The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Hawkes Bay Arts Festival.

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

* * *

The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Hawkes Bay Arts Festival.

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

* * *

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (IS TRAPPED IN A SUPERMARKET): Like a movie made out of Yoga Mats and Paper Plates
Basement Theatre Studio, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Directed by BEN ANDERSON
Presented by The People Who Play With Theatre
- reviewed by Jess Holly Bates

It’s no secret that I have a raging crush on devised theatre. It is fast, and furious, and often absurd. Providing live experiences made under pressure, the material generated in a devising room operates in a dangerous state of flux, always under threat of performative disorder.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HIRAETH: Feel-good theatre
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Created by Jesse Briton, Buddug James Jones, Max Mackintosh
Presented by Buddug James Jones Collective
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

The audacity of the Basement is that it’s a venue where just about anything can happen. Hiraeth is a classic example: a slick, polished and light-hearted coming-of-age story of a young Welsh woman who decides to leave behind the juvenile joys of port-a-loo tipping and cavorting around in potato fields is a little gem.

------------------------------------------------------------------

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (IS TRAPPED IN A SUPERMARKET): A core of truth within the ostensible absurdism
Basement Theatre Studio, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Directed by BEN ANDERSON
Presented by The People Who Play With Theatre
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

It’s difficult to conclusively guess what the initial inspiration might have been to create such a deceptively layered piece of work. Are the excruciating puns a by-product of the philosophical insight, or was the insight devised to pad out the puns?

------------------------------------------------------------------

A COLLECTION OF NOISES: Compelling and somewhat unnerving
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Written and directed by Alexander Sparrow
- reviewed by John Smythe

The young woman who arrives – and will become identified as Alice (Georgia Latief) – has black hair, a black dress and her face is shades of grey. I am tempted to interpret this as carved from stone or – after she tells of a childhood incident at the beach – cast in sand. But it’s simpler than that: she too is monochrome in her subjective reality.

------------------------------------------------------------------

GUYS AND DOLLS: Nicely Nicely
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
A Musical Fable of Broadway
Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon
Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd
Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)
Directed by Raymond Hawthorne
Musical Director: Robin Kelly
Movement Director: Jeremy Birchall
- reviewed by Tim George

Damon Runyon had a great ear for names. Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit, Nicely Nicely Johnson... Part of the fun of reading his short stories, or watching Guys and Dolls, the Broadway show based on his works, are the monikers and the characters who sport them.

------------------------------------------------------------------

GUYS AND DOLLS: The cast give us our money’s worth
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
A Musical Fable of Broadway
Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon
Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd
Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)
Directed by Raymond Hawthorne
Musical Director: Robin Kelly
Movement Director: Jeremy Birchall
- reviewed by James Wenley

Who was the chump who said that Guys and Dolls was the greatest golden-age musical? I could raise you dozens of shows. The 1950 work, by Loesser, Runyon and Swirling, which has long been a mainstay of community musical societies, is a rather tired property. For every Luck be a Lady you have two ponderous ballads.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
MAMIL: MIDDLE AGED MAN IN LYCRA: Enthralling and whiplash funny
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Written and directed by Gregory Cooper
- reviewed by Kirsty van Rijk

The multiple characters, all played by Hadlow, are each, if a little familiar, genuine. Hadlow breathes authenticity into them. We don’t need more character development, the recognisable characters are not paper cutouts but mates we’ve met. The differentiation between characters by accent helps us follow who Hadlow is but it is his physical acting that really brings them to life. He is most impressive when switching between five different characters while peddling his bicycle; the hilarious physical comedy of Wayne’s retired-grandfather-cylcling contrasts with the physically self-confident Hari to comedic effect.

