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

* * *

CLOSE CITY: Alluring and ultimately disturbing reverie
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written by Marius Ivaskevicius 
Directed by Egle Simkeviciute Kulvelis 
Presented by Paper Plane Factory
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Written a decade ago, around the time of the construction of the Öresund Bridge between Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark, Close City explores, among other things, the connections, differences and rivalry between the two cities, visible to eachother across the Öresund Strait. Numerous other complex themes include, but are not limited to, freedom and control, desire and regret, sexuality and conscience, repression, oppression and abuse.

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

CLOSE CITY: A Doll’s Hell
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written by Marius Ivaskevicius 
Directed by Egle Simkeviciute Kulvelis 
Presented by Paper Plane Factory
- reviewed by Nathan Joe

Like A Doll’s House‘s Nora, Close City‘s Annika (Sheena Irving) is trapped within the walls of stifling domesticity, watched over by a patronising husband (Jeff Szusterman) and pestered by her children. But, while both plays share a similar yearning for escape, the similarities end there.

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

CLOSE CITY: Double-life tale a treat
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written by Marius Ivaskevicius 
Directed by Egle Simkeviciute Kulvelis 
Presented by Paper Plane Factory
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

The absurdist drama takes us into the seedy underbelly of the Scandinavian sex industry and touches on the disturbing themes rumbling beneath the deceptively sweet surface of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.

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

THE GRASS IS MEANER: Could be even more thrilling and blackly comedic
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
By Edward Campbell 
Directed by Geraldine Brophy 
Presented by A ShortScot Cooperative
- reviewed by John Smythe

Secrets from the past are revealed that turn the present on its head. While most of it accords with what we’d expect, given the circumstances and the genre, it is Mary who discovers she’s capable of things she never thought possible and her emotional responses are as delightfully surprising to her as they are for us.

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

NOT IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD: Electrifying exposition of abuse
Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
Written and Directed by Jamie McCaskill 
Presented by Tikapa Productions 
in association with Te Whāriki Manawahine O Hauraki
- reviewed by Helen Watson-White

Not In Our Neighbourhood, a short, razor-sharp play touring the country, addresses the abuse issue with all the forces available in a theatre, while leaving the audience feeling they've also been entertained.

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

NOT IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD: Controlled, exquisite, exhilarating performance of authentic, stylish, humorous play
Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
Written and Directed by Jamie McCaskill 
Presented by Tikapa Productions 
in association with Te Whāriki Manawahine O Hauraki
- reviewed by Kathryn van Beek

One in three women in New Zealand experience physical and / or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime. It’s not ok. But is it something you really want to see a play about? If you’d like to experience chic, award-winning theatre that’s a laugh or a gasp a minute, then the answer is yes

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

BOYS WILL BE BOYS: Swimming with the Sharks
Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland
Written by Melissa Bubnic
Directed by Sophie Roberts 
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Rachael Longshaw-Park

Boys Will Be Boys is a brash and unapologetic dive into the social and sexual politics of the corporate banking world. Notably it contains a thematic parallel that couldn’t be more poignant currently with the national scrutiny of the Chiefs’ media scandal.

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

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES: Gruesome injuries over decades won’t cut you to the quick
Lot 23, 23 Minnie Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
A Play By Rajiv Joseph 
Directed by Nicci Reuben 
Presented by Navi Collaborative
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

This slightly perplexing play is absorbing enough: a physically daredevil young boy meets a psychologically fragile girl, and we see them meeting up at various points during the next 30 years.

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

LAST LEGS: Underdeveloped and yet to find its feet
Circa One, Wellington
By Roger Hall
Directed by Ross Jolly
- reviewed by John Smythe

There are some one-liners worth repeating (I won’t) but for some reason they don’t get the laughs they should on the night. A couple of surprising moments shock us into sudden laughter but most of the time we sit in silence as if waiting for the real play to begin.

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

LAST LEGS: A rare stumble
Circa One, Wellington
By Roger Hall
Directed by Ross Jolly
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

However, in this latest offering, the writing has mellowed considerably, is less sharp and much of it, while canvassing many issues facing older people today, has the characters talking directly to the audience for most of the time with their life-stories, with little or no interactions between the individual characters.

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

BOYS WILL BE BOYS: A searing interrogation of value systems
Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland
Written by Melissa Bubnic
Directed by Sophie Roberts 
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

In a strong female-driven narrative, Boys Will Be Boys exposes not just the multiple glass ceilings that women face in the industries and systems wrought by men but, equally, how such institutions breed desperation, ruthlessness and betrayal in power games that play women off against each other.

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

BOYS WILL BE BOYS: Offers a no-holds-barred view on sexual violence
Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland
Written by Melissa Bubnic
Directed by Sophie Roberts 
Presented by Silo Theatre
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

With a title that sounds uncomfortably close to the excuses offered up for the Chiefs' "Mad Monday" incident, Boys Will Be Boys delivers a searing indictment of how workplace culture can enable and support sexual violence.

