The following reviews have been added to theatreview.org.nz in the last week:

Theatreview is the New Zealand Performing Arts Review & Directory.

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Concert Chamber - Town Hall, THE EDGE, Auckland - THE SECRET OF DONGTING LAKE: An exotic holiday treat
 - reviewed by Nik Smythe

As the always-exciting dry ice coats the stage floor and a flock of indigo satin River Spirits appear to leap mischievously about, it's clear we're in for a spectacular experience.   Celebrated local children's theatre director Ben Crowder carries an energetic young all-Asian cast through a flamboyant adventure of wonder and surprise.

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Te Whaea, Wellington - INNOCENCE: Delusions of innocence
 - reviewed by John Smythe

I wonder if German playwright Dea Loher would ever have graced a Wellington stage if Sebastian Sommer had not chosen her Innocence for his major Master of Theatre Arts in Directing (MTA)* production.

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Civic Theatre, Auckland - 42ND STREET: Visual fireworks, razzle-dazzle and dancing
 - reviewed by Janet McAllister

It's so lovely for once to see a musical that is all about the spectacle: the razzle-dazzle, the sequins and, above all, the dancing.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - UNIVERSAL DRIVE DOUBLE BILL: Knickers add a common touch
 - reviewed by Bernadette Rae

Universal Drive is a new addition to Tempo's dance festival formula, continuing on from its Fresh Cuts and Prime Cuts which have so successfully enabled, in previous years, newly emerging choreographers and those reaching their prime to show what they are up to in combined programmes of shorter works.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - FRESH CUTS 2010: Continuities and Challenges
 - reviewed by Linda Ashley

This year's inclusion of choreographer's bios gives a most welcome insight into legacies. For the record, background information could add value to what audiences see - especially if an audience is presented with the unfamiliar ...

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Fortune Theatre, Dunedin - THE PITMEN PAINTERS: The sheer joy in creativity made real
 - reviewed by Terry MacTavish

It could have been patronising, even insulting: see the sturdy pitmen with their comical Northern accents try to understand Art! That it is not is a triumph ... Yes, it is very funny, but it is also passionate, political and moving.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - OLD YELLER 2010: COLLECTION OF WORKS: Retro gems
 - reviewed by Jack Gray

Old Yeller is a firm festival fave with the masses, a happy early evening crowd gathered for a Forrest Gump-like Chocolate Box dance show experience. You never know what you're gonna get with this format - as the performers are all mature artists aged 35 and over!

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Civic Theatre, Auckland - 42ND STREET: The classy ole dame has more style than substance
 - reviewed by Kate Ward-Smythe

With plenty of pizzazz, and based on a fairy-tale story with a happy ending, 42nd Street captures the customary extravaganza of Broadway's golden age.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - UNIVERSAL DRIVE DOUBLE BILL: Subconscious minds & posing bodies
 - reviewed by Roxanne de Bruyn

Universal Drive brings an interesting new addition to Tempo's TAPAC season, allowing two established choreographers to create and show longer, more developed works than Fresh Cuts and Prime Cut do. Visceral and Pro-Posing complement each other well, the two styles contrasting coming together for a well rounded programme.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - THE HUNGRY ATTIC: Why such emphasis on the female form?
 - reviewed by Val Smith

As performers we convey information about our histories and back stories just by the nature of inhabiting our bodies; our bodies read as political cartographies of our upbringing, our values, and lifestyles. So intentionally or unintentionally, Backlit is sending a lot of information to their audience about their personal politics.

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TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland - TERTIARY COLOURS 2010: The future in their feet
 - reviewed by Briar Wilson

Tempo brings tertiary students to the stage as dance's future - mostly in their own short choreographed works with few props if any. The eleven pieces ranged from abstract contemporary dance, to themed pieces that were easily readable, to dance theatre, with one ballet piece.

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Downstage Theatre, Wellington - LISA TOMLINS WITH TWINSET: Kiwi music hall
 - reviewed by Peter Cleave

Kiikii te whare. He tangata tiaho rawa a Lisa ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara ...
It was packed. Lisa is popular in Wellington ...
Ka taatai teenei whakaaturanga ki a Billy T James me Lou raaua ko Haimona ....
The gig was in the tradition of Billy T James and Lou and Simon ...

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4 Moncrieff St., Mt. Victoria, Wellington - THUMBELINA: Infectious fun
 - reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

There was a time not so very long ago when all children's holiday shows preached a green message. Now, if the three latest offerings* are anything to go by, there's nothing environmental to get in the way of an updated traditional story, lots of laughs and plenty of audience participation.

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Circa Two, Wellington - PIRATES!: Improv piracy
 - reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

With Pirates we are into improvisation and therefore the show as well as the cast will be different each time, though I presume the basic plot of a search for treasure on a desert island will be the core of the proceedings. 3 performers available from a group of 7 listed in the programme appeared for the slightly uncertain first performance.

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Gryphon, Wellington - THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND A REALLY COOL WOLF: Jokes for young and old
 - reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

With The Three Little Pigs we are back to the panto approach to children's shows with jokes for young and old, including lavatory humour with a character called Toi Lett, who is Red Riding Hood's mother!

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BATS, Wellington - RESOLVE: Court without words
 - reviewed by Lynn Freeman

Five people walked out of Resolve within the first ten minutes the night I was there. Perhaps they couldn't handle the noise and how hard it was to hear what was being said. If so they missed one of the points of the play, to give those with hearing an inkling of what it is like to live in a world where communication can't be achieved through sound.

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4 Moncrieff St., Mt. Victoria, Wellington - THUMBELINA: Thumb-sized treat
 - reviewed by Lynn Freeman

'Adorable' sighed Madge the fairy as a particularly observant and helpful child from the packed audience went to the front of the stage to tell the fairies exactly where they could find Thumbelina. As Madge pointed out, that would bring the show to an early end. Bless.

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Aotea Centre at THE EDGE®, Auckland - RISE: Unsurpassable expertise
 - reviewed by Shanon O'Sullivan

Dwight Roden and Desmond Richardson's New York based Complexions Contemporary Ballet Companygreet us with pizzazz and the aplomb of an all star cast. As their second guest appearance to New Zealand in recent years, Complexions latest spectacular extravaganza undeniably lives up to the show's title.

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Gryphon, Wellington - WRECKS: The secret power of love
 - reviewed by John Smythe

Ah the wonders of live theatre, where it makes perfect sense to confide deep secrets to the audience despite its being a public space filled with strangers. Edward Carr ... also chats to us while telling us he is in the next room, hosting a large family gathering.

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Basement Theatre, Auckland - DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD: The tone shifts from stupid to angry to sexual to sad, like you're inside of a teenager's hormonally charged body
 - reviewed by Lillian Richards

... It is in fact a supremely clever, humiliating and genuine look at teenage loserdom, lostness, despair and hope. A sublime selection of teenage torments, misconceptions and parodies that lets you laugh but doesn't fail to make you feel.

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Wellington Performing Arts Centre, Wellington - THE MISANTHROPE: Wassenaar brings out the best in a very talented group of performers
 - reviewed by Maryanne Cathro

First performed in 1666, The Misanthrope would have been set firmly in the society from which Molière drew its inspiration. And yet Long Cloud Youth Theatre's production, which is set in some kind of contemporary 'Ab Fab' universe, is just as relevant.