------------------------------------------------------------------

TAKETAKE '15: A joyously informal atmosphere for grand performances
TAPAC - The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, Auckland
Artistic directors: Kura Te Ua, Beez Ngarino
- reviewed by Briar Wilson

Hawaiiki Tu describe Haka Theatre as a “new indigenous art form that combines the fundamentals of kapa haka, Maori movement and theatre... infused with ihi, wehi and wana”. Artistic directors, Kura Te Ua and Beez Ngarino Watt, spoke earlier in a forum that their work helped young Maori to find a spiritual base in their culture, but also achieves entertainment through dance developed in a contemporary innovative way that respects the totality of traditional Maori forms.

------------------------------------------------------------------

BE | LONGING: A VERBATIM PLAY: Moving look at migration
Fortune Theatre Studio, Dunedin
directed by Hilary Halba and Stuart Young
- reviewed by Barbara Frame

Arriving audience members are shown a map of the world and encouraged to mark the spot where they feel they ‘belong’. This helps establish the emotional context for Be/Longing’s exploration of the unsettling experience of moving to another country, and possibly a quite different culture.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
DOUBLE DERELICTS: No fourth wall in this show
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Choreographed by Justin Haiu
Directed by Jarod Rawiri
Produced by White Face Crew & Betsy Mana Productions
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

This show has lots of layers and constantly invites the audience to decide which layer we are going to feel as we watch the antics. There is a far deeper meaning to this work, if one wants to stretch oneself that far. Otherwise, a lighthearted look is also absolutely engaging.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
30FORWARD - FOOTNOTE NEW ZEALAND DANCE: Searching, experimenting and yearning choreography
Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga
Deirdre Tarrant (samplesof works by Raewyn Hill, Malia Johnston, Claire O'Neil, Kate McIntosh and Jo Randerson, Lisa Densem, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Alexa Wilson;
Malia Johnston with the dancers and Rowan Pierce (AV), Bevan Smith (soundscore).
- reviewed by Gin Mabey

There are some amazingly innovative moments. At one point, the dancers drop their pants, and begin to take their tops of but stop mid-way, holding their tops over their faces, above their heads, as faces and bodies are projected onto the clothing backdrops. It looks wonderfully bizarre, all these bodies (beautiful and toned might I say) gyrating and moving with multi-media faces. They use multi-media throughout the piece and it works really well.

------------------------------------------------------------------

GUYS AND DOLLS: Pep missing in cheeky classic
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
A Musical Fable of Broadway
Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon
Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd
Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)
Directed by Raymond Hawthorne
Musical Director: Robin Kelly
Movement Director: Jeremy Birchall
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

One looks for snap, bubble and froth in this classic wise-crackin' musical comedy about gamblers and nightclub dancers. But this production, like a couple of other traditional-style Auckland Theatre Company shows this year, falls rather flat - and it's not just the off-key singing.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
CATERPILLARS: Perfect for the youngsters
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Created by Thomas Monckton & Kallo Collective
Presented by SHOW PONY
- reviewed by Kirsty van Rijk

The toughest audience has to be one made up of children. Adults recognise a gag and will laugh, even if it isn’t funny simply for good manners sake, kids won’t. If they are not laughing, gasping or shouting in delight, it isn’t working. Caterpillars works. My young companion belly laughs throughout.

------------------------------------------------------------------

BE | LONGING: A VERBATIM PLAY: Stories bravely and generously shared
Fortune Theatre Studio, Dunedin
directed by Hilary Halba and Stuart Young
- reviewed by Kimberley Buchan

Where do you belong? Do you even think about it? For some people it is a most pressing and insistent question. For those who have only ever lived in the country they were born and have the benefits of having their culture being the dominant one in the land perhaps this question has never occurred to them. For everyone else it is quite different.

