A selection of reviews from Theatreview from the last week including Midnight In Moscow, Wake Less, and Art In The Dark 2011.

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

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A selection of reviews from Theatreview from the last week including Midnight In Moscow, Wake Less, and Art In The Dark 2011.

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

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A bookshop near you, - MIDNIGHT IN MOSCOW: Refreshing drama of deceit and treachery about ‘The God that Failed’

- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Steele Roberts Publishers are to be congratulated for publishing Dean Parker’s play Midnight in Moscow and thereby rescuing it from becoming either a footnote to our theatrical history or a pub quiz teaser: Name the play that opened at the Court Theatre in Christchurch in February 2011 and closed after two performances ...

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BATS, Wellington - WAKE LESS: Travel in dreams offers big range of destinations

- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

I found Wake Less was like being in a dream in which I was caught up in an extended Monty Python sketch to which I reacted like I do to most Monty Python sketches by laughing and at times nonplussed as to why I was laughing and why others were laughing when I wasn’t.

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Playhouse, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton - IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY: Good vibrations bring sexual and emotional emancipation

- reviewed by Gail Pittaway

It’s hard to avoid dreadful puns for this unusual comedy by contemporary American writer Sarah Ruhl, when the subject is the use of an electrical vibrator used by doctors in the late nineteenth century to cure women of hysterical illnesses by inducing physical release, a paroxysm; an orgasm, by any other name.

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St James Theatre, Wellington - A FESTIVAL OF RUSSIAN BALLET: A festival of music, movement and colour

- reviewed by Greer Robertson

The female dancer performing Kitri is clipped and concise, technically a large leap away from the standard of the corps de ballet as she includes her speciality of double fouettes executed with one hand on her hip. This one-handed skill is also seen in the pas de deux as her male partner lifts her with consummate ease in a one-armed pressage high above his head.

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Regent Theatre, Dunedin - THE MERIDIAN SEASON OF THE SLEEPING BEAUTY: Leaves you with that" happily ever after" feeling

- reviewed by Kasey Dewar

Overall this is a completely stunning production. The mammoth sets that are wheeled around the stage, intricate costumes totally suit their characters and spot on dancing from the Royal New Zealand Ballet combines to create one stand-out performance.

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Unitiec Campus, Entry One, Carrington Rd, Auckland - UNITEC GRADUATION PLAYS 2011: QUAD BILL: Double Feature B

- reviewed by Nik Smythe

The potential trouble with drama school productions is that the casting is limited to available students, causing possible difficulties matching the players to the roles. In light of this, the casting for both Artaud at Rodez and The Water Engine is remarkably well appointed, indicating an exemplary level of versatility among them.

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Western Park, Ponsonby, Auckland - ART IN THE DARK 2011: That was some enchanted evening!

- reviewed by Felicity Molloy

A perfect mix of nature, design machination, and art.

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The Playhouse, Dunedin - DANCES ABOUT LOVE: A surprisingly seamless story

- reviewed by Hannah Molloy

Dances About Love is just that – a series of dances about learning how to love oneself, someone else or some way else. It is about learning to accept self and other and to accept difference as normal, human. The difference in the choreographers’ approach to this story is itself a reflection of the way difference blends to make humanity what it is and what it could be.

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Unitiec Campus, Entry One, Carrington Rd, Auckland - UNITEC GRADUATION PLAYS 2011: QUAD BILL: Double Feature A

- reviewed by Kathryn van Beek

Graduation Plays: plays from around the world’ showcases the talents of this year’s graduating students from Unitec’s School of Performing and Screen Arts in two double-features performed on alternating nights.

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BATS, Wellington - WAKE LESS: Invigorating subversion of theatrical conventions

- reviewed by John Smythe

The logical corollary to ‘wake less’ is ‘sleep more’ – perchance to dream? Deep down this surrealised blend of the conflicts inherent in theatrical creativity, suburban domesticity and the Middle East explores dreams of escape, discovery and even, just possibly, resolution.

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Auckland Old Folks Association. 8 Gundry Street (off K' Road), Auckland - THIS IS A TRANS- WORLD WITH SAM I AM: The impossiblity of real-ness

- reviewed by Raewyn Whyte

By the end of the evening we have been thoroughly entertained, provoked , and made to think, as well as being considerably impressed by a much more comprehensive experience of Val Smith the performer and person than we've been able to access previously.

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Assembly Room, Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings - SILENT NIGHT: Familiar, authentic and yet unique

- reviewed by Kirsty van Rijk

Yvette Parsons is faultless in her characterisation of the simple and sad Irene McMunn. Parsons brings her to life but more than that, I’m sure I know this woman. As writer and actor, Parsons manages to create a character we recognise and empathise with, and yet Irene is still unique; original.

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Mauao Performing Arts Centre, 11 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui - COLOURFUL SOUL: An allegorical tale of loss, hope and redemption

- reviewed by Deb Meldrum

This is a very ambitious project and obviously a lot of people have put energy, love and talent into this production, created by Mal Brady (composer) and Duanne Lebo (writer).

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Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, The Edge, Auckland - CABARET ASKEW: Sparks of hope and talent

- reviewed by Candice Lewis

I’ve seen some really fun, entertaining and extremely talented cabaret style performers in Auckland before, so the bar was set. Sadly, this show is falling short, but they’re giving it a good try.

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Leigh Sawmill Café, Auckland - BIRDS OF PARADISE HIGHLIGHTS: Terrifically clever, wonderfully funny

- reviewed by Natalie Dowd

Birds of Paradise is a romantic comedy, an opulent and flamboyant feast, exploring the rituals of courtship and attention-seeking performances in some of our most bizarre and alluring feathered friends.

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Aurora Centre, Christchurch - A FESTIVAL OF RUSSIAN BALLET: Audience declares evening a resounding success

- reviewed by Toby Behan

Just as one automatically listens more attentively to a speaker who is clearly passionate about his or her subject, so it is with watching the Imperial Russian Ballet perform. The enjoyment of the show is increased simply because of the clear belief, distinctive style, rich history and sheer integrity of the performance.

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TAPAC - The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, Auckland - THE BONE FEEDER: Refreshing comedic moments in universal story

- reviewed by Aidan-B. Howard

The story is quite simple. A young man, Ben (Kevin Ng), goes to the Hokianga to find the bones of his dead great-grandfather, Kwan (Gary Young), to take them back to China, as a promise to Ben’s dead father. Ben is ‘befriended’ (in the loosest sense of the word) by a local Maori ferryman (Rob Mokaraka). Kwan and his cohorts are all ghosts, having died 110 years earlier on the ill-fated ship, the SS Ventnor.

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The Long Hall, Roseneath, Wellington - NEW TREATY MILITIA: Tacit negotiation enjoined by audience

- reviewed by Lyne Pringle

Militia - a military force composed of ordinary citizens. Defense activity or service, to protect a community, its territory, property, and laws. The entire able-bodied population of a community, town, county, or state available to be called to arms. Tonight this raggle taggle army find their way through the rain to watch listen and feel.

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

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