Welcome to the blog… Rosabel Tan!

February 27, 2012

I am incredibly excited to announce that Rosabel Tan has joined the team at Theatre Scenes as a reviewer. I’ve long admired Rosabel’s writing and reviews, previously having reviewed for The Lumiere Reader and Craccum magazine, where she was Theatre Editor from 2007-2008. Treating degrees like Pokémon, Rosabel has a BA/BCom majoring in English, psychology and marketing, a Master’s in psychology and, most […]

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 […]

REVIEW: Mary Stuart (Auckland Theatre Company)

May 9, 2011

Two Queens, two kingdoms [by Sharu Delilkan] With the recent revelry to mark the British Royals tying their nuptials I wasn’t surprised that The Maidment Theatre’s foyer was packed to the gunnels when we arrived. But I soon realised it was because there were two sets of audiences in the house – those gearing up for the NZ International Comedy […]

REVIEWS: ‘Space Race’, ‘I am a Yeti’ and the funny play (Comedy Festival)

May 3, 2011

There’s something happening in Auckland right now, and it’s hilarious. [by James Wenley]  And I’m not talking about the Comedy Festival proper. We Aucklanders have known this is hilarious for a number of years now. Auckland’s stand-up comic fraternity (anyone who has ever appeared on 7 Days, ever) have been on a renaissance roll for a while.  No, I’m talking […]

REVIEW: Boys’ Life (Outfit Theatre Company)

April 14, 2011

Blokes behaving badly [by Sharu Delilkan] If you’re looking to see a show with balls Boys’ Life is definitely it. The play follows the drunken, nihilistic excesses of three American youths through their quest to embrace responsibility, seek partnership and come to a realisation of their place in the world.  Boys’ Life reminds the audience of their journey from adolescent confused […]

REVIEW: Did I Believe it? (Silo Theatre)

April 11, 2011

Why Vodka? [by James Wenley] Vodka, according to the pinnacle of human thought – Wikipedia – is “one of the world’s most popular liquors. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made from fermented substances like grain.” Ho-Hum.  According to the Did I believe it? Team, Vodka is drunk by alcoholics, […]

REVIEW: The Show Must Go On (Auckland Arts Festival)

March 18, 2011

Turning the tables [by Sharu Delilkan] Of all this year’s festival shows The Show Must Go On has to be the most memorable.  Not for acting, lighting, staging, music, writing, dialogue (there is none) or dance, but the real and raw effect it has on the audience. Descriptions such as ‘challenging’, ‘groundbreaking’, ‘brave’ and ‘provocative’ come to mind but I’ll […]

REVIEW: First Love (Auckland Arts Festival)

March 17, 2011

Beckett on Love [by Sharu Delilkan] We were greeted by instrumental music that immediately made me reminisce with fondness about my first love.  The stark stage with two different sized benches and the cold blue lighting contrasted the emotive background music. It’s not long before Conor Lovett enters stage right dressed in a chequered suit, hoodie and worn reddish-brown leather […]

REVIEW: Standstill (Auckland Fringe)

March 14, 2011

All is revealed [by James Wenley] With the Auckland Fringe over, it is safe to talk about Standstill. The latest from The Rebel Alliance, Standstill featured a unique and risky promotional campaign. Their image said “Don’t read this” and the promotional blurb told us nothing about what the show was about, or who was in it. We were asked to […]

REVIEW: The Manganiyar Seduction (Auckland Arts Festival)

March 11, 2011

Think inside the square [by Sharu Delilkan] In the bar prior to the performance someone said “Are you ready for ‘Indian Celebrity Squares’?”. And that was exactly the structure of the musicians we were greeted with onstage, with nine musicians across by four storeys high, revealing a whole grid of musicians who were eventually collectively lit. This was the beginning […]

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