 reviewed by Janet McAllister (New Zealand Herald) 25 May 2013 |
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Cheesy old tricks get bold new twist One big, slick, cheesy magic show promised; one big, slick, cheesy magic show delivered. If you think you'll like The Illusionists by the look of the advertising, you will. They know what they're doing, and they do it well. [more] |
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reviewed by James Wenley (TheatreScenes - the Auckland Theatre Blog) 25 May 2013 |
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The Avengers of Magic Magic is back? Believe it. By mixing Vegas spectacle with the romanticism of the turn of the 20th Century magic show and packaging it with an ultra-modern sensibility and pizzazz, The Illusionists is a heart-thumping feast for the eyes and trip for the mind – of a type that many Aucklanders (myself included) have never experienced before. [more] |
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reviewed by Adey Ramsel 23 May 2013 |
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Dazzling. Amazing. Breath-taking. I’m in a quandary with this review. After years in Cabaret and Variety myself I’m ‘in the know’ about this genre and how it works. I’m also semi ‘in the know’ as to ‘magic tricks’ and how they work. One can never ‘un-know’, and it does spoil an experience like this somewhat, while allowing me to express two viewpoints. [more] |
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LIKE THIS, LIKE US at The Basement Studio, Lower Greys Ave reviewed by Raewyn Whyte 23 May 2013 |
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Absorbingly satisfying, mostly The movement sequences flow easily from one to the next, with allowances for individual rhythms and timing and divergent content. There are moments of unison, and some tasks which each performer accomplishes along the way at different times or with variant force. The audience sits very close to the performers, so becoming absorbed in one person’s dancing causes you to lose sight of what the other does, and a conscious decision has to be made about switching your focus. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 22 May 2013 |
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Undercooked and lacking in complexity The title tells us someone dies and within the first few minutes the hints are very strong as to who that might be. No surprises there, except the programme credits an actor as playing that character. The other questions are as you’d expect: who, why, how and when? The kitchen in question is in a restaurant. [more] |
 reviewed by Raewyn Whyte 22 May 2013 |
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Robots vs Humans in an effervescent romp A comic-bookish tale of a dystopian world populated by humans and robots, it is delivered through effervescent dance routines. Very quick costume switches signal whether the performers are now humans or robots, or the central brain of the internet-based computer system driving the world along. [more] |
 reviewed by Ann Hunt (The Dominion Post) 20 May 2013 |
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Impressive exhibition of skill and talent Of the many gems, the ace in the hole was Teeter, a very mature work in terms of conception. Its cohesive, fluid choreography and beautiful design elements augur well for future work by its choreographer, Sarah Gatzonis. [more] |
 reviewed by Gilbert Wong (Metro Arts) 20 May 2013 |
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Potency and beauty If theatre is an illusion of reality then that truism is embedded in the DNA of this respectful production. It’s the 1930s. Depression and imminent war mean America will become a much darker place. A foghorn sounds as the conflicted Tom Wingfield (Edwin Wright) sits in the shadows. “I give you truth in the pleasant disguise of illusion.” [more] |
 reviewed by Frances Morton (Metro Arts) 20 May 2013 |
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Strikes a moving blow During a week in which a couple were convicted of neglect for raising their four kids in a home with no bedding and booze instead of food in the cupboards, the topic of child abuse is front page news. Actually, it probably wouldn’t matter which week the play opened, child abuse is all too often front page news, which is why a confronting work by a young Maori playwright on the subject is an intriguing prospect. Patua translates as strike or beat. [more] |
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reviewed by Matt Baker 20 May 2013 |
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A precious piece The Glass Menagerie is a magical play. From the opening Brechtian monologue, to the blatant symbolism and dialogue surrounding the titular menagerie, playwright Tennessee Williams does not shy away from using a light theatrical shroud to expose truths. It would be easy to rely on these conventions and consequentially not find the true weight in his writing, but Auckland Theatre Company’s production of The Glass Menagerie is a beautiful blend. [more] |
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