REVIEW: The Arrival (Red Leap Theatre)

July 17, 2012

Astounding Journey Continues [by James Wenley] It is remarkable that in the same week, two New Zealand works of international quality enjoyed return seasons in Auckland. The first, Indian Ink’s Guru of Chai – is still playing at Q, so seek it out. The second – Red Leap’s The Arrival played three public shows over the weekend. I hope you […]

REVIEW: Guru of Chai (Indian Ink)

July 16, 2012

Perfect Theatrical Blend [by James Wenley] The Guru of Chai brews his tea to perfection, carefully measuring the exact combination of herbs and spices. It is an art that simmers through this play. He’s unappreciated at his stall, plagued by Starbucks.  We don’t get to sample his tea, but I’ll wager this: He’s an even better storyteller. And really, that […]

REVIEW: Alice (Outfit Theatre Company)

July 11, 2012

If this is a kid’s show, consider me a big one! [by James Wenley] Outfit Theatre Company have turned their devising smarts on Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland story. I’ve never been to one of Outfit’s School Holiday shows, so was very curious to see how their upstart (and often dark) style would translate for children. As we enter TAPAC […]

REVIEW: Next Big Thing Festival; Tusk Tusk and Checkout Chicks (ATC)

July 10, 2012

Meaty Drama, Sweet Musical [by James Wenley] Tusk Tusk is a serious family drama, with lots to chew upon. ATC’s Associate Director Lynne Cardy describes it as ‘Arthur Miller for children’. Carried by a stunning performance from its three young leads, they must fend for themselves with absent authority figures. Checkout Chicks is an unapologetically silly and entertaining Musical. It […]

REVIEW: Black Confetti (Auckland Theatre Company)

July 7, 2012

Shivering and Shaking; The Glittery Black [by Rosabel Tan] Siggy (Kip Chapman) is the quintessential drifter. He’s spent the past seven years “finding his niche” – that is, working his way through every stage one paper offered by the Faculty of Arts – and he’d happily continue this search, only The Dean (Adam Gardiner) is now threatening to kick him […]

REVIEW: Square Eye Pair (The Basement)

June 27, 2012

Geeks’ Eye for the Straight Guy [by Sharu Delilkan] If you’re not fans of The Big Bang Theory or Paul, the sci-fi geek film from Simon Pegg then you are bound to love Square Eye Pair precisely because it is the same. Let me explain. It’s not the same. It’s use of geekiness cleverly allows us access to three characters […]

REVIEW: A Shortcut to Happiness (ATC)

June 12, 2012

No Shortcuts here [by James Wenley] I attended A Shortcut to Happiness on Saturday night, the same night as the All Black/ Ireland test. Stuart Devenie, always a class act, made a pithy reference to the night’s other big event, as his character enters an empty dance studio, save for fretting instructor Natasha (Laura Hill) – Saturday nights are no […]

REVIEW: Tribes (Silo)

June 11, 2012

Now how to express my experience? [by James Wenley] Tribes comes to Auckland’s stage with a babble of hype and expectation. Only playwright Nina Raine’s second play (after Rabbit which Silo performed in 2008 ), it’s something of an international critical darling after its debut at London’s Royal Court in 2010. Just last week it won New York Drama Desk’s […]

REVIEW: Copenhagen (TAPAC)

June 3, 2012

Physics, History, and the Atomic Bomb [by Rosabel Tan] Sometimes a play will continue to work on you long after you’ve left the theatre. I don’t mean that the memory lingers, though this happens too, but that the experience continues to grow and transform, the seed of what was planted onstage blossoming over time. A digression: Adaptation is one of […]

REVIEW: Course Related Costs (Outfit Theatre Company)

May 31, 2012

Drugs are bad, mmmkay? [by James Wenley] You just know that things are going to come crashing down in Course Related Costs, the only questions are how, and how badly. The set-up is this: After the mainstay of the student drinking budget, ‘course related costs’ has dried up, Pete, Monty and AJ have installed a P lab in their flat. […]

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