REVIEW: That Bloody Woman (Auckland Theatre Company)

June 12, 2016

[Bloody Marvellous] We departed That Bloody Woman‘s opening night feeling proud, informed and uplifted by the musical portrayal of this ‘her-storical’ story. The face of Kate Sheppard that gazes somewhat benevolently from our $10 note belies a passion, a person and a struggle that we think we know, but don’t. By communicating directly with the audience, the show makes us […]

REVIEW: Little Shop of Horrors (ATC)

November 5, 2012

Triffically Entertaining [by Matt Baker] Anyone who has an appreciation of ‘60s doo-wop or classic musical theatre will be entertained by ATC’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, because it is the musical talent that not only carries this show, but gives it some emotional depth and journey. While the entire creative team jointly recognises and illustrates their influences and […]

REVIEW: The Last Five Years (Last Tapes)

March 4, 2012

A show to fall in, and out of love.. [by James Wenley] In the middle of Musical The Last Five Years, Jamie and Cathy pledge their loves and their lives in the song The Next Ten Minutes, which  features both a tender proposal (“Will you share your life with me / For the next ten minutes? / …. And if […]

BROADWAY BABY: Theatre Scenes goes to Broadway

November 24, 2011

A Kiwi in NYC [by James Wenley] Where can you find Harry Potter leading a dance number, Samuel L Jackson acting as a civil rights Mofo, and Spiderman trying not to fall into the audience? The Great White Way, the Capital of the Musical: Broadway Baby. New York, New York. Last month I travelled to New York in pursuit of […]

REVIEW: Miss Saigon

May 27, 2011

 Spectacle and Saigon [by James Wenley, Musical Geek] An interesting development over the past few years has been the welcome take-over of the mighty Civic Theatre by ‘amateur’ theatre societies (Harlequin Theatre – Cats, Auckland Music Theatre – Rent, 42nd Street), whilst the big budget overseas touring musical spectaculars have all but dried up… blame the economic times. Indeed, excepting […]