The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of At The Wake, Dead Tragic, Sei ‘O Fafine, and Light Way Out.

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

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The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of At The Wake, Dead Tragic, Sei ‘O Fafine, and Light Way Out.

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

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WHITE ELEPHANT: A white elephant in more than name
Hannah Playhouse (previously Downstage), Wellington
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

The haves are all bluster and the athletic have-nots are for most of the time submissive, fawning and eager to oblige their superiors. They soon learn how to serve drinks, perform a ballet, and involve themselves in clay target shooting as well as an orgy.

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Gothic spectacle reminds us about the joys of sharing and giving
Municipal Theatre, Napier
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

The standout piece of the night is in Act II, 'Come Follow Me (round)' whereupon Scrooge is left with and surrounded by phantoms which grow more and more powerful. This piece is at once beautifully horrifying, gorgeously costumed, authentically and seamlessly designed and choreographed from singular dancers through to trios. Supernatural and magnificent.

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DEAD TRAGIC: Dead Tragic anything but
Circa Two, Wellington
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Circa has another hit show suitable for the pre-Christmas season despite Michael Nicolas Williams’ gloomy title. Let me hasten to add the title is ironic and this musical revue is anything but gloomy.

How could it not be when he has two of the funniest female comedy actors in town on stage (Emma Kinane and Lyndee-Jane Rutherford), supported by two excellent comic singing actors (Jon Pheloung, Darren Young)?

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LIGHT WAY OUT: Humour, intimacy, and wonderfully idiosyncratic choreography
The Open Stage, Hagley Community College, Christchurch
- reviewed by Emily Napolitano

Highlights include The Long And The Short Of It, Parts I and II, choreographed by Fleur de Thier. In this dance the long hair of one dancer is used dramatically as a prop, illustrating the ways we are fascinated by, idolize and yet torment those who have what we want. The object of desire gets her own back at the end, surreptitiously cutting off the hair of her imitators.

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SEI ‘O FAFINE: Fragilities of family life unpicked
The Pumphouse, Auckland
- reviewed by Dr Linda Ashley

This is a work of light and dark, anguish and redemption, struggle and shame, and pain and heartbreak. It tells the story through the eyes of the various players. The performers are a tour de force, and each of them has a moment to shine. They are tuned in with each other in movement and voice as a highly cohesive group. They also brilliantly capture the humorous side of the lives of the sisters as they endeavour to be Tongan women and embody all the expectations of traditional cultural protocols and the associated punishments. A kung fu paper-rock-scissors battle that settles an argument and, in seeking the perfect body a round of cosmetic remedies which includes spoofs on dental, plastic and dietary treatments, are both highly amusing.

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AT THE WAKE: In the Wake of Genius
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
- reviewed by Sharu Delilkan

Victor Rodger’s uncanny ability to write dialogue, that’s often self-censored in real life, is both refreshing and hard-hitting, which captures our attention right from the start. And this is evident as soon as Joan (Lisa Harrow) opens her mouth. The barrage of profanities that emit her gob can only be likened to proverbial verbal diarrhoea. There’s no question that we’re in for a no-holes-barred bumpy ride like no other.

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AT THE WAKE: Underneath hilarious comedy is concern with painful reality of relationships
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

The attraction of playing with fire is brilliantly displayed in a new work by Victor Rodger that lights the fuse on a volatile mixture of outrageous comedy and raw emotion.

The resulting explosion has the force of a volcanic eruption that blows away the veneer of social convention to release layers of pent-up emotion and deeply embedded pain.

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SHEEP: Es gehts
Q Loft, tickets collected at The Basement, Auckland
- reviewed by Matt Baker

Selecting a graduation/showcase production for an acting/industry institution is not an easy task. Numbers aside, gender and the suitability of sensibilities can be a difficult jigsaw to manage. Director Ben Henson has chosen wisely by gifting The Actor's Program 2014 class with Arthur Meek's Sheep, which has been adequately expanded to its full cast size.

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SPIEGELWORLD EMPIRE: An entertaining evening unlike any other
Odlins Plaza, Taranaki Wharf, Wellington
- reviewed by Lyne Pringle

Two themes pervade the evening: ribald lewdness and concentrated balance. The spirit of New York City is evoked with a cache of tried-and-true images such as the stars and stripes, the Statue of Liberty and the Occupy Movement to create a loose framework for the action.

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SPIEGELWORLD EMPIRE: Sexy circus wows audiences
Odlins Plaza, Taranaki Wharf, Wellington
- reviewed by Ann Hunt

This outrageous and hugely entertaining production combines circus, burlesque, comedy and vaudeville, all wrapped up in the beautiful wooden spiegeltent. The front seats are very close to the action which adds to the excitement and sightlines are excellent.

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WHITE ELEPHANT: Mocking society and gloriously revolting
Hannah Playhouse (previously Downstage), Wellington
- reviewed by Deborah Eve Rea

Our Bouffon-esque General (Anya Tate-Manning), Mayor (Madeline McNamara and Banker (Thomas Eason) arrive with noise, fanfare and ceremony, luring Zanni with promises of food and money in order to enslave them to carry out medial tasks. The Zanni perform plays, dance, fornicate and fight each other for the amusement and approval of the Bouffons.

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THE UNDERARM: Very funny and thought-provoking
Lawson Field Theatre, Gisborne
- reviewed by Juliet Blakeney

Greg Chappell really dropped the ball.

Cricket is said to be a 'gentleman's game' but the Aussies well and truly proved it's "not really". The infamous underarm bowl in Melbourne demonstrated beyond doubt that when you transport a sport to the other end of the globe the gentlemanly quality becomes forgotten.

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AT THE WAKE: Finely wrought work performed with rambunctious audacity and finesse
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

At the Wake chronicles the sequence of events that unfurl at Olivia’s funeral. Daughter of a mouthy Scottish diva, she was knocked up by her Samoan lover at the tender age of sixteen and left to rear her baby boy on her own. Fast forward 25 years and cancer has brought the three most important people in her life into the same space as they gather together to mourn her passing.

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WATCH: Espionage thriller launches BATS transformation
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

The refurbished and redesigned Bats Theatre is a truly remarkable transformation and it must surely be the smartest little theatre in the country.

The first two things to hit you on entering the building are the spacious foyer and bar, which is no longer the size of a broom cupboard, while the ticket office which is now placed so you won’t get trapped in the crush that used to block the way to the auditorium. And the toilets are immaculate.

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

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