The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of The Armed Man, Ver Na Vavetar Love At War, and The 5pm Project 2015.

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

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The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews of The Armed Man, Ver Na Vavetar Love At War, and The 5pm Project 2015.

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

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JARRED FELL - POSSIBLE: One of New Zealand's best
Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland
- reviewed by Stewart Lund

What makes Fell such an enjoyable watch is his ability to lull the audience and his oft-unsuspecting participants into a false sense of security (or occasional insecurity, such as during the almost unbelievable pick-pocketing sequence). We are taken on a journey through each segment, and the pay-off or punchline is always worthwhile.

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THE ARMED MAN:
Whitireia Performance Centre, 25-27 Vivian Street, Wellington
- reviewed by Ann Hunt

Coming as it does in the sequence of the recent World War One commemorations, The Armed Man is a most effective coda to the futility of this war and all wars.

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KARST - NZSD CHOREOGRAPHIC SEASON 2015: CELEBRATION OF CRAFTING, LEARNING AND IMAGINATION
Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Rd, Newtown, Wellington
- reviewed by Chris Jannides

Of course, ultimately, the NZSD’s annual choreographic season serves two purposes. It’s a double showcase - one being the choreographic works, the other an opportunity to display and celebrate the calibre and abilities of the student dancers themselves as performers. What a beautiful powerhouse of talent there is in this 2015 year group, who are more than ably supported by the equally assured skills of students in other years. Considering they will all be launching themselves into the workforce in the not-too-distant future, I am thinking: how can each and every one of them not make an impact and succeed in some way in this most difficult and competitive of industries? Based on tonight, surely they will.

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VER NA VAVETAR LOVE AT WAR: The Gandhi legacy
Glen Eden Playhouse, Auckland
- reviewed by Mihir Mistry

If there is one human emotion that has challenged and often vanquished life itself, it is vengeance. As powerful as love and the simple act of forgiveness, revenge has shaped us, our thinking, our cultures, customs, beliefs and our boundaries.

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THE 5PM PROJECT 2015: Not quite as successful as it could be
Hannah Playhouse (previously Downstage), Wellington
- reviewed by Shannon Friday

The goal here is simple: get a bunch of professional comedians together, and get them to perform stuff specifically for teenagers. Simple, right? I mean, what could be easier than making teenagers – who get bonus points of awesome for being uninterested in grown-ups – laughing?

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CLASS COMEDIANS SHOWCASE 2015 - WELLINGTON: Massive effort pays off
Hannah Playhouse (previously Downstage), Wellington
- reviewed by Shannon Friday

Class Comedians is a programme run by the Comedy Trust that encourages young comedians to develop their talents and skills. Under the tutelage of James Nokise (who also hosts) and Anya Tate-Manning, eight young people have taken to the stage to try out their stuff – many of them performing for the first time.

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LIVE LIVE CINEMA: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS: Trans-dimensional multi-tasking marvel
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland LIVE, Auckland
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

Rather than recreate a more authentic sound-studio setting, the live cast plays the whole thing out upon a colourfully cluttered stage strewn with buckets, instruments, toys, gizmos and gadgets, food items, mics, amps and other appliances, along with story-related props such as flowers and shop signage to keep them in the mood.

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URZILA CARLSON - MAN UP: Loud, proud and irresistible
SKYCITY Theatre, Auckland
- reviewed by Dione Joseph

I’ve had the chance to see a few snippets of Urzila Carlson in action at this year’s comedy fest and they’ve been entertaining and smart - but her full-length show takes it to a completely new level and is an absolute BLAST.

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SPYFINGER! - A SHOW ABOUT SPIES: Beware of this heart of (comedy) gold
The Basement, Auckland
- reviewed by Matt Baker

With incredibly (and necessary) detailed direction by collaborator Uther Dean; Alex Greig, Hannah Banks, and Paul Waggott mime their way through a convoluted yet intricate plot parody of the best and worst of the spy film genre.

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COMEDY ALL-STARS AT THE BMC COMEDY CLUB, WEEK 3: Well curated laugh fest
Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
- reviewed by Chloe Baynes

Tevita Manukia, Tarun Mohanbhai, and Andrew Watts, aided and MCed by Alan McElroy, deliver a full an fast-paced evening of edgy cabaret style comedy to tables of expectant and slightly drunk North Shore audience members.

