 reviewed by Sian Robertson 6 Jun 2010 |
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Vividly interpreted commentary on the grimness of life in Victorian London My expectations of Peach Theatre Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical thriller were based on having seen the Tim Burton film, which I didn’t like. What it lacked that this production has, is a Sweeney Todd you can sympathise with. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 5 Jun 2010 |
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History repeats in funny, sad, gritty and thought provoking play Andrew Bovell’s complex interwoven time-jumping semi-supernatural yarn is one of the most successful plays to come out of Australia in the last few years. Shane Bosher directs this solidly designed and deeply engaging Silo production, which I believe to be the New Zealand premiere. [more] |
 reviewed by Lindsay Clark 5 Jun 2010 |
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Cheerfully engaged on a bumpy ride Five intrepid improvisers, a new format full of colourful characters (theoretically 'small town') and an audience primed for anything – not a bad recipe for stage entertainment and a variation of one which this merry band has perfected over a couple of decades. In that period, improvised theatre has romped through more and more demanding obstacle courses. [more] |
 reviewed by William Dart (New Zealand Herald) 5 Jun 2010 |
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Engrossing night of theatre makes the Marriage of Figaro unmissable Clever direction and a consistent cast show Mozart’s 1786 success is an opera for all times. NBR New Zealand Opera's The Marriage of Figaro is as engrossing a night of theatre as one could wish for, thanks to the astute directorial hand of Aidan Lang. The company's last Figaro, eight years ago, was a frenetic fashionista farce; this time round, it is more keenly honed to Mozart and Lorenzo da Ponte's original conception. [more] |
 reviewed by Adey Ramsel 4 Jun 2010 |
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Insights into a dog’s life AR Gurney’s comedy burst onto the scene in 1995 and famously featured Sarah Jessica Parker as talking dog Sylvia, pre Sex and the City days. For all that, this is no cutesy animal comedy. Rather it takes anthropomorphosis to its extreme as we dive head first into the psychology of man’s best friend. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 3 Jun 2010 |
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A vivid unveiling Those used to the witty epigrams of Oscar Fingall O’Flahertie Wills Wilde need to cancel all expectations of such stylish humour when approaching his highly poetic and non-naturalistic Salomé. He wrote this one-act play the year after his sole novel The Picture of Dorian Gray was published (1890). The plays for which he is more famous followed. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 3 Jun 2010 |
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More Guilty Pleasure than Celebrity Dork Mockery? “What,” enquires the promo flyer, “if you were trapped in your own head …with John Farnham?” To be honest, that’s a question I would normally be inclined to avoid answering. Fortunately this reviewing task offers the opportunity to occasionally step outside one’s comfort zones and experience something unique and unexpected. [more] |
 reviewed by Phoebe Smith 3 Jun 2010 |
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Format and team-work changes needed to make this work WIT’s fourth season of The Young and the Witless advertises itself as a “compelling, must see season of spontaneous scandal and intrigue.” It is therefore disappointing that opening night – or the Pilot episode – lacks drama, plot, cohesion or risky improvisation. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe (2) 2 Jun 2010 |
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Absolutely of its time yet universal in its human insights Having reviewed last year’s world premiere, in Eli Kent’s bedroom, and conspired with the critical mass to nominate it for five Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards 2009 (it won three), and given the number of well articulated reviews it has garnered since – with more to come – I simply want to acknowledge, here, its evolution from rough diamond to polished gem. [more] |
 reviewed by Maryanne Cathro 2 Jun 2010 |
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Entertainment first and foremost This is Le Chateau d’Infinité in Wanaka, built by those first French settlers in 1839. Suspend your disbelief, let logic go, this is a ‘what if’ scenario. Had the settlers at Akaroa really won the L’isle du Sud, they would not be referencing Canterbury or Christchurch, or Invercargill, but it is testament to how well this play rolls that I didn’t care. [more] |
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