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

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: An absolute tonic for the beginning of winter
Studio 77, Victoria University, 77 Fairlie Tce, Kelburn, Wellington
By William Shakespeare 
Directed by Stella Reid 
Presented by Victoria University’s THEA302 & THEA308
- reviewed by Patrick Davies

Throughout the evening the play stops as students question Shakespearian contractions, metre and motivation of character. It also allows for some hilarious self-reflective commentary. As a Brechtian device it halts the action for us to take a look at what art is.

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PEDAL.PEDDLE: A solo to remember
BATS Theatre, The Dome, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Created and Performed by Eliza Sanders
Dramaturgy by Charles Sanders
- reviewed by Deirdre Tarrant

Driven by the rhythm of voice, words, song, and body, this is a personal journey and quest. Along the way shards of experiences, images, and brilliant juxtapositions take place. There is brilliant colour, tactile, provocative, and sensory with a myriad of accessible and associative glimpses of our world.

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SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR: Betrayal dramedy warm as a fleeting embrace
The Pumphouse, Takapuna, Auckland
By Bernard Slade 
directed by John Callen 
Presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
- reviewed by Janet McAllister

This Tadpole production is an endearing tale of marital betrayal, more entertaining than one might expect for a romantic dramedy more than 40 years old.

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KING LEAR: Strong stellar performances
Circa One, Wellington
By William Shakespeare 
Directed by Michael Hurst 
Starring Ray Henwood as King Lear 
Proudly sponsored by Christopher Finlayson and Cariad Productions
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

It literally canvasses every aspect of the human condition and emotion such as love, loyalty, betrayal, forgiveness, morality, religion and even the whole meaning of life and contains numerous scenes of violence, murder and mayhem.

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NZ International Comedy Festival 2016
HEATH FRANKLIN’S CHOPPER – LIVE FROM ANZAKISTAN: A smart comedian at work
Opera House, Wellington
Presented by Laughing Stock
- reviewed by Simon Howard

The premise of the show is simple, allowing Chopper to go through a whole raft of changes he’d make to Australia and New Zealand if they united under his leadership to become the Republic of Anzakistan. Politicians, flags and anthems all come under scrutiny as Chopper fires off his annoyances at a relentless rate.

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LUMINA: Trio of fulfillingly complete and very different works
Municipal Theatre, Napier
Choreographers Louise Potiki Bryant, Malia Johnson and Steven Shropshire
- reviewed by Kim Buckley

The movement is a meditation of fluidity, of Johnston's choreographic quirks and individualism. The opening and closing dialogue of the male duet is excellence in a conversation of equals. It is captivating and intense and my body insists on trying it out on a miniature scale in my seat...and intakes a huge breath when the duet dissolves into something else. Diverse segments of movement are transitioned by bouncing and swaying bodies, light stripes, running, barcodes, sitting groups, breath and percussion.

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KING LEAR: Compelling energy and understanding
Circa One, Wellington
By William Shakespeare 
Directed by Michael Hurst 
Starring Ray Henwood as King Lear 
Proudly sponsored by Christopher Finlayson and Cariad Productions
- reviewed by Patrick Davies

The company – and with the large range of age and experience it does feel like a company in older sense – are uniformly strong. They understand the language and are at ease with telling us their stories. Each character is well rounded, confidently portrayed, making each part of the whole their own.

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“ZE”: QUEER AS F*CK!: It may well change your life
Garnet Station Café, 85 Garnet Rd, Westmere, Auckland

- reviewed by Lexie Matheson

We open with a fascinating and suitably forthright discussion about the sexual behaviour of children and the accompanying early-life masturbation. Michelle refers to the fact that young people have no shame because they have yet to learn what it is and this rings true to her audience who clearly enjoy the memorie

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ICE AGE LIVE! A MAMMOTH SHOW ON ICE: Makes the world of the film tangible and immediate
Vector Arena, Parnell, Auckland
Story, music and lyrics by Ella Louise Allaire and Martin Lord Ferguson 
Co-directed by Guy Caron & Michael Curry 
Presented by Stage Entertainment Touring Productions (SETP)
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

A family who adore each other get separated. The stakes are raised especially when the most vulnerable is taken away by the proverbial ‘baddies’ and all manner of high jinks ensue as the adventure begins.

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ICE AGE LIVE! A MAMMOTH SHOW ON ICE: A mammoth production (pun intended)
Vector Arena, Parnell, Auckland
Story, music and lyrics by Ella Louise Allaire and Martin Lord Ferguson 
Co-directed by Guy Caron & Michael Curry 
Presented by Stage Entertainment Touring Productions (SETP)
- reviewed by Carrie Rae Cunningham

Ice Age Live is part-ice skating showcase, part circus spectacle featuring some very expertly delivered skating choreography and aerial routines on the lyra (hoop) and straps. It’s Disney on Ice meets Cirque du Soleil. There is so much to see, so much to oooh and aaah at. The audience, even the wee pre-schoolers, are totally transfixed. The

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LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL: Funny and fluffy with strong messages
Whitireia Performance Centre, 25-27 Vivian Street, Wellington
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin 
Book by Heather Hach 
Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and 
the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture 
Directed by Ben Emerson 
Music Director: Michael Stebbings 
Choreographer: Briar Franks 
Presented by Wellington Footlights
- reviewed by Jo Hodgson

Legally Blonde is an all singing, all dancing story of love, having faith in and being true to one’s self, not judging a book by its cover and the power of the sisterhood.

