See more recent reviews at theatreview.org, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME: Killed the Cat
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens 
Directed by Sara Brodie
The Kensington Swan season 
Presented by Auckland Theatre Company
- reviewed by Matt Baker

Winner of seven Laurence Olivier Awards and five Tony Awards, not one of these was for the script, which remains more or less identical in textual composition to the book, yet six were for production qualities (lighting, set, sound, and projection).

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THE EVENTS: A deeply disturbing yet fine and important play
Centrepoint, Palmerston North
By David Greig 
Directed by Lara Macgregor 
Musical Director: Roger Buchanan
- reviewed by John C Ross

The two main characters are Claire, the choir leader, played here by Claire Dougan, and The Boy, played by Jatinder Singh, although the two actors, especially the man, also take other roles. The time-scheme is quite ingeniously tangled ...

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LEGENDARY DIVAS: A great evening of musical entertainment
Circa Two, Wellington
Ali Harper 
Musical directors: Richard Marrett (Christchurch); David Sidwell (Hamilton +)
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

Harper's many years of experience in musical theatre and cabaret shines through in this show, as she is the consummate performer, confident and grounded, yet full of life and energy.

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THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME: A Star is Born
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
Based on the novel by Mark Haddon
Adapted by Simon Stephens 
Directed by Sara Brodie
The Kensington Swan season 
Presented by Auckland Theatre Company
- reviewed by Nathan Joe

With Silo’s Medea and the return season of The Book of Everything,2016 has been a good year for young characters on the big stage, proving that the universality of stories is dependent not on subject matter but execution.

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HYDE: Abiding wisdoms and timely insights
Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Wellington
Based on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde 
by Robert Louis Stevenson 
Adapted & Directed by Jett Ranchhod 
Presented by Mirrored Faces Productions
- reviewed by John Smythe

Fear is so much in the air these days, not least in the build-up to USA elections (will Trump’s fear-based electioneering be trumped by fear of Trump himself?), that it is almost impossible not to sense an allegorical resonance in Jett Ranchhod’s “what happened next” take on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde.

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LEGENDARY DIVAS: Respect, humour, style and charm
Circa Two, Wellington
Ali Harper 
Musical directors: Richard Marrett (Christchurch); David Sidwell (Hamilton +)
- reviewed by Maryanne Cathro

[Harper] talent has matured like a good cognac, developing breadth and depth and soul, although on stage she sparkles like champagne! 

Michael Nicholas Williams has finally returned to Wellington after a year in Europe, and it is a joy to see and hear him performing here again.

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See more recent reviews at theatreview.org.nz, the NZ Performing Arts Review & Directory

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