The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Hudson & Halls Live!, Call Me Bukowski, and Evita.

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

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The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Hudson & Halls Live!, Call Me Bukowski, and Evita.

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

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TWISTED – THE MUSICAL: Saved by passion and potent talent
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Script/Story: Nick Lang, Matt Lang and Eric Kahn Gale
Music: AJ Holmes | Lyrics: Kaley McMahon
Orchestrations: Andrew Fox
Director: Adam Spedding
Musical Director: Andy Manning
Produceed by Dionysos: Brendan Talbot & Aaron Tindell
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

At its core TWISTED does have a very clear central character: the Grand Vizier Ja’far. Not unlike the Wicked Witch of the West, he too has a story to share and Starkid Productions created this work to present their unrivalled commitment to deconstructing one of the world’s favourite Disney films: Aladdin.

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NORTHERN GLOW: Outstanding immersive theatre
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written and Performed by Bryony Skillington
Directed By Ahi Karunaharan
Presented by Working Class Productions & Agaram
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Narrative-wise there is much to unpack. With zero forced exposition, every clue and detail is provided in the characters’ innate behaviour as each scene plays out naturally to inform the next. The entire company deserves accolades for this outstanding achievement in immersive theatre, none more so than Bryony Skillington both for her conceptual vision and her willingness to share ...

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CALL ME BUKOWSKI: Captures the zeitgeist with flair
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Written and produced by Ben Wilson
Directed by Adele Louise Tunnicliff
Original Music composed and performed live by Leon Van Dijk (Pelorus)
- reviewed by John Smythe

Wilson has made some bold, surprising and somewhat cheeky choices that elevate what could have been a rather prosaic or turgid enquiry into a juicy and absorbing 70 minutes of character and theme interrogation. His lively dramaturgy carries a highly articulate text that dramatises urgently enquiring minds with alacrity.

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EVITA: Exceptionally professional Evita
Opera House, Wellington
By Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice
Originally directed by Harold Prince
Directed by Grant Meese
Musical Director: Kate Marshall
Choreographer: Leigh Evans
Produced by Amici Productions in association with PLT
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

For 50 years now, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have been entertaining audiences with an array of musicals, each having songs that have become stand-alone hits like the shows that they originated from.

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BOYS AT THE BEACH: Plenty of clever twists and funny incidents
Centrepoint, Palmerston North
by Alison Quigan & Ross Gumbley
Director Lucy Schmidt
- reviewed by John Ross

Every damn life-situation has its upsides and downsides, and all you can hope for is more upsides than downers. Stuff happens. So life goes on, till it stops. The Black Caps don’t win every time.

Such is the stuff of this comedy.

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ALL OUR SONS: Many moments to savour
Circa One, Wellington
By Witi Ihimaera
Directed by Nathaniel Lees
Producer: Grace Ahipene-Hoete
Presented by Taki Rua Productions
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

Like a number of other plays commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Gallipoli and WWI this year, Witi Ihimaera's All Our Sons, currently playing at Circa Theatre, takes a different perspective than the usual.

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HUDSON & HALLS LIVE!: Pair whip up comedy gold
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
Written by Kip Chapman with Todd Emerson and Sophie Roberts
Contributors: Chris Parker and Jackie van Beek
Directed by Kip Chapman
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

Like a glittering swirl of praline crumbs cascading over the sponge-finger walls of a creme brulee castle, Hudson and Halls are back with a scrumptiously over-the-top display of outrageous showmanship and culinary mayhem.

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HUDSON & HALLS LIVE!: A Simple Dish
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
Written by Kip Chapman with Todd Emerson and Sophie Roberts
Contributors: Chris Parker and Jackie van Beek
Directed by Kip Chapman
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Matt Baker

Commissioned by Silo Theatre, Hudson & Halls Live! is the fictional account of New Zealand's best cooking duo, two men whose love of cooking, entertaining, laughing, living, and most importantly, each other, introduced an entire nation to the idea of accepting their own foibles, and humanity.

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DIRT AND OTHER DELICIOUS INGREDIENTS: The allure of cinnamon
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Choreographer: Sascha Copland
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

Sarah Gatzonis sits with her back to us as we enter the performance space fifteen minutes before Java Dance Company's Dirt and other Delicious Ingredients begins. She is quite still and seemingly relaxed even though her arms are outstretched, upward turned and laden with stacked rows of whole cinnamon sticks. She casually watches the audience take their seats, while those entering the space are in turn watching her with looks of interest and intrigue. Every now and then her eyes close and she slowly moves her head and neck. I suspect she is releasing the tension of sitting completely still for a period of time. The power in her small movements is immense and I expect her to spring upward and pounce at any moment.

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EVITA: Experience the power
Opera House, Wellington
By Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice
Originally directed by Harold Prince
Directed by Grant Meese
Musical Director: Kate Marshall
Choreographer: Leigh Evans
Produced by Amici Productions in association with PLT
- reviewed by Jo Hodgson

Heather Wilcock is mesmerising as Eva. She completely embodies this huge role with vocal precision and nuance, giving everything and more to and her character journey: remarkable from such a young performer. She is equally caustic, controlling and devastatingly heart-breaking ...

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HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
THE WINE PROJECT: Spicy hedonism and sensuality
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Choreographer/director: Sasha Copland
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

Emma Coppersmith brings what seems to be a chaste elegance to the milieu. And a lot more cinnamon which becomes the percussive beginning of a party with music, drumming, stamping, slapping on anything and everything. So much is happening at this point, my senses are overwhelmed with sight, sound and smell, I begin to believe I am part of this scene, that at any moment, I will get up and join in the reverie myself. I can feel it in my own body. We are only fifteen minutes in to this rich performance and already this company has achieved near total immersion of their audience.