------------------------------------------------------------------

GUYS AND DOLLS: Bold, sassy and thoroughly entertaining
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
A Musical Fable of Broadway
Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon
Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd
Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)
Directed by Raymond Hawthorne
Musical Director: Robin Kelly
Movement Director: Jeremy Birchall
- reviewed by Kathryn van Beek

When you see the name Raymond Hawthorne on a poster you know you’re in for a good show, and Guys and Dolls is another triumph from the acclaimed director. It’s bold, sassy and thoroughly entertaining. It’s the perfect night out for anyone who’s ever been in love – or thought about it.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
ON THE CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF HILLARY CLINTON TAKING ME AS HER YOUNG LOVER: Perfectly presented
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
adapted from the book by Richard Meros
by Arthur Meek and Geoff Pinfield
directed by Geoff Pinfield
Presented by Theatre Beating
- reviewed by Kirsty van Rijk

Arthur Meek’s Richard Meros is polished and self-important, he’s a great character, fully realised and vaguely familiar. He’s like a lot of Millenials - irritating to us Baby Boomers. He emanates pratism especially in his Powerpoint presentation illustrating why Hillary Clinton needs a young lover (and why it should be him).

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
BEARDS, BEARDS, BEARDS: Musical and comedic and clever
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Written by Ralph McCubbin Howell
Directed by Hannah Smith
Presented by Trick of The Light
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

Beginning with an engaging barbershop duet and poppingly sharp pronunciation, we are called to the story that is about to unfold. The delightful barbers' delightful daughter Beatrix is a level headed, single minded and intelligent eleven year old girl who believes the only way she will EVER be listened to and taken seriously, is if she has a beard. "I wish I had the world's most magnificent beard!!" she fervently wishes as she cuts her hair in a lightning storm.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
BANGING CYMBAL CLANGING GONG: Funny, stirring and entertaining
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Jo Randerson’s raucous and dangerous Punk Barbarian returns to the stage. A powerful and hilarious solo show, a wake-up call for those that have fallen asleep, a call to arms for those who have given up the fight. Includes gruesome battle renditions, piano recitals of Bach and readings of Robert Frost.
- reviewed by Jenny Wake

She’s all noise and attitude, this rough, tough barbarian created and performed by Jo Randerson. Fortunately, by the time she’s pushed onto the stage, she’s half way through a bottle of booze and slow-moving enough to curb her more brutal instincts in favour of sharing her particular philosophy of living life to the full.

------------------------------------------------------------------

THE THINGS WE DO: Capable and promising
The Dark Room, Cnr Pitt and Church Street, Palmerston North
Devised and performed by Sarah Tuck
Directed and produced by Bop Murdoch
Presented by Pat-A-Cake Productions
- reviewed by John Ross

Sarah Tuck’s performance starts with expressive dancing and lip-synching to a pre-recorded rap, with admirable physical flexibility, fluidity and inventiveness. I miss the words. Much of what follows is mimed, mixed with brief bursts of speech.

------------------------------------------------------------------

THE STRONGER AFTER STRINDBERG: Intelligent, thoughtful and unashamedly serious when it needs to be
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
By Nathan Joe
Directed by Patrick Graham
Presented by Theatrewhack
- reviewed by Lexie Matheson

Theatrewhack, by its own admission, will never be mainstream. The company, we are told, “always attempts to experiment with the way the audience engages with the play” and this philosophy aligns itself perfectly with Strindberg’s own philosophy.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
THE WINE PROJECT: Inspired by wine and oh so captivating
Pacific Crystal Palace, Tauranga
Choreographer/director: Sasha Copland
- reviewed by Dr Linda Ashley

As the co-creator dancers begin a young Spring shoot of the vine takes centre stage (Sarah Gatzonis). Wild, untamed, rambling, twining but then the viticularist (Michael Gudgeon) takes things in hand, binding the ‘naked grape’ onto the trellis. It is one of many inspired moments that illustrate Copland’s and the dancers’ sharp physical and intellectual imaginations. There are many such fleeting moments, including a cinnamon quill-smoking, aloof femme of French film noir, precarious romantic liaisons balancing atop of wine barrels, and a progressive folk dance where the barriques take centre stage.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
WATCH THIS SPACE...: Mobile art works
Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga
Footnote New Zealand Dance 2015: Jeremy Beck, Kosta Bogoievski, Brydie Colquhoun, Emma Dellabarca, Lana Phillips with guest dancer Adam Naughton.
- reviewed by Dr Linda Ashley

A particularly evocative solo by Lana Phillips captured an involving intimacy with the Talisman photo works and hanging weavings. She fully embodied the works as hands drive one set of improvisations and the delicacy of woven string another – as delicate as a single loop of thread on a little finger.

