The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Tauranga Arts Festival 2015.

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

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The latest Theatreview Weekly includes reviews from Tauranga Arts Festival 2015.

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

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THE THINGS WE DO: Fluid segues from common to surreal
Meteor Theatre, Hamilton
Devised and performed by Sarah Tuck
Directed and produced by Bop Murdoch
Presented by Pat-A-Cake Productions
- reviewed by Ross MacLeod

There’s a little bit of audience interaction but it’s not invasive so if you’re not a fan, don’t let it put your off. It’s a lot of fun with a full on, high energy comedic performance by Tuck.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
CAFE: Reflects our passion for coffee, cafes and perfection
The Dry Dock, Wharf St, Tauranga
Written by Rachel Callinan and Paul McLaughlin
Directed by Paul McLaughlin
Presented by Site-specific Theatre NZ
- reviewed by Gin Mabey

The writing – by Rachel Callinan and director Paul McLaughlin – is very clever and lovingly takes the piss out of the fanatical coffee culture we see these days. Che bursts into Ginsberg-esque rants about the qualities of his personally crafted new coffee. Jack is a very talented actor and is really fun to watch.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
ECHO BEACH: Innovative, creative and highly enjoyable
Baycourt X-Space, Tauranga
Written and Performed by Hannah Sullivan
Supported by Arts Council England, IdeasTap and Bristol Ferment
Developed at Battersea Arts Centre
- reviewed by Gin Mabey

Hannah talks to us intermittently between her movements, telling us a story of her parents dancing on New Years’ Eve in 1999 as she and her little brother watch and laugh. She doesn’t say directly but there is a pain behind this memory which she shows us by physical description.

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AFAKASI: Polished execution of profound and intricate material
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Written by Antonia Stehlin and performed by herself and Katie Burson; accompanied by singers and musicians from the HENDERSON CCSNZ YOUTH.
- reviewed by Hannah Stannard

This is a polished execution of intricate contemporary and traditional dance material by two talented physical theatre professionals. Through this piece, writer and performer Antonia Stehlin tells not only the issues our generation are faced to confront and resolve, but does so to the depths of her knowledge by bravely sharing her own personal journey of faith and self-discovery.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
LEO: A show of supreme intelligence
Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga
based on and original idea by performer Tobias Wegner
Directed by Daniel Briere
Circle of Eleven (Germany)
DOWNSTAGE SOLOS (2012)
- reviewed by Emily Mowbray-Marks

This is a show about performance. It’s a knock-out. Who would like it? Anyone who loves dance, magic, physical prowess, trickery, suspension. It is a one man show – and I don’t want to give much away because it’s a mystery each of us deserves to solve.

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THE LESSON: This way madness lies
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
By Eugene Ionesco
Directed by Matt Baker
- reviewed by Heidi North-Bailey

It’s not comfortable, but Ionesco’s clever black humour – you’re hanging out for the fabulously droll Maid’s ‘interruptions’ – and Baker’s tight direction keeps the production from going too far off the rails.

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STAB at BATS
DEAD MEN’S WARS: Ensemble makes Wars a tale worth watching
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
by Ralph McCubbin Howell
Directed by Brett Adam
Performed by Long Cloud Youth Theatre (NZ) and Canberra Youth Theatre (Aus)
- reviewed by Ewen Coleman

As the First World War commemorations march on, not all are concerned with acknowledging those who lost their lives fighting in the battlefields.

There were many involved in the war who have often gone unnoticed, which is the central theme of the current STAB production at Bats ...

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
THE MOONCAKE AND THE KUMARA: A beautiful hui of language
Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga
by Mei-Lin Te Puea Hansen
Directed by katie Wolfe
Presented by The PANNZ Touring Agency, The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts and Betsy & Mana Productions in collaboration with Creative New Zealand
- reviewed by Emily Mowbray-Marks

The Mooncake and The Kumara’s quadrilingualism is a stand out feature: Cantonese, Te Reo Maori, English and Sign make me feel excited. I’m excited I can understand some of the Maori (I’m improving).

