Here is a selection of recent reviews from theatreview.org.nz from the last week.

Theatreview is the New Zealand Performing Arts Review & Directory.

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Here is a selection of recent reviews from theatreview.org.nz from the last week.

Theatreview is the New Zealand Performing Arts Review & Directory.

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Quaker Meeting House, Mt Eden, Auckland
PLAYING MISS HAVISHAM: A cobweb-fine tapestry
- reviewed by Venus Stephens

Playing Miss Havisham is an hour and a half of story that darts between the lead character, Claudia's (Helen Moulder), life present and life past. Light hearted at times and at others, chillingly captivating, Playing Miss Havisham is an exciting, humorous, texturally layered piece of theatre.

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Basement Theatre, Auckland
THE HERMITUDE OF ANGUS, ECSTATIC: Hard to resist
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

At first, this late-night one-man show from Australia looks like just a vehicle for aMr Beanimpersonator in younger, more alternative clothing. The talented Vachel Spirason as Angus can certainly ape the open mouth, expressive eyebrows and angry confusion of Rowan Atkinson's old-fashioned, socially-awkward naif to a remarkable degree. And he isn't afraid to make fart jokes.

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Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge, Auckland
THE INTERMINABLE SUICIDE OF GREGORY CHURCH: Fascinating hilarity from a mundane life
- reviewed by Sian Robertson

The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church is about a man who, having resolved to top himself, sits down at his typewriter to write 56 suicide notes. The letters are addressed to various people in his life, including mysterious confidante Isabel, the man at the hardware shop and the editor of his local newspaper.

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Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge, Auckland
THE INTERMINABLE SUICIDE OF GREGORY CHURCH: Never mind the title, it's a wonderful show
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

If you are looking for a show that is funny and uplifting, it is unlikely that you would settle on something that has interminable and suicide in its title. But Daniel Kitson's stunning one-man performance is an object lesson in why you should never judge a book by its cover.

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Various West Coast venues, West Coast South Island
POISON AND PURITY: Inspired by 1080
- reviewed by Greg O'Connell

Poison and Purity is not only a balanced, polished and intelligently layered play but also a brilliantly entertaining night out.

"What's your poison?" Tom (Paul Maunder) asks behind the bar of the Hari Hari pub, echoing the theme of this engaging and energetic journey through 1080 country.

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BATS, Wellington
THE IDEA OF AMERICA: Disturbing depiction of disappointment
- reviewed by John Smythe

... The result is a very competent imitation of an American play; a reflection of those dramatisations (on stage and screen) that use a dysfunctional family as a metaphor for the state of that nation. Or in this case, the state of Shore's idea of a nation disappointed with itself.

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Basement Theatre, Auckland
THE HERMITUDE OF ANGUS, ECSTATIC: Absolutely brilliant theatre!
- reviewed by Stephen Austin

Performed with frantic glee by Vachel Spirason and held together by the expert eye of Stephanie Brotchie, this wonderful surreal world is realised with all of the vibrant joy that this company can muster. Told with dance, mime, bizarre regionalised gibberish, picture-book serialised storytelling and cream-pie-to-the-face humour, all is blended to create a private world of universal truths.

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The Wine Cellar, St Kevins Arcade (K Rd), Auckland
NONETREEHILL: Fast and loose farce
- reviewed by Stephen Austin

Who are Nonetreehill? They're Auckland's favourite newest mid-tempo, radio ready rock band. No surprise that you've never heard of them; this is their first gig.

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Pull Bar, K Rd Ballrooms. 214 K Rd, Newton, Auckland
THREE BY 3: One out of three worth developing
- reviewed by Adey Ramsel

"Three short plays, long on laughs", says the publicity for this production. True there are three short plays but in some cases the laughs are also short.

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Galatos, Auckland
I HEART 5, 6, 7, 8: Funny, sexy and very interesting
- reviewed by Felicity Molloy

Sweaty Heart Productions is a must see for the 2011 Fringe and with only one night to go. Their publicity says they are "ready to fire up their well-honed contemporary dance walking capabilities as well as a bit of dancing on the side". A perfect description for a funny, sexy and very interesting show!

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