------------------------------------------------------------------

LE NOIR – THE DARK SIDE OF CIRQUE: A fantastical feast for circus lovers
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland

- reviewed by Candice Frankland

The show is divided into three parts: Blanc, Rouge and Noir. Each one has a theme illustrated through the music and lighting to the costuming (both in obvious colours but also in the finer details), as well as the character personalities. The transitions between items are so seamless, thought through, and well choreographed that they could be items themselves. Le Noir has such an effortless flow between acts that despite being two and a half hours (including intermission), it feels as though time ceases to exist.

------------------------------------------------------------------

LE NOIR – THE DARK SIDE OF CIRQUE: Le Blanc
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland

- reviewed by James Wenley

If you want to crack the Auckland market, sex and cirque sells. Already we’ve had the Spiegeltent adult-circus double-hit of Empire at Wynyard Quarter and Limbo for Auckland Festival. Le Noir comes from the bankable team behind The Illusionists phenomenon.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
KNEE DEEP: Circus skills took my breath away
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Presented by Casus Contemporary Circus
- reviewed by Brenda Vowden

The tent erupted into a standing ovation as Casus Circus took their bow. I left the wonderful Spiegeltent with my head shaking and my mouth hanging open in utter wonderment. That memory will take centre stage as one of my life's all-time favourites.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
SOLOTHELLO: Raises stimulating questions
Huria Marae, Wharenui, 1 Te Kaponga St, Judea, Tauranga
Adapted and performed by Regan Taylor
Directed by Craig Geenty
Presented by Te R?hia Theatre Company
- reviewed by Gin Mabey

The show isn’t what I would call seamless or smooth, so at first I think, oh no, perhaps this is going to be a bumpy ride … Othello is a pretty heavy show as it is …

But then the humour, charm, cheekiness, cleverly-extracted wit comes out and we all relax and start to thoroughly enjoy.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
DIRT AND OTHER DELICIOUS INGREDIENTS: Aromatic and perfectly paced
Pacific Crystal Palace, Tauranga
Choreographer: Sascha Copland
- reviewed by Dr Linda Ashley

There are many memorable moments and it seems unkind to pick any one in particular as all three co-creator dancers (Emma Coppersmith, Sarah Gatzonis, Michael Gudgeon) create an involving, playful, messy absurdity. Tomatoes and capsicums becomes weapons of choice in a slapstick section, a solo balancing innumerable cinnamon quills along both outstretched arms whilst standing precariously on one leg on a wine barrel is mesmerizing (Gatzonis), and a section where scarves are tied in a multitude of ways capturing every part of the body possible is a real Houdini moment; just so much fun.

------------------------------------------------------------------

LE NOIR – THE DARK SIDE OF CIRQUE: Phenomenal and world class
The Civic - Auckland Live, Auckland

- reviewed by Nik Smythe

The implied premise of Le Noir involves a kind of transcendence, a rite of passage through colour-coded stages of life from the angelic innocence of Blanc, through the raunchy realm of Rouge, to culminate in the formidable danger of the titular Noir.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
KNEE DEEP: An intricately woven visual feast of physical deliciousness
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Presented by Casus Contemporary Circus
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

Each piece of work is bathed and enhanced with a particular sound, whether a ready made song with lyrics or an electronic soundscape. Without exception, individually or as an entire show, this works on a multitude of senses. I have no doubt each patron was wowed on some level.

------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Further information:

What began as a glorified blog by John Smythe has now become a major organ of communication, interaction and information that has created an online performing arts community by recording, critiquing, celebrating and debating NZ’s professional performing arts activity.

If you value Theatreview, and want to see it survive and grow to further serve the interests and needs of the performing arts community and their audiences, please join the Performing Arts Directory or offer a donation/koha.