 reviewed by Nik Smythe 23 Oct 2010 |
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A veritable abundance of austentatious authenticity Indeed, the ensuing on-the-spot manufacture and performance of a suddenly invented long lost manuscript of Jane Austen spontaneously named Greed and Generosity by means of lottery and audience nomination seems as familiar as Dickens and Twain. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 23 Nov 2010 |
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Stories of abuse safely told ... The interviews were recorded on video and studied by the cast to recreate their gestures, and then performed live with the interview soundtrack playing in their ears through iPods, so that every inflection, pause and stutter is recounted verbatim. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 14 Dec 2010 |
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Harrowing hilarity earns standing ovation Irene McMunn is a dear, doddery old biddy preparing to entertain a few guests on Christmas afternoon, after her customary morning church service. With able guidance from her director Stephen Papps, Yvette Parsons delivers a tour-de-force performance as poignant as it is parodic. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 22 Mar 2011 |
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Macabre gloom in a minor key On his seventh birthday, Jeremy ‘Jem’ Glass ... is found passed out on a zebra crossing. Upon awaking he has a completely new personality, calling himself ‘Danny’ and failing to acknowledge his own family. Throughout the play Jem is accompanied by the ghost of the real Danny ... [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 17 Apr 2011 |
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Another terrific holiday event from the master and his team It appears to be Children’s Theatre Encore season, judging by John’s review of Badjelly The Witch in Wellington. Up our way it’s an anniversary too: twenty years since the inception at Central Theatre (now Basement) of Tim Bray productions. Since 1991 they have had original plays running virtually every school holidays. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 17 Apr 2011 |
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Charming ingenuity Fair bursting at the glued cardboard seams with slapstick routines and all manner of amusing homespun gadgetry, Boxes is a charming journey through an intriguing other world. The characters, both puppets and human, largely communicate through physical gestures and grunting alley-oop type noises, so the problem of the language barrier between Wellington and Auckland is eliminated. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 16 May 2011 |
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Hilarious lo-fi kidstuff With little more than a minimal set – 2 chairs, a laptop, projector screen and a large gold paper-wrapped box entitled Mr Boon’s Big Box of Bits – it’s plain Mr Boon is an active proponent of the ‘just give them a box and they’ll be happy’ theory. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 1 Jun 2011 |
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Abstract, eccentric, original The inaugural production from fledgling company Thread Theatre, The Keepers is an unusual, abstract work with a distinct nautical theme. Devised and designed by the cast, and mentored by seasoned practitioners, it is a deceptively brief exploration of the psychological and emotional trials of lives spent in isolation. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 12 Jun 2011 |
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Consummate showmanship in theatrical equivalent of a compilation tape The premise is ostensibly an insight into the lives of four female characters that inhabit the rooms in a small rundown hotel. It’s a curious enough means of conceptually linking what is essentially a lovingly executed collection of favourite show tunes hung on a string of loosely contrived narratives. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 12 Jun 2011 |
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Compelling narrative delivered in a frank, easy, natural style There are large shiny cartoon letters spelling ‘TIC TIC’ swaying gently against the plush black curtain backdrop, with the audience quite clearly reflected in them, offering us a literal look at ourselves. Which is all very nice, but we’re here to look at Paul Barrett and he himself is here to show us himself, as indeed he does. [more] |
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