Theatre Company: Ensemble Theatre
Writer: Annie Baker
Director: Shannon Murphy
Cast: Jenni Baird, Chloe Bayliss, Alan Dukes, Paul Gleeson and Eliza Logan
Location: Ensemble Theatre (Kirribilli, Sydney)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Over the course of six weeks, five adults gather to explore themselves through the elusive and often hilarious medium of drama. Some of them are there to become stars, others to follow a long-lost dream, and some just yearn for a connection with their fellow classmates. Through a series of exercises, their teacher Marty leads them deeper into the sharing of their own stories. As the weeks pass, their real, offstage lives gradually infiltrate the classroom, revealing insights and transformations, both humorous and heartbreaking.

My Thoughts:

This was a brilliant play that was well executed - resulting in a most enjoyable night of theatre.
What made the writing so good was that the individual stories were weaved together and presented so beautifully through the weekly drama lessons - complete with awkward ‘acting’ exercises. It was great to get to know each character, and watch them develop, over the course of the class.
The Ensemble Theatre’s production was really strong. We really were transported to a local community centre where we could engage with each of the well-cast characters.
This is the first play that I have seen at the Ensemble Theatre and I was really impressed!

Theatre Company: Belvoir
Writers: Matthew Whittet
Director: Anthea Williams
Cast: Alison Bell, Madeline Benson, Peter Carroll, Leon Ford, Gillian Jones, Mitzi Ruhmann, Tom Usher and Zac Ynfante
Location: Belvoir Theatre (Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Daniel wakes up. Something is missing. The phone isn’t working and the kids’ toys are not in their usual spot. In fact, his wife and children seem to have completely disappeared. Have they deserted him, or has he abandoned them?
What follows is a tender story that explores the profound experience of loss … or the possibility of it. Belvoir’s Downstairs Theatre transforms into the streets of Sydney’s Inner West when Leon Ford leads a stellar cast including Alison Bell, Peter Carroll and Gillian Jones.
Old Man is a gentle, discomforting, richly structured play that allows us to witness the complexity within the seemingly day to day. Matthew Whittet is an award-winning writer and actor. Anthea Williams is an exciting young director who has been forging a career at the Bush Theatre in London. Together they bring us this unique and compelling work.

My Thoughts:

Although I am disquieted by the fact that I’m still not really sure I understand what happened, I really enjoyed this play.
In the first part, Leon Ford did a brilliant job of portraying the sense of utter bewilderment and desperation that his character felt when he awoke to find his wife and children gone. In the second part, he shows the solid family life that he has already lost or may be about to lose. It was full of wonderful observations of what makes the relationships we have with the people we share a home with so special. As advertised, I found it both “gentle” and “discomforting”.

Theatre Company: Griffin Independent
Writers: Vanessa Bates
Director: Shannon Murphy
Cast: Josef Ber, Glenn Hazeldine, Olivia Pigeot and Georgina Symes
Location: SBW Stables Theatre (Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Ant & Annie are a couple. So are Bill and Bella. Both are frighteningly close to middle age.
As each couple sits down to some cake, nothing is said but everything is meant. For this is love done in the contemporary way: conversations punctuated with text messaging, pleasures punctuated by food intolerances and happiness punctuated with rage. Cake’s not the only thing you could cut a knife through.
A deliciously funny exploration of love and sex in the modern world by one of the country’s most daring and witty playwrights.

My Thoughts:

I was warned … the flyer said “nothing is said” and for the majority of the play that is absolutely true.
For the majority of the play there were words, but there were not very many of them and they were disjointed and not at all satisfying. And, during those times I was not only left wondering exactly what was “meant” but why I was there.
However, between those bewildering scenes there were individual dialogues from each individual character which I found much more compelling. I especially enjoyed Ant’s description of his desperate need to feel loved, which was not being met in his marriage and resulted in a passionate kiss in the middle of the supermarket. And Annie did a great job of making me despise her vacuous, arrogant, self-obsessed self during her dialogue.
And those small glimpses into two souls made the night worthwhile for me.

Theatre Company: Silo Theatre
Writer: Nina Raine
Director: Shane Bosher
Cast: Jodie Hillock, Michael Hurst, Emmett Skilton, Fern Sutherland, Leon Wadham and Catherine Wilkin
Location: Maidment Theatre (Auckland, New Zealand)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Billy’s fiercely idiosyncratic, un-PC family are their own tiny empire. They have their own private language, jokes and rules. You can be as rune as you like, as possessive as you like and as critical as you like. After all, arguments are an expression of love, aren’t they?
Born deaf, Billy’s adapted exceptionally to his hearing family’s conventionally unconventional ways, but they’ve never bothered to return the favour. It’s not until he meets Sylvia that he finally understands what it means to be understood; but Is anybody else listening?
Brilliantly funny, defiantly engaging. Theatre that will leave you speechless.