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ACHE: Insightful, poignant, uplifting with plenty of laughs
Circa Two, Wellington
By Pip Hall
Directed by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford
- reviewed by Lena Fransham

Conversations in each scene reflect on following your heart, on living-by-accident versus being deliberate in going for what you want, and repeatedly turn to the topic of nostalgia and what it tells us about what we really long for.

Their easy bond becomes evident in each brief meeting. There's a wistfulness that grows with the unfortunate misses in timing, the opportunities that slip by.

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Kokomai Creative Festival
THE ROAD THAT WASN'T THERE: Transported into pure childlike wonderment
Carterton Events Centre, Wairarapa
Written by Ralph McCubbin Howell
Directed by Hannah Smith
presented by Trick of the Light Theatre
- reviewed by Karin Melchior

Part Grimm, part Maori myth and part pure whimsy, it is an original and magical tale that takes us on an adventure into a shadowy world at the end of a paper road that only exists in the imagination, or does it?

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Kokomai Creative Festival
30FORWARD- FOOTNOTE NEW ZEALAND DANCE: Memorable and spirited celebration of 30 years of Footnote
Carterton Events Centre, Wairarapa
Deirdre Tarrant (samplesof works by Raewyn Hill, Malia Johnston, Claire O'Neil, Kate McIntosh and Jo Randerson, Lisa Densem, Sarah Foster-Sproull, Alexa Wilson;
Malia Johnston with the dancers and Rowan Pierce (AV), Bevan Smith (soundscore).
- reviewed by Gemma Begg

I walked away with more appreciation for the world around me feeling more connected to my various emotions but still had many questions I wanted answers to. I suppose that is the beauty of contemporary dance - it’s your experience and the interpretation of it is all yours. Now that’s something worth celebrating.

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Nelson Arts Festival 2015
PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: A NEW MUSICAL BY JANE AUSTEN: Claims the hearts of her audience
Nelson Musical Theatre, 95 Atawhai Dr, The Wood, Nelson
Written by Penny Ashton and Jane Austen
Workshops directed by Ben Crowder
Music Written and Arranged by Robbie Ellis
presented by Penny Ashton
- reviewed by Ann Nighy

Penny Ashton loves her work. Promise and Promiscuity is an extraordinary seventy minutes, enjoyed by her, written by her, with the help of Jane Austen. It makes me feel faint knowing she is the writer, performer, producer and the owner of other roles.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
THE ROAD THAT WASN'T THERE: A world of intrigue, laughter, mystery and dread
Baycourt X-Space, Tauranga
Written by Ralph McCubbin Howell
Directed by Hannah Smith
presented by Trick of the Light Theatre
- reviewed by Vivienne Quinn

It is introduced by a festival representative as being “spell-binding”, and never was a more suitable word given. Everyone in the audience is as if under a spell, as we are transported into various other worlds, superimposing each other somewhere in the country near Dunedin.

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STAB at BATS
DEAD MEN’S WARS: Elusive theme undermines it
BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
by Ralph McCubbin Howell
Directed by Brett Adam
Performed by Long Cloud Youth Theatre (NZ) and Canberra Youth Theatre (Aus)
- reviewed by John Smythe

Suddenly an insufferable Australian PR manager, Darryn, is berating a schoolgirl, Lori, over a speech she has just given – we don’t know where or when – that went ‘off script’. He fears it has embarrassed his sponsoring company and “damaged the brand”.

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Nelson Arts Festival 2015
MICHELE A’COURT IN STUFF I FORGOT TO TELL MY DAUGHTER: Informative, spirited, lots of laughs
Nelson Musical Theatre, 95 Atawhai Dr, The Wood, Nelson
presented by NOTORIOUS*
- reviewed by Ro Cambridge

Michele A’Court has a talent to amuse. This much is clear from her long career in the media and in comedy. But who knew she also had a talent to instruct? The Nelson Arts Festival crowd who fill the quaint Nelson Musical Theatre to see her hour-long, one-woman show are happily amused and instructed in equal measure.