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Southland Festival of the Arts 2016
LEGENDARY DIVAS: Phenomenal
SIT Centrestage Theatre, Invercargill
Ali Harper 
Musical directors: Richard Marrett (Christchurch); David Sidwell (Hamilton +)
- reviewed by Jane Milne

Tonight I am expecting to be wowed and wowed I am. Ali gives each Diva the justice they deserve with an outstanding performance. Her range is amazing, not just in the songs she sings but in the different tones her voice brilliantly reaches.

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Flick 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival
SIMON MCKINNEY - SPECIAL: SMOOTH, RELAXED, AFFABLE CHARM
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
Simon McKinney
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Simon’s smooth, relaxed style and tone hark back to the days of raconteur entertainers before it was even called standup; his snappy three-piece suit and blond quiff have me thinking ‘Tintin Bond’. His affable, approachable personality has the crowd on- side all the way, and he barely even swears, so really in the present day comedy climate his old-fashioned glib charm is something of a unique selling point.

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THE WIZARD OF OZ: Modernised fairy tale ballet
Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Choreography - Francesco Ventriglia
Design - Gianluca Falaschi
Music - Francis Poulenc
- reviewed by Sheree Bright

The blue-and-white Kingdom of Porcelain is where a tight classical ballet format emerges. Dancers representing the Teacups and Coffee-cups move with crisp clarity in and out of formations wearing short, severely stiffened tutus. The Prince and Princess of Porcelain (William Fitzgerald and Laura Jones), adeptly display the delicate strength and smooth precision of porcelain. Somehow, William Fitzgerald also convincingly plays the green sequined, cunning Wizard, with a magical exit.

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NZ International Comedy Festival 2016
LUCY ROCHE & SAVANNA CALTON: Powerful young voices the present of comedy
Cavern Club, 22 Allen St, Wellington

- reviewed by Patrick Davies

Savanna Calton is the 2015 Raw Quest Winner and Ben Hurley sees her as “the future… the present of comedy. If she is – and she is – Lucy Roche is definitely right beside her. 

Both comedians are strong, confident performers who can land a joke from six paces and deliver seemingly disparate material.

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NZ International Comedy Festival 2016
COHEN HOLLOWAY & SOPHIA JOHNSON: 50 MINUTES PLUS LAUGHS: Comes off as undirected, lazy pseudo-comedy
BATS Theatre, Studio, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Presented by Comedy Grapevine
- reviewed by Shannon Friday

As a viewer, I’m not sure where to hang my hat. Johnson and Holloway have a great chemistry together and are clearly comfortable with each other. I get the feeling that meeting the two of them at a party would be the highlight of the night.

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Flick 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival
FRENCHY - WORLD'S WORST ADULT: LOWBROW MALE CHAUVINISM
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
Frenchy
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Like many male comedians, Frenchy appears to thrive in the relative immunity enjoyed by young middle-class white men in his profession.

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SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR: Fully invested in engaging characters
The Pumphouse, Takapuna, Auckland
By Bernard Slade 
directed by John Callen 
Presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
- reviewed by Leigh Sykes

With only two characters, it is vital that we connect with them, and Paul Glover as George and Kate Elliot as Doris allow us to do that from the very beginning. Before a word is spoken we experience a sharply-observed and convincingly performed vignette of the ‘morning after the night before’ ...

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THE ELEPHANT THIEF: Comedic, bizarre and often heart-breaking
Theatre Royal, Nelson
Written by Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis 
Directed by Justin Lewis 
Presented by Indian Ink Theatre Company
- reviewed by Ruth Allison

Indian Ink is committed to theatre which combines comedy and drama to spin a fantastical web of magic and intrigue. The Elephant Thief propels its audience into a futuristic world where environment and politics have been sold out to the most corrupt in equal measure.

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A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE: A convincing embodiment
Elmwood Theatre, 31 Aikmans Road, Merivale, Christchurch - Canterbury
By Tennessee Williams 
Directed by Dan Bain 
Presented by Canterbury Repertory Theatre
- reviewed by Lindsay Clark

Director Dan Bain assembles a worthy cast and creative team to deal with the challenge. Whereas the result will not figure as a definitive treatment, the opening night house leaves well pleased with a clutch of strong images to support the compelling script.

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NZ International Comedy Festival 2016
FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAIN WILSON DIXON: Constant plucking, breezy optimism
Macs Function Centre, 4 Taranaki Street, Wellington
Proudly presented by CREEPING CHARLIE
- reviewed by Shannon Friday

It’s a night of comedy based on even-paced irony. Everything feeds into the creation of close detachment. It’s a show full of sly grins and wry chuckles rather than big belly laughs. But make no mistake, Wilson Dixon: For the First Time, Again is full of laughs.

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A DORIS DAY SPECIAL: Entertaining, informative, moving and funny
SIT Centrestage Theatre, Invercargill
Written by and Starring Ali Harper 
Director – Stephanie McKellar-Smith 
Musical Director & Arranger – Michael Bell 
Choreographer – Kirsty Allpress-Goudie
Produced by Ali-Cat Productions
- reviewed by Jane Milne

Tales are told about her love of dancing and how breaking her leg led her into a life of singing, living a life on the road as 16 year old watching people her age at their Proms enjoying being teenagers, four failed marriages, being in the movies, her leading men, motherhood and being a proud dog owner of many a rescued dog.

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Flick 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival
RHYS MATTHEWSON - NOUVEAU RHYS: THOROUGHLY WORTHWHILE WASTE OF TIME
The Classic Studio, Auckland
Rhys Matthewson
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

After the initial flamboyance the routine relaxes into a more standard, albeit masterfully constructed standup set. The exuberance of the capacity late-night crowd is well maintained as Mathewson reflects on a typically broad array of topics, not least the mechanics of standup itself.

This interview is one in a series with speakers at this year’s NZ Music Month Summit, which delves deeper and throws a spotlight on music industry.

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

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