Diamond Dogs at BATS in Wellington provides more therapy than theatre, The Complete History of World Rugby (Abridged) at Botanic Gardens in Christchurch is exhilarating madness and Well Hung at Maidment in Auckland is a cop-incompetence romp.

Diamond Dogs at BATS in Wellington provides more therapy than theatre, The Complete History of World Rugby (Abridged) at Botanic Gardens in Christchurch is exhilarating madness and Well Hung at Maidment in Auckland is a cop-incompetence romp.

Just some of the reviews added to theatreview.org.nz in the last week. Theatreview is the New Zealand Performing Arts Review & Directory.

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

BATS, Wellington
DIAMOND DOGS: More Therapy Than Theatre
- reviewed by Helen Sims

What would Bowie do? This is the question posed in an attempt to overcome the social and motivational difficulties encountered by a severely depressed person portrayed in Diamond Dogs.

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

Soundshell, Botanic Gardens, Wellington
THE WINTER'S TALE: Zealous young actors at risk of getting hoarse
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

This complex, poetic play, a four season comedy that nearly slides into tragedy, about time, the transient nature of human relationships and the redemptive power of love is given a robust, rough and ready production performed by a cast of enthusiastic young actors.

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

Soundshell, Botanic Gardens, Wellington
THE WINTER'S TALE: Energetic and Enjoyable
- reviewed by Helen Sims

With its themes of redemption and renewal, The Winter's Tale can make perfect Summer Shakespeare fare. The play begins in Sicilia, where King Leontes and his wife Hermione have been hosting King Polixenes of Bohemia. Polixenes wishes to return home, and is implored to stay by his hosts. His wife's skilful pleading ignites jealousy in Leontes and he becomes convinced that the child she carries has been fathered by his friend. His jealous actions plunge the characters into varying states of being lost to themselves and each other. So far so Days of Our Lives, albeit in the lush setting of the Botanical Gardens.

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

Maidment, Auckland
WELL HUNG: A cop-incompetence romp
- reviewed by Kate Ward-Smythe

True to the genre, director Ben Crowder unashamedly pulls on every aspect of farce to present this new version of Robert Lord's original kiwi satire, which has been revised by the skilful wit of Stephen Sinclair as script editor.*

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

Daffodil Lawn, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch
THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF WORLD RUGBY (ABRIDGED): Exhilarating Madness
- reviewed by Lindsay Clark

This year's production from the Outwits has a narrower range than some, with a bloke-ish slant to the humour, as might be expected from the rugby focus. (Expect lots of ball gags and a good deal of wind). There is no shortage of laughs though as three brave fellows (and their referee) romp through a very slick production well buffed up by directors Hadlow and Cooper.

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

BATS, Wellington
THINK OF ALL THE FUN YOU'LL FIND IN THE RUBBER ROOM: Kafkaesque Room Play
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

The Rubber Room is a comedy that, like Waiting for Godot, and its not-so distant cousins Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Sunday Afternoon at Home by Tony Galton and Alan Simpson, depends on time crawling unwillingly along and nothing happening at all.

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

BATS, Wellington
BROKEN CHINA: 1950s Suburban Comedy Turns Into Smashing Finale
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

The conformity, the boredom, and the repressed lives led by unfulfilled housewives of 1950s and early 60s suburbia are once more the fuel that drives many contemporary films and TV series such as Revolutionary Road and Madmen.

The happy-ever-after myth is being exposed yet again in Broken China.

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