 THE MORRISONS: HUNTLY HIGH AND LOW at Mighty Mighty reviewed by John Smythe 25 Apr 2008 |
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Musically splendid but missing a key dimension Russell, Greg and Paul (Pop) Morrison, “the long lost Waikato come-back cabaret family [we] never knew left”, have returned to New Zealand after a world wide search – high and low – for their “God-warrior” mother/wife who fled the fold after they shamed her at the opening of the Huntly (coal-fired) Power Station (commissioned in 1983). [more] |
 MRS. PEACOCK: SIX FEET FROM THE EDGE at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 25 Apr 2008 |
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Falling short of expectations Can this be the same talented duo whose 2007 Billy T Award-winning show Rock 101 scored the headline “Beautiful, Brilliant, Bliss” over my review? [more] |
 COHEN HOLLOWAY’S HYPNOTASTIC TOUR 2008 at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 30 Apr 2008 |
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You have to be there This is another seriously crazy piece of theatre from Out Of Bounds, who brought us Brain Power (Fringe ’07) and Footballistic (Dance Your Socks Off ’07). The format is a hypnotism show and a hard-working team of black-clad puppeteers ingeniously evokes the bizzare fantasies of supposed members of the public planted in the audience. [more] |
 THE LADY BUNCH at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 30 Apr 2008 |
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An excellent combo Lined up like Russian Dolls (size-wise), The Lady Bunch introduce themselves and each other with a blend of great harmonies and dire doggerel lyrics, before splitting off for their solo standup turns. [more] |
 STEVE WRIGLEY: THE FIRST TIME at Bluenote Bar reviewed by John Smythe 1 May 2008 |
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Touching humour After warming us up some more with his random thoughts, Wrigley gets into his chosen subject – a range of first time experiences: sex the first time ever; first one night stand; first time he did it with someone he really loved … [more] |
 THE PARADIGMS OF THE SQUARE at Bar Bodega, Room 101 reviewed by John Smythe 2 May 2008 |
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Square whatsit in the proverbial round thing? First a brickbat to the Bar Bodega venue, or rather the young basement barman who banged doors, and clinked glasses (taking trays from a dishwasher) and bottles without the slightest awareness his customers, just a metre or three away, were attempting to engage with a live show. Either he or Bodega should refund the venue hire they charged ShadowFlare Productions last night (Thursday). [more] |
 IMPROV - THE ROCK OPERA at Circa Two reviewed by John Smythe 7 May 2008 |
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Virtually guaranteed entertainment. They rock The indefatigable Improvisors are back in stunning form with Improv – The Rock Opera, following last year’s memorable Improv - The Musical. A blend of old hands and new blood exemplify the qualities of intelligent listening, positive responding, creative inspiration, adding value and team work as they pursue their quest to group-devise an instant Rock Opera with audience-offered elements as their inspiration. [more] |
 (NOT) THE ALL INDIA RADIO SHOW at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 7 May 2008 |
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Not ready In their media release, having listed their past triumphs (click on title above), The Untouchables Theatre Collective goes on to proclaim: “For their third show, they may just disappoint them all … Cast members are dropping off like flies, funding applications are being rejected and only half of the show has been written. This isn’t fake news, it’s a car crash and they’ll be bloody lucky if this thing makes it to stage!” The programme reveals (Not) the All India Radio Show was “devised over two weeks with community actors & Toi Whakaari graduates.” Two weeks”? It shows, and my inclination is to say it’s just not ready and leave it at that. [more] |
 TIM AND ANDY: AN ADVENTURE at BATS reviewed by John Smythe 8 May 2008 |
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Real to surreal with comic truth and timing The opening visual gag, which subverts our reflex ‘oh no – groan’ expectations, alerts us that Tim & Andy may just be something more than a standard, seen-it-all-before comedy about slacker flatmates. And it is. [more] |
 THE IMPOSTERS: HEROES AND HEROIN at NZ Film Archive reviewed by John Smythe 8 May 2008 |
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Good in parts, dodgy in others Given their collective name I can’t exactly say The Imposters are dishonest when their media release says: “People saw that we were something a bit different to your usual comedy show [last year] and I think there was a market for that. This year we’ve gone a step further and we’re producing something that we don’t think has ever been done in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival before.” [more] |
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