 HūRAI at New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Queens Wharf reviewed by John Smythe 1 Mar 2012 |
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Important work delivered with flair Initially there is fun to be had at the expense of Keene's uptight morality and protestant work ethic, as this wife Agnes is drawn to the Maori way of life, exemplified by a Chorus of three: Martine Gray, Holley Hornell and kahu Taiaroa. Keene's right-hand-man Alexander Williams, dubbed Wiremu, attempts to moderate but lives only to report the atrocities that ensue. [more] |
 HAIL TO THE THIEF at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 3 Mar 2008 |
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Where is the punch line? Directed by David Lawrence, Hail to the Thief opened on St David’s Day but revisits a dubious phase in the eventful life of a much more ancient David. As detailed in The Bible, 2 Samuel, chapters 11 & 12, David King of Israel has an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite who is off fighting a war. God is not pleased ... [more] |
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HAIL TO THE THIEF at BATS reviewed by Laurie Atkinson (The Dominion Post) 7 Mar 2008 |
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Dramatic tension missing #1 Hail to the Thief goes to the Book of Samuel for the tale of David and Bathsheba for its plot. [more] |
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HAIL TO THE THIEF at BATS reviewed by Lynn Freeman (Capital Times) 5 Mar 2008 |
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Uneven despite some great performances Philip Braithwaite has a genuinely original mind, but it can be a touch hit and miss. Hail to the Thief is a bitser of a play – a bit of drama, a bit of satire, a bit of history mixed in with contemporary references. [more] |
 reviewed by Terry MacTavish 9 Jan 2007 |
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A spellbinding ghost hunt This sort of walking tour, combining entertainment with education, has long been popular in cities like London and Edinburgh. And Dunedin’s old centre, around the Octagon and Moray Place, boasts more murders and disasters than I had dreamt. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 19 Apr 2012 |
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A fabulous and timely flashback An L-shaped stage backed with chicken wire and grey paper features a monkey bar. That's about it for set design. The 'tribe' mooches on in dark grey overalls stamped with numbers: is this to be The Seminal Rock Opera Hair as Performed by the Inmates of a Detention Facility Under the Eye of a Rifle-toting Guard?Apparently. [more] |
 reviewed by Ewen Coleman 4 Aug 2012 |
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Bight, bold musical well worth enjoying Following on in the tradition of such musicals as Grease, Fame and High School Musical, Wellington Musical Theatre’s current production of Hairspray is big, bright, bold and very loud. From John Waters’ 1988 movie of the same name to a Broadway musical in 2002 and then another movie of the musical in 2007, the story of tubby teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream to dance on a local TV show in Baltimore in 1962 has garnered numerous awards with many hit productions along the way. [more] |
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reviewed by Jo Hodgson 3 Aug 2012 |
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A great toe tapping night out with heart and integrity Having seen the 2007 film version I have to admit to feeling a little apprehensive about seeing the stage show with its feel-good story full of cheese and youthful energetic froth, quite in contrast from the reality of the civil rights movement struggles of the time. Yes it’s a social commentary of perseverance in the face of adversity but the movie had left me feeling that this struggle was glossed over. However, tonight’s performance leapt off the stage with sheer exuberance and talent making it impossible not to get caught up in the changing landscape for the youth of the early 60s as they rollick through the musical score ... [more] |
 reviewed by Gail Pittaway 24 Feb 2013 |
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Irresistibly upbeat Light, bright and boldly colourful, this treatment of teen life in Baltimore in the 1960s and of Tracy Turnblad’s optimism in achieving her goal is simply gorgeous. Every part of the production is tight and crisp, from the wonderful cast, to the exceptional dancing (thanks to Sonja McGirr-Garret and Joel Benjamin Hewlett) and on to the whacky sets and effective LED screen as back-drop, displaying cartoon images reminiscent of the early days of watching black and white TV. [more] |
 reviewed by Terry MacTavish 4 Dec 2007 |
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Ordinary people made fascinating And thank Heaven for Wow! Productions. Just as the holiday season was looking somewhat sparse in adult fare, along comes this well-trimmed little number, complete with chocolates. [more] |
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