 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 7 May 2007 |
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More philosophic than active CHEKHOV is known as one of those playwrights whose work you feel you really ‘should’ see. Susan Wilson directs a performance that you actually want to see ... [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 2 Aug 2007 |
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Cabaret, drag, mime, and vaudeville Lights, music, action! Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be... absolutely fabulous, darling! Knowing very little about him, I didn’t know what to expect from Ennio Marchetto. What I, and a very appreciate audience got was an hour of fast-paced, high-energy performance ... [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 4 Oct 2007 |
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The presentation of image One hour and forty minutes of four men (and one woman) in suits ranged across the stage talking politics and economics could be deadly dull. Adapted by Dean Parker from Nicky Hager’s book, The Hollow Men is far from it, and contains moments of humour as it depicts how the National party led by Don Brash managed to lose an election; coming so close to victory, only to throw it all away ... [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 25 Jan 2008 |
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Great songs but nothing behind the cheesy façade The Tinkles want to be New Zealand’s equivalent of The Wiggles, or Hi-5, and this ‘mockumentary’ style theatre charts their success, or lack of it, in a high-paced energetic play for grown-ups ... [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 9 Aug 2008 |
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Not dramatic or visual enough for stage At one point in this duologue (I hesitate to call it a play) one of the characters says to the other, ‘Let’s be nothing together’. If this is the theme for the night, they certainly succeed, as this is a stunning example of the parts being greater than the sum. [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 14 Sep 2008 |
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A great piece of theatre If Chekhov had been a Kiwi he might have written The Pohutukawa Tree. All the great themes are present – connection to the land; personal relationships; the dichotomy between preservation and progress; struggles against history and ancestry – but Bruce Mason’s play is regarded as a New Zealand classic and this production by Stagecraft Theatre proves the label is justified. [more] |
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SUMMER SHORTS at Gryphon reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 11 Dec 2008 |
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Vignettes with varied themes The five playlets that comprise Summer Shorts all rely heavily on the power of dialogue and the ‘reveal’ (the aha moment). It is hard to pull this off in a short space of time, as there are limited foundations to be laid, and some of the plays work better than others. Due to some slick scene changes however, the pieces fit together well and the momentum is maintained. [more] |
 reviewed by Kate Blackhurst (The Lumiere Reader) 10 Dec 2008 |
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An ideal anecdote to the overwrought cacophony of Christmas Jennifer Ward-Lealand is practically New Zealand singing royalty. From her stunning entrance in a sparkling black dress with plunging neckline, she rules the stage. She remarks that ‘At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet’ and she goes on to sing a selection of songs that tell stories. [more] |
 reviewed by Jennifer Shennan (The Dominion Post) 28 May 2007 |
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Back to the future with a new view of classical ballet There is a Maori expression about “walking backwards into the future”. That image describes well the contemporary staging of a classic work of the ballet repertoire, such as Swan Lake, which involves looking back at history and honouring tradition, while allowing performers to interpret roles anew, and inviting audiences to perceive fresh meaning in those interpretations. The current RNZ Ballet season, staged by Russell Kerr, whose genius and sensibility are legendary, is a triumph on all these counts. [more] |
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reviewed by Jennifer Shennan 9 Jun 2007 |
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Making the world a kinder, better place St.James Theatre, Wellington, bursting at the seams with primary schoolchildren at a mid-week matinee performance of Swan Lake. Gold coin donation. Good on these troupers. But isn't that a long ballet to expect the littlies to survive? Well, maybe, but the idea is to have the gifted Stacey White, the company's education officer, start by sitting in p.j.s and bedsocks downstage centre, reading from a giant story book: 'The Story of Swan Lake'. [more] |
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