REVIEW: Constantinople (Auckland Fringe)

March 3, 2011

Toga Party. Constantinople is a famous city founded by the Emperor Constantine in 330BC, but had its name changed to Istanbul in 1930. Actor Barnie Duncan (Outrageous Fortune) liked its name better the first time. He uses the city as a name for his ‘soloish’ play and a very lose framework to experiment with some absurd gags, and to play some […]

REVIEW: Opera Risque (Auckland Fringe)

March 2, 2011

Rocky Horror Opera Show [by Sharu Delilkan] The poster of Opéra Risqué, definitely promised naughtily attired girls singing opera in Moulin Rouge style lingerie.  And the diverse crowd waiting outside at 5.30 pm were obviously anticipating a mischievous evening. The trepidation was heightened by the sight of scantily clad women appearing and disappearing at the box office like fleeting flights […]

REVIEW: The Sex Show (Auckland Fringe)

March 1, 2011

Sex. Yeah. As we take our seats for The Sex Show at Galatos, a couple lies ‘behaving’ on a black box representing a bed. He is restless. She reads a book. Is this the state of New Zealand bedrooms across the country? The Sex Show is a devised Fringe show by ensemble group Outfit Theatre Company under the direction of […]

REVIEW: Water Ballet ‘Sirens’ (Auckland Fringe)

February 28, 2011

There’s something in the water… They say there hasn’t been a Water Ballet performed in Auckland for 50 years. That is, until last week. The Wet Hot Beauties took over the Parnell Baths, delivering an awe-inspiring visual extravaganza in the water. As I sit down to write this, I am still buzzing, images and bodies swimming through my mind, forming […]

REVIEW: Forbidden Broadway (Auckland Fringe)

February 27, 2011

You can’t stop the camp! Forbidden Broadway is essential must-see viewing for any self-respecting Musical Theatre geek. Forbidden Broadway began its life in 1982 as a revue show created, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini, spoofing the Broadway scene and musicals.  It has run ever since, with Alessandrini constantly updated the show to keep up with the latest shows and […]

REVIEW: Shakespeare’s Will (Auckland Fringe)

February 27, 2011

No, not that Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare is perched today on the highest of pedestals in the Western literary world. Apart from those odd rumours that Shakespeare is really somebody else (because somebody with just a Grammar School education could never write like that, don’t you know)… his works are gloried, written about and staged over and over again as if […]

REVIEW: Joseph and Mahina (Auckland Fringe)

February 26, 2011

Romeo & Juliet. Antony & Cleopatra…. Joseph & Mahina? I’ve written about Thomas Sainsbury plays many times before in Craccum Magazine. He’s something of a modern kiwi Shakespeare type, dominating Auckland over the last several years with a huge output of low budget but manically funny. Like Shakespeare he sometimes acts in his plays too and he directs most of […]

REVIEW: Alvin Sputnik (Auckland Fringe)

February 26, 2011

Deep Sea Theatre Magic   The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is a very special show. Using live performance, wonderful cartoon animation, and simple puppetry, the show’s creator and performer Tim Watts keeps the audience enthralled for 45minutes.  I can see why the show has been compared to Pixar: like UP, within the first minutes there is an […]

REVIEW: Feel Felt Found (Auckland Fringe)

February 26, 2011

I found this play to be funny Pity the struggling actor. In order to support themselves when work runs dry, they must take a serious of unholy jobs until the day Peter Jackson rings out of the blue with a film offer. The ‘comic triumvirate’ behind Feel Felt Found – Ryan Richards, Nic Sampson and Barnaby Fedric must have experienced […]

REVIEW: When Animals Dream of Sheep (Auckland Fringe)

February 24, 2011

AKA: Deer Runner While the Auckland Fringe Festival officially begins this Friday 24th February, unofficially it opened with numerous bangs from simulated shotguns last night in Myers Park with the outdoor visual feast When Animals Dream of Sheep. Inspired by the true stories of the illegal release of deer on a Dutch Island, and NZ’s introduction and culling of the […]

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