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AN EVENING WITH NOEL FIELDING: Delicious absurdity spiced with sexy surrealism
Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
- reviewed by Lindsay Clark

Experiencing the ebullience and supercharged energy of the show live, it is hard to imagine how this has ever been contained on the small screen of suburban telly. Its impact is enhanced by striking visual contrast with the ornate Edwardian surroundings of the refurbished Isaac Theatre Royal and together with the huge popularity of the star, delivers a resounding success for this final show of Noel Fielding’s tour.

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EAMONN MARRA RESPITE - A MONOLOGUE: Unfamiliar yet strangely familiar
BATS Theatre, Studio, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by John Smythe

But Marra makes us laugh, not at him, not through schadenfreude, but because we identify with his feelings (who among us has never suffered from low self-esteem?) and we are relieved at his ability to put it in perspective and take control.

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TAKING OFF: Humorous escape for those who cannot
The Athenaeum Theatre, Lower Octagon, Dunedin
- reviewed by Kimberley Buchan

Every Kiwi has at some point felt the desire to take off. It is an especially appealing thought on a cold Dunedin night. To run away, to go on an adventure, to get out, to finally turn into reality that thing that has only been a daydream.

Whatever your thing is – whether it’s beaches, cathedrals, canals, that ephemeral holiday romance – this play covers them all.

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EASTEND CABARET - PERVERTS: Girl-power, passion and lewd sass
Q Theatre Loft, 305 Queen St, Auckland
- reviewed by Kate Ward-Smythe

The hour races along at a fixed, fast and furious pace, as the duo launch straight into searching for their ideal ‘man-beast’, somewhere in the crowd. ‘Wyatt-Jono’ is created, much to the delight of all, including the men themselves.

The cabaret features a lot of audience interaction, for the men especially.

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A BARD'S TALE - IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE: An impressive feat
Musgrove Studio, Maidment Theatre, Auckland
- reviewed by Chloe Baynes

Initially the small team seems dwarfed by the black space of the Musgrove, but they quickly prove themselves big enough and funny enough to stand out.

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TERRIBLE IDEAS HOSTED BY JARROD BAKER & JONNY POTTS: A Good Idea to go
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by John Smythe

Terrible Ideas is a good one: get a panel of comedy-type actors to share “the worst, wildest and weirdest” ideas they’ve ever had, interrogate them, play with them a bit then get the audience to vote on the best worst idea and give the winner a minute to close the show.

Jarrod Baker and Jonny Potts host Terrible Ideas and welcome a new trio of guests each night ...

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS: WHO DUNNE IT?: The stage of representatives
BATS Theatre, The Dome, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by Maraea Rakuraku

Having been to a number of these shows I must ask again; why isn’t this on television? It is so deserving of a larger audience. It’s current and has the pace to maintain interest. It’s not as frenetic as some past productions and sure it could do with some tightening but this is by far more interesting and relevant, than the number of politico TV programmes crowding screens on Sunday mornings.

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FORCE NORMAN - NICK GIBB & RHYS MATHEWSON: To be reckoned with and welcomed
BATS Theatre, The Dome, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by John Smythe

Would you believe a New Zealand prime minister called Wallace Norman with a Minister of Defence called Tim Tambly recently separated from his Australian wife Karen Tambly-Legs? And a top-secret Black Ops team?

Force Norman is set in 1974 ...

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SPYFINGER! - A SHOW ABOUT SPIES: Enthralling
The Basement, Auckland
- reviewed by Aminata Hamadi

The My Accomplice team unite the spy thriller with the craft of theatre in a seamless way. They appropriate the common spy plotline and feature the usual suspects: the egotistic alpha male spy, his accompanying geeky tech crew, the mole, the evil genius, the sexy love interest and many more. Each of these characters is brought life by actors who have refined their craft.

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GLOCKNID (DWARF WARRIOR) - ABBY HOWELLS: Really cool and interesting character; clunky show
BATS Theatre, The Propeller Stage, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
- reviewed by Shannon Friday

Behold, oh mortals, as I sing a song of heroes on a mighty quest. At the center is Abby Howells, she who is slight of frame and small of voice, to weave a tale of the grand heroine Glocknid, Dwarf Warrior.

As a mortal may one day take leave of her body, so has our heroine Glocknid taken leave of the dwarven kingdom beneath the mountains to present her story.

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

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