REVIEW: The Feast (The Basement)

October 16, 2013

My compliments to the chef [by Matt Baker] After having been selected through Red Leap Theatre’s Incubator Programme and workshopped through its Short Work Showcase, Le Petit Workshop, Refiner’s Fire Collective, and Nikki Bennett and Company have each produced a delectable piece of theatre, presented under the collective title of The Feast. Advertised as a mouth-watering feast of fresh theatre, each […]

REVIEW: Golden Boys (Kings of Waterview)

October 15, 2013

Ri-ri-ri-diculous [by James Wenley] What does the typical kiwi bloke look like in our country today? Golden Boys offers three possibilities: of the trio of brothers in the Thompson family, one is an All Black starter, one is an entrepreneurial businessman and rich-lister, and one is a Gay Labour politician. All have been raised by matriarch Isabella (Margaret Blay), whose […]

REVIEW: Live Live Cinema: Dementia 13 and Carnival of Souls (Jumpboard Productions)

October 13, 2013

Bringing Classic Cinema to Life [by James Wenley] Dementia 13 is a 1963 thriller and old-school slasher flick where an axe-wielding madman stalks the grounds of a Scottish castle. Though a clear Psycho-lite, in this early Francis Ford Coppola picture it is possible to discern his latent potential, in amongst the hokey psychological posturing and a reveal telegraphed from miles […]

REVIEW: The Thing from the Place (Theatre Beating)

October 9, 2013

Mad Science [by Dionne Christian] Okay, recently I wrote of the joys of taking kids to the theatre and of seeing their faces “light up” as they connect with what they’re seeing on stage.  Of course, the converse is when they react badly: they shout that they’re bored, they wriggle and jiggle and ask when it will be over, they’re […]

REVIEW: The Flying Dutchman (New Zealand Opera)

October 6, 2013

Ships in the Night? [by Sharu Delilkan] Not having seen a Wagner Opera before I was intrigued to discover what all the fuss was about. The stage curtain represented an old sailing clipper sail, which gave nothing much away as to what we were about to experience, as we were treated to The Flying Dutchman‘s Overture, which unfortunately did seem […]

REVIEW: Hamlet (Galatea Theatre)

October 5, 2013

The Red Tragedy [by Matt Baker] The problem with Hamlet as a play is that it treats character over plot. The success of Galatea Theatre’s production, therefore, is the casting of Calum Gittins as the titular Dane. Asides from his remarkable technique, Gittins’ performance is packed with pathos, giving full colour to the extreme range of Hamlet’s capricious nature. This […]

REVIEW: Niu Sila (Auckland Theatre Company)

October 4, 2013

Tuai Sila 8 1/2 years later [by Sharu Delilkan] It was a great feeling arriving at Q’s Loft to review Niu Sila which I could still remember vividly, having been at The Maidment premiere more than 8 ½ years ago. The show then featured Dave Fane (Ioane Tafioka) and Damon Andrews (Peter Burton) under the direction of Conrad Newport.  This […]

REVIEW: Young & Hungry: Dragonlore and Atlas/Mountains/Dead Butterflies (The Basement)

September 30, 2013

Delicious [by Matt Baker] Once again The Basement proves its integrality to the Auckland theatre industry by picking up where ATC left off and presenting their first season of Young & Hungry, a programme in which performers and operators under the age of 25 are mentored by established writers, directors, producers, designers, operators, and stage managers. Dragonlore by Nic Sampson and Atlas/Mountains/Dead Butterflies by Joseph […]

REVIEW: Mrs Wishy-Washy (Tim Bray Productions)

September 29, 2013

Good clean fun [by Guest Reviewer Dionne Christian] One of the great joys of being a parent is taking your children to kids’ theatre and watching the expressions of joy, delight, awe and sheer amazement on their faces as they experience the magic of  a live show. Because they’re kids, they don’t know “the rules” about sitting still and keeping […]

REVIEW: Wicked (The Civic) [The Ozmapolitan Edition]

September 23, 2013

The Emerald City in Auckland City [by James Wenley] Theatre Scenes Reviewers Sharu Delilkan and James Wenley both went to opening night of Wicked. This was James’s fourth time at Wicked. He saw the Australian Cast in Sydney twice in late 2009, thrashed the Broadway cast recording, and saw the London West End production in June this year. He writes […]

1 76 77 78 79 80 104