A selection of reviews from Theatreview from the last week including Other People’s Wars, Nucking Futs, Everything She Ever Said To Me, and You Can Always Hand Them Back.

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 Other People’s Wars, Nucking Futs, Everything She Ever Said To Me, and You Can Always Hand Them Back.

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

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BATS, Wellington - OTHER PEOPLE’S WARS: If you want shock and awe, don't miss it

- reviewed by John Smythe

Throughout the 90 minute performance we are constantly reminded we are watching a bunch of rag-tag actors in a roughly-dressed theatre telling us things we should already know, but probably don't, about New Zealand's activities in other people's wars; specifically the 'war against terror', waged largely in Afghanistan and Iraq even though the Taliban and Al Qaeda have no nationality.

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BATS, Wellington - NUCKING FUTS: Comedy a quirky and unusual piece

- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

The dissemination of information around the globe has never been easier than it is now through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogs. But there are many down sides to this global phenomenon, as recent news of online comments about the beleaguered coach of the Auckland rugby franchise the Blues has shown.

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Basement Studio, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - EVERYTHING SHE EVER SAID TO ME: Excruciating, tortuous, compelling ….

- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Everything She Ever Said to Me is the premier production of a lengthy new work from playwright Keziah Warner, directed by Benjamin Henson, which explores that excruciating human foible of suppressing one's honest thoughts and feelings in an effort to not rock the boat or overcomplicate matters, inevitably with the opposite result.

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Centrepoint, Palmerston North - YOU CAN ALWAYS HAND THEM BACK: Left wishing for something a little more profound

- reviewed by Richard Mays

This musical play almost comes with its own built-in caution. “No one’s interested in other people’s grandchildren,” is an early line from George Henare’s Maurice to his wife Cath, performed by Lynda Milligan, in Roger Hall’s You Can Always Hand Them Back.

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Centrepoint, Palmerston North - YOU CAN ALWAYS HAND THEM BACK: Good value

- reviewed by John Ross

Getting old is not a lot of laughs, and those there are can be fairly wry. As for getting seriously old, creeping Lear-like towards death... ah well.

The upside of it, generally, can be enjoying the company of your grandchildren, in manageable-sized chunks of time. But if you’ve taken on baby-sitting, pushchair-pushing, or, later, child-minding for, maybe, days on end, it can be a scary responsibility, for each chunk.

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Fortune Theatre, Dunedin - RED: Superb portrayal of Rothko and assistant

- reviewed by Barbara Frame

As full-length plays go, Red is quite short. It requires two actors, and uncomplicated set, and some paint.

So why does it seem such an audacious undertaking?

Because of John Logan's brilliant, Tony award-winning script, because of its towering themes – art, creativity, permanence, the sublime – and because of the demands it makes of its director, its actors and its audience.

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Downstage Theatre, Wellington - LIVE AT SIX: YouTube, TV news make fine theatre

- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

The vagaries of the internet are at the heart of yet another play opening this week, Cuba Creative’s Live At Six at Downstage Theatre. YouTube is the culprit this time; displaying pictures to the world of TVNZ news reader and “mother of the nation” Jane Kenyon (Jessica Robinson) falling on her face in a drunken stupor at a media awards after-show party.

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Civic Theatre, Auckland - JERSEY BOYS – THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS: From gangsters to superstars

- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

The classic rags-to-riches story needs a fairy godmother but with rock 'n' roll the escape from poverty and obscurity doesn't require supernatural intervention. All it takes is some talent, plenty of hard work, a few lucky breaks and one great song.

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Civic Theatre, Auckland - JERSEY BOYS – THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS: The good kind of Jersey

- reviewed by James Wenley

As I take my seat in the Civic, the Jersey Boys stage looks surprisingly non-descript. It’s a grey and drab industrial looking set, complete with walkways and chain mesh. A pretty ordinary set for an international musical, but then, the origins of the real Jersey blue collar Four Season members were rather ordinary too. Is this to be the stage for the multi-award winning Broadway Smash that has finally wound its way to little young Auckland?

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Fortune Theatre, Dunedin - RED: Always absorbing, at times electrifying; seriously impressive

- reviewed by Terry MacTavish

"People who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them," said the famous abstract-expressionist artist, Mark Rothko. Is it then blasphemy to use such art as mere decor in a restaurant where only the privileged will eat?

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Circa One, Wellington - A SHORTCUT TO HAPPINESS: Truth wins through

- reviewed by John Smythe

I have often felt that Roger Hall's plays have more depth and integrity than they are sometimes given credit for by those who do them and this Circa production of A Shortcut to Happiness, directed by Ross Jolly, proves it.

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Civic Theatre, Auckland - JERSEY BOYS – THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS: Four Seasons in One Night: musical, visual, aural and emotional

- reviewed by Vanessa Byrnes

Jersey Boys comes to NZ shores with a lot of hype, and for once it’s worth believing. Over a million people have seen the Australian production alone; with military precision and well-crafted moments its cast and crew deliver a slick, uplifting, beautifully designed and fast-moving night out that will not disappoint.

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Opera House, Wellington - BEN 10 LIVE: TIME MACHINE: Saving the world and selling the merchandise - reviewed by Jo Hodgson

I’m not sure if a review is needed to fill a show like Ben 10 Live: Time Machine, judging by the sea of mostly boys with an average age of 7 or 8 with their Mums, Dads or Grandparents, waiting with excitement for the first show to start this morning. The appeal of superheroes and fisticuffs between good and evil just keeps on selling.

