 reviewed by Bridget Jones (Stuff: Auckland Now) 14 Jul 2012 |
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The Arrival exceeds expectations Sometimes, words just can't do something justice. No matter how you form them or phrase them, they miss the mark; they are inadequate. And so it seems, The Arrival is one of those somethings. [more] |
 reviewed by Kathryn van Beek 16 Nov 2006 |
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Thought-provoking and poignant The ironic drawl of Jonathon Richmond of 'The Modern Lovers' reverberates from the speakers: "Pablo Picasso got called an asshole …" Moments later the actors hijack the stage with the grace of a contemporary dance troupe, bringing the set with them. Blue furniture, mats and building blocks are slowly unwrapped from brown paper – the first of many subtle visual metaphors that infuse the production. [more] |
 reviewed by Nik Smythe 23 Feb 2012 |
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Immaculate preliminaries undermined by demonstrative performance and implausible epiphany In the chic and versatile French Revolver Studio space – hair salon cum art gallery cum theatre space – we are greeted at the entrance by director /playwright Melissa Fergusson and producer Amanda Turner. After a warm chat they enthusiastically direct (no pun intended) us to the exhibition-opening-style drinks table, featuring the custom designed, and delicious, it turns out, vodka and grapefruit-based Artefact cocktail. [more] |
 reviewed by Sian Robertson 22 Feb 2010 |
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Collectively offensive, laugh-out loud funny, voyeuristically embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortably intimate A series of ten-minute monologues, on the theme of awkwardness, showcases the work of seven mostly-new writers. For some it’s their theatre-writing debut. Many of them have a background in other writing fields, such as journalism or film. [more] |
 reviewed by John Smythe 6 May 2013 |
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Audience robbed of chance to fully engage The question is whether this version of The Bacchae should be reviewed on its own terms or in relation to its progenitors. If I have a stab at both, then, you can decide which is more relevant. [more] |
 THE BALLAD OF PONDLIFE MCGURK at Bruce Mason Centre reviewed by Lexie Matheson 10 Mar 2013 |
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An unforgettable journey The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk is the sort of name you’d like to have made up, too. It has an air of something schoolyardy about it; something a bit smelly, a bit confrontational; something us oldies might consider a bit Richmal Crompton. [more] |
 reviewed by Lindis Taylor (Middle C) 14 Oct 2012 |
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Brilliant Bartered Bride redeems shortcomings of its Cold War setting New Zealand Opera continues to explore every year or so, as much as it safely can, slightly unfamiliar operas. Their record so far has been unfaltering, and this splendid outing of something a bit on the fringe has maintained the high score. [more] |
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reviewed by John Button (The Dominion Post) 15 Oct 2012 |
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Comic opera suffers in translation Before curtain up, I had some concerns about this production of Smetana's popular comic opera. I had not enjoyed the Chandos recording of the opera in English, and I did wonder if this, of all operas, should be updated from its traditional folk setting. I know that German was Bedrich Smetana's first language, yet The Bartered Bride in German doesn't work: it has to be done in Czech. I accept that Czech is not easy for the performers, but we use it for Janacek, so even given director Daniel Slater's reasons, could the charm of this popular work survive in English? So with these doubts, how did it all work out? [More] [more] |
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reviewed by William Dart (New Zealand Herald) 24 Sep 2012 |
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Sweet music, grand arias delight There is much to admire in Daniel Slater's The Bartered Bride, updating Smetana's 19th-century peasant marriage market to edgier times, a century on during the Prague Spring. [more] |
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reviewed by Sharon Talbot 15 Oct 2012 |
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Love amid politics and circus Boy meets girl, and they fall in love. However, her parents want her to marry a rich man's son. All are in despair. But wait! The boy turns out to be the rich man's long-lost heir, so it all ends happily after all. Heard this story before somewhere?! [more] |
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