]
"Not John's fault, because she was not listed in the program. But the amazing Fran Olds is playing the roles of..." - Willem Wassenaar [read full comment]
"Hi John, thanks for your review. However, you did miss out one crucial element: Fran Olds is also a member of ..." - Anna Harcourt [read full comment]
"plays don't have to revolve around how characters feel & why they do what they do in order to "work&q..." - helen varley jamieson [read full comment]
8 Feb 2010 - CALLING ALL YOUNG & HUNGRY AUCKLANDERS!
Registrations are now open for theatre-obsessed young Aucklanders to take part in the Young & Hungry Festival of New Theatre – a showcase of three fresh new plays written especially for the text generation. [more]
6 Feb 2010 - FORTUNE THEATRE TRUST DUNEDIN
INVITATION TO DIRECTORS FOR THE 2010 SEASON
The Fortune Theatre invites expressions of interest from qualified and experienced Theatre Directors who are interested in directing one or more productions in our Autumn/Winter 2010 season. [more]
5 Feb 2010 - PRODUCER SOUGHT FOR ALCHEMY ACTORS COMPANY
We are a professional theatre company looking for a company producer (or co- producer) for our upcoming year’s work. We have a 3 week season of a new New Zealand play booked at a Wellington Theatre in September and various other plays in the pipeline. [more]
4 Feb 2010 - Kapitall Kids Theatre – Auditions
April School Holidays show (6 to 18 April 11am and 1pm)
ROBIN HOOD AND THE LOST CROWN... [more]
29 Jan 2010 - PLAYMARKET CALL TO DIRECTORS / PRODUCERS
Playmarket will soon be planning this year’s script circulation, and we would love to hear from all producers and directors out there, young and old, experienced and green, looking for NZ scripts to produce. [more]
29 Jan 2010 - FRINGE ON FIRE: FESTIVAL LAUNCHES 20TH PROGRAMME
The New Zealand Fringe Festival 2010 Programme Launch
Thursday January 28 @ Mighty Mighty, 104 Cuba St
There were flames, exploding cakes, jaw-dropping performances and plenty of cocktails when the New Zealand Fringe Festival launched its 20th birthday programme last night. [more]
26 Jan 2010 - ARTS ALIVE FUNDING OPEN – LIFT YOUR ACT TO NEW HEIGHTS
If you are performing a professional dance, theatre, music or multi-disciplinary show in Auckland City, we can assist you to reach new heights.
Applications for Round 32 close 4.30pm, Friday 19 February 2010 with decisions announced early May. [more]
26 Jan 2010 - CLASSIC NEW ZEALAND PLAYS TO BE READ AS WELL AS PERFORMED
Six New Zealand plays publisher Playmarket believes deserve to be considered classics have been published (in 3 books of 2 plays each) as part of an effort to see contemporary New Zealand playwrights’ work appreciated and read as literature, as well as performed on stage. [more]
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