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Downstage Theatre, Wellington - LIVE AT SIX: A thriller in the making and breaking of news

- reviewed by John Smythe

A loose page in the programme asks us to imagine we are at the NZ Media Awards after party when we arrive. A celebrity is out of control and her behaviour is captured on camera. If you have your smart phone with you, you too may grab on-the-spot 'footage' and send it to liveatsix@gmail.com …

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Q, Rangatira, Auckland - HANUSSEN – THE PALACE OF BURLESQUE: A great value show

- reviewed by Vanessa Byrnes

After a false start due to technical difficulties on opening night in Auckland – which was handled extremely well with 15 minutes of work being shown as a taster - returned 2 nights later to see the latest offering to Auckland from Christchurch-based company The Loons.

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BATS, Wellington - NUCKING FUTS: Entertaining but loses its way

- reviewed by John Smythe

The title refers to the central character, Cleo Kline. It's how people describe her, apparently, although why the citizens of Huntly should spoonerise it is a mystery. It is not a title that captures the essence of the work, however, unless its true purpose is to show how some quaint Kiwi country folk cope with mental illness in the family.

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BATS, Wellington - SOCIETY SLUMP SUPERSTARS: Funny and lively with a keen comic edge

- reviewed by Michael Gilchrist

In an assured opening number the scene is set: the Prime Minister of New Zealand, one Hugh Potts, announces that he has a brilliant plan to lift the country out of its depression. He will turn real life, in its entirety, into a musical.

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Gryphon, Wellington - A TRIP ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: Striking emotional chords

- reviewed by Toby Wray

Entering the performance space, it’s clear from the set filled with rugs, Beatles posters, Uncle Sam propaganda, lanterns, a large peace sign and musical instruments, that what is about to be presented is a musical showcase.

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Circa Two, Wellington - FLORAL NOTES: Musical first

- reviewed by Michael Wray

Geraldine Brophy’s new play is a musical examination of the themes that she writes about so well. From previous works, such as Real Estate, we know Brophy is a master at exploring loss, making us laugh while pulling on our heart-strings, but this is the first time she has written a play for the musical genre.

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BATS, Wellington - THESE ARE THE SKELETONS OF US: Skeleton without structure

- reviewed by Lynn Freeman

I heard about a production of Romeo and Juliet played in reverse, so you start with the death scene and end up with these two young lovers meeting, Apparently it’s even more devastating seeing it that way, reminding you how much they loved each other and how much was lost.

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CAPITAL E, McKenzie Theatre, Wellington - AROUND THE WORLD AND BUCK AGAIN: Canine antics make for rip-roaring kids' show

- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Buck was the hero of Capital E’s hit The Farm at the End of the Road and he’s back after going abroad to some sheepdog trials, but he’s in quarantine with three other dogs all waiting to be allowed into New Zealand. His companions are Fifi, a poodle from France, Horatio, a bulldog from England, and Dolores, a chihuahua from Mexico.

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4 Moncrieff St., Mt. Victoria, Wellington - LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: A howling success

- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Little Red, great granddaughter of Little Red Riding Hood, yearns to be a superhero (isn’t it about time boys are allowed to be superheroes again?) but the wolf who wants to eat her is named Wilbur and is a bit of a softie and finds it tough being a lone wolf. He wants to join a wolverine gang whose members are cool and yearn for the grim old pre-Disney days when wolves were wolves.

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Hawkes Bay Opera House, Hastings - SHORTS 2012: Interesting, challenging, engaging and entertaining

- reviewed by Kirsty van Rijk

Theatre in the provinces is often a mixed bag – we get well financed shows (ballet; comedians; tribute acts) but see less of the 'art' of theatre or the experimental theatre than larger centres because of our small populations. Fortunately for Hawke’s Bay, Theatre Comrades produces Shorts, an annual presentation of three short plays...

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Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - THIS KITCHEN IS NOT IMAGINARY: How imaginary is this Kitchen?

- reviewed by Sharu Delilkan

The action starts straight away with the main character ‘Man’ (Alex Walker) making a paper plane that he throws over the screen on the back of the stage. The fact that it got stuck in the ceiling, whether intentional or not, certainly loosened up the crowd from the get-go.

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Court Theatre, Bernard Street, Addington, Christchurch - RAPUNZEL: Colour, zest and surprises

- reviewed by Lindsay Clark

The original story line already guarantees the time tested elements of fairy tale drama: wondrous princess-in-a tower, roving prince and jealous witch. In the Bennetts version we are offered the extra bounty of poncy tuba-playing butler, destitute father (Rapunzel's) and some clever puppets, most notably the witch's pet wolf.

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Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland - SINARELLA: Singing takes top honours

- reviewed by Kate Ward-Smythe

Sinarella’s cast is big, bright and brimming with vibrancy. Musical Director Tama Waipara’s inspirational musicianship and joyful score is something to be celebrated. This young and hungry cast and chorus, made up of 25 students from Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (PIPA) – who all possess great sets of lungs and natural rhythm and vibe – do exactly that.

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Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland - SINARELLA: Pantomime done Pacific Island style is bright and tight

- reviewed by Janet McAllister

Last year's Polly Hood in Mumu Land put da hood into Red Riding Hood; this year, the same collaborators – Auckland Theatre Company and the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts – are putting Cinderella into the Southside.

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Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - THIS KITCHEN IS NOT IMAGINARY: Enlightening and memorable

- reviewed by Shanon O'Sullivan

Thoughts are illustrated through human form in playwright Ben Anderson’s new play This Kitchen is Not Imaginary. Its description as a ‘visually daring tale’ couldn’t be more accurate as it encompasses an engaging melange of witty antics which have some serious clout underneath exterior human facades.

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

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