[This is a Review] Nic (Nic Sampson) and Natalie (Natalie Medlock) return from a holiday to find their home not quite in the same state they left it. Their friends, another couple, Sam (Sam Snedden) and Kura (Kura Forrester) have been housesitting. It begins by establishing a premise that echoes many others, but soon derails off course. While the domestic […]
Lord “Comedy” Rutherford [by James Wenley] Lord Ernest Rutherford hasn’t had his due. No emotional biopic, no sharable internet meme. Sure his face is on our $100 bill, but how many of us have that sort of denomination in our wallets? Father of the nuclear age, but his recognition has been as tiny as the atom he split. No, he hasn’t […]
Working his way up [by Matt Baker] What does it mean to be a National Treasure? What is the criterion for nomination let alone winning? And who is so humbly honouring themselves? Comedian, actor, and head-writer for Jono and Ben, Nic Sampson, addresses all this and more in his New Zealand Comedy Festival show, National Treasure. With the help of Sam […]
Eight out of tannin [by Matt Baker] If you’ve ever wondered what The Basement greenroom looks like, or the stories its walls could tell, Wine Lips is the answer. From the authentic show posters featured on Bex Isemonger’s set and Amber Molloy’s inventive lighting design, both of which thankfully make full use of the greenroom mirror, to the stalwart ease […]
Snort with Friends [by Matt Baker] For the past several months there has been comedy cult gathering members in the midst of Auckland. What began has a Friday night 4-week season has turned into a weekly ritual at The Basement, with Snort attracting regularly sold-out crowds. Minimising the chaos, but finding freedom in structure, the show is based on a […]
Rose Matafeo / Eli Mathewson /Flashdunce / Rhys Mathewson / Nic Sampson / Luke Heggie Rose Matafeo: Pizza Party [by Matt Baker] Less of a narrative and more of a theme-based show, Matafeo’s ironically titled Pizza Party addresses the fact that she is probably the least likely person to host, or even attend, a party. Matafeo’s self-deprecating humour towards the uncool reality of […]
Hilariously homegrown [by Sharu Delilkan] In a world where planes go missing, the Crimea is important and Miley Cyrus’ tour bus catches fire it’s imperative to occasionally escape to some irreverence, in order to balance out the heavy politics. Put simply, A Boy Wonder is probably the most endearing Kiwiana plays I’ve seen for a long time. Being in the […]
What the Dickens [by James Wenley] You know the silly season must be upon us when you find yourself thinking: “for the love of baby Jesus, not another Christmas Carol adaptation”. Dickens’ morality tale has been trotted out so many times that you’d think they’d be no bah-humbing curmudgeons still left to heed the message. What is there left to say? […]
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 […]
Keep Calm and Party On [by James Wenley] The promotional blurb has boldly led with the Channel 4 Quote that Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh is the “most painful hundred minutes of British comedy”. You can understand why. The guests of the party are hardly the type of people you’d otherwise willingly want to spend that amount of time with. […]
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