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Nelson Arts Festival 2015
BARNIE DUNCAN IN CALYPSO NIGHTS: Sexy, mysterious and political
Granary Festival Cafe, Founders Heritage Park, Nelson
presented by THEATRE BEATING
- reviewed by Ruth Allison

Mad from the moment we walk in. A faux DJ, Juan Vesuvius, with a libido as big as the flounces on his shirt, struts his stuff looking like a frilled-neck lizard as he welcomes the audience. His slightly bemused and self-delusional stare makes them giggle.

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Nelson Arts Festival 2015
LEO: Simply mind-bending
Theatre Royal, Nelson
based on and original idea by performer Tobias Wegner
Directed by Daniel Briere
Circle of Eleven (Germany)
DOWNSTAGE SOLOS (2012)
- reviewed by Trish Sullivan

The audience are transfixed. Child-like giggles ripple around the room at the simplest of actions. It seems we like being fooled. A handstand on the right seems like he is lying on the floor on the left. We can see how it is done – it is right in front of our eyes. But surely, somehow, our minds are being tricked? Totally mesmerizing.

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Kokomai Creative Festival
PROMISE AND PROMISCUITY: A NEW MUSICAL BY JANE AUSTEN: A comedic and literary success
Kuranui College, Greytown, Greytown
Written by Penny Ashton and Jane Austen
Workshops directed by Ben Crowder
Music Written and Arranged by Robbie Ellis
presented by Penny Ashton
- reviewed by Juanita McLellan

Promise and Promiscuity is a simple tale of a very sensible Elspeth Slowtree, who in her twenties is woefully old and searching for a husband, to secure both her own future and the fate of her family. Her mother clearly desires her to marry for money, while her sister Cordelia has decided to marry for dancing instead.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
FINDING THE SILENCE: Intense, focused and trusting teamwork
Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga
Casus Circus
- reviewed by Emily Mowbray-Marks

As we know they will, the performers achieve feats of movement that defy gravity and belief. They are so very brave, skilled and graceful there is barely a thud as they land from god knows how many meters above. A rope falls from the ceiling and bodies scuttle up, twisting about like spiders.

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THE THINGS WE DO: Increasingly preposterous absurdity
Old Folks Association Hall, 8 Gundry St, Newton, Auckland
Devised and performed by Sarah Tuck
Directed and produced by Bop Murdoch
Presented by Pat-A-Cake Productions
- reviewed by Nik Smythe

In the first ten minutes or so we’re introduced to a line-up of broad, recognisable characters in the arena of retail shopping, and I do mean arena in both the special and competitive contexts of the word.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
DAFFODILS [INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS]: A profound change-inviting play and musical masterpiece
Pacific Crystal Palace, Tauranga
By Rochelle Bright
Arrangements by Stephanie Brown (LIPS)
Directed by Dena Kennedy.
Presented by Bullet Heart Club and Q Theatre
- reviewed by Emily Mowbray-Marks

After about 10 minutes, I’m in love. This show is awesome. It’s a real love story. With a live soundtrack, sung impeccably with a tight band with intelligent musical arrangement and edible harmony. This wow of a story. I can find myself in it, even though I was found in the 90s, not their 60s.

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Tauranga Arts Festival 2015
SQUARING THE WHEEL: Kids spellbound
Baycourt X-Space, Tauranga
Jens Altheimer – Australia
The Hits
- reviewed by Vivienne Quinn

Jens Altheimer shines in this energetic and eccentric show, which combines elements of clown, puppetry, juggling and junk-yard gadgetry to create a show perfect for the younger audience.

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

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