 reviewed by John Smythe 3 Nov 2012 |
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A magical treasure The typewriter sets the scene at some decades ago. He’s snappily dressed for a writer who works at home, in a headspace awash with white paper. Because so much of the pleasure of Paper Sky arises from watching it all unfold, from interpreting the reality of his story and his stories as they all play out, to say much more may constitute a spoiler. But I want to capture its essence for the historical record. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 18 Nov 2012 |
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A rattling good family show There is a fresh feel about this Cinderella: lively script, topical gags, gorgeous music, clever and bright costume-set-lighting designs, and strong characterisations from an exemplary cast who connect well with each other and their audience. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 22 Nov 2012 |
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More matter, less art? The wide range of venues may well mean the tone of each performance varies but I assume the default mode is, as presented at Old St Pauls last night, one of Victorian theatricality. We are asked to marvel, as the author’s own audiences did, at the performer’s ability to act the part of each and every character with “a different voice, a different style, a different face” (Cambridge Independent Press, 1859). [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 23 Nov 2012 |
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While patchy there’s brilliance ’Tis Christmas at the Beehive and all is not well The charm of John Key is losing its spell Winston is restless, his spirits on rocks As dead David Lange cracks hearty and mocks. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 5 Dec 2012 |
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Creative ingenuity, responsiveness and – yes – wit Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) is bulging with presence this festive season, mounting multiple performances of five improv formats plus a charity event within a fortnight, under the collective title A Christmas Cracker. I caught the two opening shows … As we find our seats in the Gryphon, musician Tane Upjohn-Beatson is playing with himself ... [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 21 Dec 2012 |
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A theatrical meditation on the metamorphosing of humanity I write this on the last day of the Mayan calendar – “the date on which many civilisations and cultures have predicted the end of the world,” as this play’s publicity reminds us – although with Mesoamerica being on the other side of the international date line and behind us, time-wise, I guess they’ll get through their final show tonight. And hey, is anyone not preparing for Christmas? [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 20 Jan 2013 |
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Critical stages captured with intelligent and creative flair If you’ve assumed, as I did on first seeing the title, that Kings Of The Gym is about testosterone-pumped blokes competing, preening and posing, it’s not. Far from it. This gym and the Head of Phys Ed’s office, which overlooks it, are the grungiest part of low-decile Hautapu High School and its titular ‘kings’ excel only at under-achievement. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 2 Feb 2013 |
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22 actors in search of an author The quality, commitment and discipline of their ensemble work offers a splendid contrast to the aimless, self-absorbed, somewhat desolate lives they depict in their desperate longing to belong; to not be left out or behind. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 8 Feb 2013 |
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Irreverent adaption cuts to an essence On as balmy a summer night as Wellington has ever produced, the cast aboard the East-West Ferry have trouble convincing us we have been hit by a terrible tempest and are in mortal danger. But we get the idea and play along. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 16 Feb 2013 |
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Astutely orchestrated and dynamically paced with visceral eloquence One may also quip, then, that the compulsive lovers fiddle with each other’s emotions while Rome’s hitherto failing fortunes are rekindled by Octavius Caesar. But “fiddle” doesn’t cut it. We’re dealing with profound passions here. [more] |
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