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ALL OUR SONS: Exceptional
Circa One, Wellington
By Witi Ihimaera
Directed by Nathaniel Lees
Producer: Grace Ahipene-Hoete
Presented by Taki Rua Productions
- reviewed by John Smythe

Drawn from the hard-to-find stories of the New Zealand Native Contingent which served at Gallipoli, All Our Sons distils the essence of a universal experience in a uniquely M?ori way. In just 70 minutes this Nathaniel Lees-directed Taki Rua production immerses us in a visceral evocation of that terrible war, taking us into its heart and leaving us with plenty to ponder.

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PACIFIC DANCE CHOREOLAB SHOWING 2015: Youthful virtuosity and fiery words
Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson, Auckland
Hadleigh Pouesi, Jahra 'Rager' Wasasala and Albert 'Bux' Fale.
- reviewed by Paul Young

Wasasala’s spoken word poetry is intrinsic to her practice and effectively provides context throughout her performance. “I am a mongrel map,“ ”I am the colonised and the coloniser.” Wasasala deals with identity in a far more immediate way than we often see. She is explicit in content without making us feel like we are having it spelt out, and there is no ambiguity about the visceral punch that she packs. I write in my journal that Wasasala breathes real fire.

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HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
ARTE KANELA FLAMENCO: A naked flame in an open fire
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
Richard and Johnny Tedesco
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

There is an intense intimacy between the musicians and the dancers. Sometimes it seems the dancers are telling the musicians what to play and sometimes it seems the musicians are calling the dancers. Either way, the layers of what we are seeing and hearing is a complicated abundance of syncopated rhythm and passion. The musicians and dancers alike, are all communicating with their eyes, their smiles, their movements, and their music.

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SIVA: Embodied testament of future potential
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Neil Ieremia
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

Ieremia brings together the narrative strands that have shaped Black Grace and its history for the last two decades, SIVA is therefore a testament, to the artists and the company, but most importantly to the whanau and families of those who have supported this journey.

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PACIFIC DANCE CHOREOLAB SHOWING 2015: A collection of Pacific bodies and concepts
Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson, Auckland
Hadleigh Pouesi, Jahra 'Rager' Wasasala and Albert 'Bux' Fale.
- reviewed by Vivian Aue

She is draped in sand. She is smiling. She is upon the journey of womanhood. She bows before the tanoa, a respectful act towards her ancestors. Her head is down and we witness the wet curls from her scalp start to twitch. Life has begun. Life has called upon her to not be afraid and to state the truth of women in past and present societies. I gasp at the earthly tone in her voice as she begins to speak honestly upon us. Blood/d/runk is a spoken word and movement exploration and both elements are demonstrated with maturity and clean cut confidence.

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HUDSON & HALLS LIVE!: Wild, joyous, booze-fuelled romp may also prompt a tear or two
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
Written by Kip Chapman with Todd Emerson and Sophie Roberts
Contributors: Chris Parker and Jackie van Beek
Directed by Kip Chapman
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Jan Maree

This is the portrayal of a fine romance, of volatility that most of us would walk away from, of a love that is so deep and complex that is can only be one kind: the true kind.

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AOTEAROHA: RISING STARS: Diverse and diverting
Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland
Hosted by Urzila Carlson
New Zealand Comedy Trust
- reviewed by Michelle Robinson

Stereotypes are being pulled apart, thrown around and stuck back together by the next generation of the Kiwi comedy circuit. Young, gays, women and ethnic minorities are carved up on stage in a domain traditionally filled with white men.

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LEGENDARY DIVAS: Creates intense moments of delight and sorrow
4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
Ali Harper
Musical directors: Richard Marrett (Christchurch); David Sidwell (Hamilton +)
- reviewed by Ngaire Riley

Ali Harper is a complete package: a beautiful singer, instantly able to create mood, and a wonderful mimic. Whether it is Edith Piaf, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Miley Cyrus or Dolly Parton, the style and timbre of voice emerges.

The stories of women’s lives enrich the evening.

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LASHINGS OF WHIPPED CREAM: Frank and funny with philosophical insights
The Dark Room, Cnr Pitt and Church Street, Palmerston North
by Fiona Samuel
Directed by Megan Green
- reviewed by Alexandra Bellad-Ellis

The card reads: “Mistress Dominique’s Dark Room. Bondage, domination, fantasy. Full range of services, teenage mistress, discretion guaranteed.”

This gives you both a good idea of what the play is about, and the totally wrong idea at the same time.

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SHORT+SWEET FESTIVAL WELLINGTON: Should become an annual highlight in Wellington
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington

- reviewed by John Smythe

It began in Sydney ten years ago, has been an annual fixture in Auckland since 2010 (and in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Singapore and Malaysia for longer), Now the Short+Sweet Festival – or the theatre component, anyway – has launched in Wellington with eleven ten-minute pieces.

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HAWKES BAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2015
JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND – FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN: In love again with the era, Dietrich and her voice
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North

- reviewed by Karen Beaumont

For many in tonight’s audience this has been a trip down memory lane: a nostalgic recollection of Marlene Dietrich and all that she meant to those who had seen her and held her dear.

That this evening’s performance takes place in the very spiegeltent Dietrich performed in during the 1930s makes this an even more auspicious occasion.

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MICHELE A’COURT IN STUFF I FORGOT TO TELL MY DAUGHTER: Stuff to tell our sons as well?
The Famous Spiegeltent, Havelock North Domain, Havelock North
presented by NOTORIOUS*
- reviewed by Karen Beaumont

Comedian, author and social commentator, Michele A’Court’s solo show, Stuff I forgot to tell my Daughter, is a laugh out loud, wipe away the tears look at mother and daughter relationships, feminism and life.

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

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