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

QUEEN: Relatable, funny, heart-breaking, hopeful
Allen Hall Theatre, University of Otago, Dunedin
Written by Sam Brooks 
Directed by Jordan Dickson
- reviewed by Tayla Curline

Through their stories of the first time kissing a boy, another dance number (this time, the Spice Girls), and the occasional rant, Queen explores aspects of what it is really like to be gay in the 21st century. The actors ... perform with vibrant commitment, individually and as an ensemble.

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

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES: Skilfully pinpointed truth
Lot 23, 23 Minnie Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
A Play By Rajiv Joseph 
Directed by Nicci Reuben 
Presented by Navi Collaborative
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Framed within his increasingly physically damaging exploits, Doug’s generous advances and invitations to share are perpetually undermined by Kayleen's pathological unwillingness to allow herself to even try for her best chance for happiness.

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

P.G. WODEHOUSE’S JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN PERFECT NONSENSE: Immaculately staged Wodehouse
St James Theatre, Wellington
Adapted by The Goodale Brothers 
Original Director – Sean Foley 
Presented by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions in association with Mark Goucher and Mark Rubinstein
- reviewed by Bob Mason

Perfect Nonsense is superbly titled. The plot is preposterous. What makes the play stand out is the immaculate staging and clever structure of a play within a play, involving just three actors.

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

HOLD ME: A surreal and fascinating look at relationships
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
By Emily Duncan 
Directed by Tabitha Arthur 
Presented By: Prospect Park Productions
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

In what appears to be three unrelated vignettes in three different time periods Grace (Raquel Roderick), Stanza (Kristy Bruce) and Erik (Alex Greig) discuss aspects of their relationships and both the internal and external forces affecting these relationships, such as parents, particularly mothers and children.

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

P.G. WODEHOUSE’S JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN PERFECT NONSENSE: More delighted by set and costumes than performances and story
St James Theatre, Wellington
Adapted by The Goodale Brothers 
Original Director – Sean Foley 
Presented by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions in association with Mark Goucher and Mark Rubinstein
- reviewed by Moana Ete

The play is, as the title suggests, perfectly nonsensical and convoluted. This is intentional, of course, as it’s the duty of Bertie Wooster to narrate this particular series of farfetched events.

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

SHORT+SWEET THEATRE 2016
SHORT+SWEET THEATRE 2016 – SEASON 1: A mixed bag of all-sorts
TAPAC Theatre, Western Springs, Auckland

- reviewed by Lexie Matheson

The ten plays selected for the Season One program run the gamut from farce to musical to drama and back, via poetry, through satire to absolute absurdity. The quality of the productions varies greatly as can, and should, be expected with a concept like this ...

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

Arts On Tour NZ 2016
UNDER THE SAME MOON: A keen observation of human nature and family
Baycourt X-Space, Tauranga
Written by Renee Liang 
Directed by Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho (2016)
Presented by Omphalos Co
- reviewed by Marlise Hughes

I find the set pieces with ‘Pop Por’, the 88 year old Grandmother with a wandering mind but a will of iron, to be the most enjoyable. Her quirky wisdom, personal history and downright cantankerousness crosses all ethnic borders ...

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

TINY DEATHS: Passionate production impeccably cast
Fortune Theatre Studio, Dunedin
Written by Uther Dean 
Directed by Alison Embleton 
Presented by Counterpoint with support from Fortune Theatre
- reviewed by Kimberley Buchan

The script is completely hilarious in the most twisted way. You feel the smile stretch your mouth and mid-sentence your smile is caught, oddly frozen as the dark implications of the words sink in.

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

THOMUS: A bold and successful form that makes us truly listen
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written and directed by Ash Jones
- reviewed by Leigh Sykes

The scenes between Thomus and Wendy are highlights for me. I love the spark that is immediately apparent between them and the way that the language emphasises that, while still allowing us to revel in the awkwardness of the characters’ tentative steps towards a relationship.

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

THOMUS: Shakespearean Aspirations
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written and directed by Ash Jones
- reviewed by Nathan Joe

Not to gush, but Jones is able to weave the classical and contemporary effortlessly, where each side of the writing lifts the other up. The very ordinary storylines of marital strife, high school romance and petty crime are elevated to grandiose proportions through the poetry ...

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

THOMUS: Shakespeare homage clever, ridiculous and enjoyable
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written and directed by Ash Jones
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

This surprising show – by new writer/director Ash Jones – is bonkers in the most wonderful way. 

First, it is set in today's Auckland yet written almost entirely in iambic pentameter, with a large load of rhyming couplets thrown in.

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

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.