The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of Mary’s Christmas in Dunedin, The Santa Claus Show 2014, and Mary’s Christmas in Wellington.

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

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The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of Mary’s Christmas in Dunedin, The Santa Claus Show 2014, and Mary’s Christmas in Wellington.

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

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MARY’S CHRISTMAS IN WELLINGTON: Quietly insightful humour
Newtown Community Centre, Wellington
- reviewed by John Smythe

For some reason I had assumed the Mary of the title would be a contemporary woman but it’s the biblical Mary, mother of Jesus, whose reimagined story is played out – amid a number of other scenarios – in Mary’s Christmas. The witty messing about with wacky anachronisms and character quirks presupposes there are still enough people in their audiences who know the traditional story.

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THE SANTA CLAUS SHOW 2014: Finally, it’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas
The Pumphouse, Takapuna, Auckland
- reviewed by Joanna Page

After a rather trying week the thought of finishing work in time to get Masters Ten Months and Four to The Pumphouse in time for the Gala Performance of The Santa Claus Show had me feeling a tad humbugular. Not so the smalls, and the anticipation of seeing Santa was almost too much.

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MARY’S CHRISTMAS IN DUNEDIN: Creatively collaborative comedy
Playhouse Theatre, Dunedin
- reviewed by Alison Embleton

And they say women don’t make good comedians. If only ‘they’ had the chance to see Mary’s Christmas.

A deftly crafted series of short sketches revolving around Christmas, the ladies of Discharge explore what the festive season means to all; from a new flatmate who’s never experienced Christmas to a parish pageant rendition of Die Hard: the pantomime.

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

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