A selection of reviews from Theatreview from the last week including: Playing Miss Havisham, She’ll Be Write (2013), and Like There’s No Tomorrow.

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: Playing Miss Havisham, She’ll Be Write (2013), and Like There’s No Tomorrow.

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

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Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre - Upper Hutt, Wellington - PLAYING MISS HAVISHAM: A warm heart and unexpected moments
- reviewed by Hannah Smith

Helen Moulder’s Playing Miss Havisham is a work that confounds expectations.

In this solo show, we follow the story of Claudia, a woman who finds herself at a cross roads upon retirement: her husband Alan wants to adventure around Africa, but she has different desires.

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Various Schools and Community Venues, New Zealand wide - SHE’LL BE WRITE (2013): Engaging performance with inspiring acting
- reviewed by Victor Symes

My witnessing of She’ll Be Write comes at the perfect time in my life. Over the last few weeks I have developed a promising interest in plays and performances, whereas during my childhood preceding them, I was not at all interested in any sort of public display. I found this performance amazing.

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Various Schools and Community Venues, New Zealand wide - SHE’LL BE WRITE (2013): Vivid showcase of lively characters
- reviewed by Shaun Wee

She’ll Be Write is a 50 minute theatre performance showcasing various scenes from New Zealand plays.

Themes vary from one’s self identity and life, to conflicts with family members. Monologues and multi-character scenes are displayed in several languages among which are English and Te Reo M?ori.

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The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW: Up-close with teen nightlife
- reviewed by Paul Simei-Barton

The interactive theatre experience is given a thorough workout in a wildly energetic production that drops us right into the throbbing heart of an illicit high school after-ball.

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St James Theatre, Wellington - SWAN LAKE - THE ROYAL NZ BALLET: Classic ballet's significance shaded by contemporary events
- reviewed by Jennifer Shennan

It is the dancers’ challenge to portray their roles in specific ways within a production yet also offer resonance of wider readings. We are not here to count fouettes or applaud the height of jetes, so much as to gauge a dancer’s interpretation, through those technical feats, of the emotional experiences of character. Fiction? Maybe. Really true life? Maybe.

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The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW: Unbridled excitement and crushing anxiety
- reviewed by Frances Morton

The audience is invited into the Basement’s main theatre as if guests at an illicit bash where we meet Joseph, who promptly tells us he is not a ghost but a collection of memories projected by three of his dearest – his best mate, his girlfriend and his sister. This is a smart device from writer Eli Kent and forms the basis of the play as the audience is separated into three groups, following each key character and their gang of mates as they navigate the raucous party and grapple with their grief.

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Q Theatre, Rangatira, Auckland - TU: A profound theatrical experience
- reviewed by Simon Wilson

I know, the film festival offers treats galore. But it’s also the height of the theatre season and if there’s one single thing to spend your cultural pennies on this week, forget about all that stuff on screen and go see Tu. It’s terrific.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - TRASHBAG: Obnoxious, self-absorbed teenagers
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Trashbag is a Black Comedy about a hellish party at which a group of twenty-something year-olds all behave like obnoxious, self-absorbed American teenagers in the movies.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - ATLAS /MOUNTAINS /DEAD BUTTERFLIES: Disturbing equilibrium
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Atlas /Mountains /Dead Butterflies is Theatre of the Absurd and is about the plight of the world and our pathetic attempts to save it.

Joseph Harper’s environmental play also has a set largely made out of cardboard. At the start members of the cast are making butterflies out of plastic bags, while Atlas is sitting very uncomfortably at the back struggling to keep the Earth on his shoulders.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - DRAGONLORE: Nutty farce
- reviewed by Laurie Atkinson

Dragonlore is a farce about LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) which itself is a farcical pastime but then so is cricket as the blurb points out.

A weekend of LARPing on a remote farm with a host who rides Silverfoot, a horse that lives on elves blood and Braeburn apples, is the setting for this nutty farce in which six people play out the quest-game of Dragonlore.

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The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland - LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW: An extraordinary theatre experience
- reviewed by Forrest Denize

Set in over six different parts, both inside and outside of the theatre, cast and crew make what should be a logistical nightmare into a seamless, believable experience. Semi-improvised transitions between spaces are well-executed, despite the actors (who never break character) and various hidden stagehands having to organise groups of thirty or more people through narrow passageways.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - TRASHBAG: Prequel to a hangover
- reviewed by Ben Blakely

I’ve mentioned the skills of the cast and their work is to be commended however it would be remiss of me to not question the point of the play. Towards the end there is an attempt at a moral, but this is quickly glossed over so as not to hurt the brains of the gang as they’ve likely got enough to deal with. They’re all going to be really hung-over tomorrow and that’s will be punishment enough.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - ATLAS /MOUNTAINS /DEAD BUTTERFLIES: Stimulating articulation of an eternal internal battle
- reviewed by Ben Blakely

Much can be said about this fantastic play (goodness knows I’ve said quite a bit already) as it deals with such massive issues that humans have been pondering probably forever. Why are we here? Why does no one care? Why does anyone care?

The characters in the play may come to their own conclusions but what I think is most important about this work is that it generates discussion.

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BATS - Out Of Site - Cnr Cuba & Dixon, Wellington - DRAGONLORE: Vibrant, action packed journey into another world
- reviewed by Ben Blakely

Nothing is off limits as the cast are picked up, spun around, and thrown all over the stage. This is all done very convincingly which is a testament to director Richard Dey's work with the cast. Not only are they able to execute it so well, but also are comfortable enough with each other to do so.

A great cast, great set, and great writing combine to make Dragonlore a must see.

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

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