REVIEW: Instant Kiwis – Instant Anatomy

November 29, 2011

Is it you or is it me, but this show is funny [by James Wenley] Friday nights have just got more interesting. If you find yourself in town 11pm on a Friday night and in need of entertainment, the Instant Kiwi Improv series at Q is a big winner. Being an improvised show, it’s new each week. And they re-theme […]

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 […]

EXTRA: Auckland Daze

November 21, 2011

Auckland Scene gets funny + Deleted Scene! [by James Wenley] If you already haven’t already, fans of Auckland theatre should definitely check out TVNZ’s new online comedy Auckland Daze, about four wannabes “chasing fame in Auckland’s ridiculously small entertainment industry”. The brainchild of actor/director Kiel McNaughton, local theatre actors amongst its cast include Natalie Medlock, Jacqui Nauman (of Outfit Theatre Company), and Faye Smythe. Our […]

REVIEW: The Pitmen Painters – (potent pause) Productions

November 19, 2011

Billy Elliot meets RED [by James Wenley] With Billy Elliot, everyone remembers the feel good inspirational story of the boy who became a ballet star. In revisiting the film recently, I was struck by the gritty social background – of Thatcher’s England and the miners sacrificing everything with lengthy strike action. For Billy, dancing was a way of escaping a […]

INTERVIEW: Jennifer Ward-Lealand and the challenges of Rita Angus

November 15, 2011

Rita and Douglas and Jennifer [by James Wenley] Jennifer Ward-Lealand says playing Rita Angus is one of the most challenging roles she has ever performed in her career. “I’ve never done anything like this before”. It’s a surprising statement from Jennifer, whom over her long career in the performing arts has played roles as diverse as Boadicea in Xena: Warrior […]

REVIEW: The Bone Feeder

November 14, 2011

Feeding the Past [by James Wenley] I first encountered playwright Renee Liang’s The Bone Feeder in 2009, presented as part of her postgraduate diploma of Arts at the University of Auckland, which I reviewed for Craccum Magazine. Since then, Renee (known also for plays Lantern & The First Asian AB) has continued to develop and work on the play. More productions […]

PREVIEW: The Pitmen Painters – (potent pause) Productions

November 8, 2011

A Tale of Two Gittins [by Sharu Delilkan] Having worked on the international film circuit for the past few years, including The King’s Speech and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Calum Gittins jumped at the chance to work in theatre. And when his dad Paul told him he was directing The Pitmen Painters it was a no […]

REVIEW: Tartuffe (Silo Theatre)

November 7, 2011

Tartuffe for the 3D Generation [by James Wenley] If nothing else, Tartuffe is an experience. ‘This is not museum theatre’, warns/promises Silo Theatre in their bus shelter ads around town.  I’m curious about what their definition is, because I certainly don’t feel like Auckland is ‘afflicted’ by productions of this type. Professional Shakespeare’s in period dress for example are the rare […]

REVIEW: Glorious

November 2, 2011

Sexual Tension as thick as Magnolia Perfume [by James Wenley] It’s a classic formula, and one we are all familiar with: a miss-matched couple, often from vastly different backgrounds or social spheres meet, bicker, bicker some more, swear they hate each other, then admit their enduring love and affection. Jane Austen for one knew that hate was the secret to […]