My Thoughts:

This was definitely a play in two halves.
The first half, in which we were introduced to all of the family members, was definitely “brilliantly funny” and “defiantly engaging”. The discussions were both intelligent, passionate and thought provoking. And there was wit and humour aplenty.
However, the second half, almost seemed like it belonged to another play. Although there were still a few elements of the first half, it seemed more laboured. The thing I had most difficulty with was that the main crux of the story required one of the characters to do something that I found a little hard to believe they would have done. It was as if the key element of the ‘dramatic arc’ was forced. And, having lost me at that point, the rest of the play felt less coherent and engaging.
Overall, though, a solid night of theatre that I was glad to have experienced.

Theatre Company: Slip of the Tongue
Writer: Neil LaBute
Director: James Beach
Cast: Julia Grace, Andrew Henry, Stephen James King and Lucy Maunder
Location: Darlinghurst Theatre (Potts Point, Sydney)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Greg and Stephanie have been together for a while when Greg says something pretty dumb to Stephanie that pushes her to the very edge. Their familiar struggles of wanting to be loved, wanting to feel attractive and wanting to understand each other are at the bedrock of this searing comedy.
Reasons to be Pretty gets stuck into timeless arguments between women and men in LaBute’s trademark frank, honest and arresting style. It is the third play in a thematic trilogy concerned with society’s obsession with looks, following LaBute’s The Shape of Things and Fat Pig.
Anyone who’s ever written a letter to an ex, felt ugly, or generally wanted lover’s revenge will be deluged with Reasons to be Pretty. LaBute’s first play to transfer to Broadway (nominated for three Tony awards).

My Thoughts:

It was with some trepidation that I went along to see this because I did not enjoy the first play in this trilogy - The Shape of Things.
This play, the third in the trilogy, was much more enjoyable. I found both the characters, and the premise, to be more palatable.
This was a really strong production. All four members of the cast were convincing in their roles and there was a lot of energy in their performances. And it was especially good to be able to share it with my sister, brother and sister-in-law to be.

Theatre Company: Griffin Theatre
Writer: Paul Capsis and Julian Meyrick
Director: Julian Meyrick
Cast: Paul Capsis
Location: SBW Stables Theatre (Kings Cross), Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

In 1948, Angela left Malta. Having gathered up five children, she sailed out on the Strathnavar, leaving poverty and the war behind. Her destination: Australia. In Surry Hills, she could build a bright new life.
Paul Capsis’ evocative and beautifully staged piece of autobiographical theatre was the smash hit of 2010. Now we welcome Paul and Angela’s Kitchen back to the Stables before heading off on a national tour.
So if you missed it the first time or simply want to see it all again, this is your chance to join the hordes of people who fell in love with Angela and her family in 2010.

My Thoughts:

This was an incredibly touching tribute, by a grandson, to his grandmother. Using a minimal set, projections on to the back wall and music Paul showed us not only his grandmother’s life but what an important role he played in his. His heartfelt storytelling, sense of humour and ability to inhabit some of the characters along the way, elevated this beyond a mere history lesson. It was both compelling and moving. And, as a bonus, I learned a lot about Malta!

Theatre Company: Ride On Theatre (with Griffin Theatre)
Writers: Bojana Novakovic (with music by Time Rogers)
Director: Tanya Goldberg
Cast: Andy Baylor, Mark Harris, Boyana Novakovic, Tim Rogers
Location: SBW Stables Theatre (Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

“I should like a man to come. A perfect villain to come and fascinate me. And I should ask him quite humbly to lead me to my ruin”.
More than one hundred years ago, The Story of Mary MacLane set America aflame. A shocking confessional from the 19-year-old girl who refused to succumb to the corset-bound prudery of her age, Mary’s scandalous memoir broke all the rules - and sold over 100,000 copies.
Promiscuous prophet or philandering fool? Mary MacLane is a woman you’d be mad not to meet.

My Thoughts:

I was mesmerised throughout this production. From the very beginning, when Tim Rogers did a wonderful … really wonderful … job of introducing Mary MacLane. In the middle - when the gorgeous Bojana Novakovic did a brilliant job of sharing Mary’s history, her many male companions, her love of boiled potato at midnight and some of the darker places that Mary’s thoughts took her. Right to the end when - on stage alone an older Mary waits quietly.
Adding Tim Rogers as the narrator and he and his band as musicians added a playfulness to the production that made it quite charming. Tim was particularly good but Andy Baylor and Mark Harris played their parts well too.
Overall I thought it was a great night of theatre. I felt like I learned more about an extraordinary and colourful woman who did some quite remarkable things - especially given the time period. It was unfortunate that the folks that I went with didn’t enjoy it as much. I think Mary may have been just a tad too ‘mad’ for them.

Theatre Company: The Traverse Theatre Company
Writers: David Greig and Gordon McIntyre
Director: David Greig
Cast: Cora Bissett, Matthew Pidgeon
Location: Drama Theatre Theatre (Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

It’s midsummer in Edinburgh. And, of course, it’s raining.
Helena, a divorce lawyer, and Bob, a petty criminal, strangers until only a few hours ago, share a drunken but surprisingly enjoyable one night stand. Through the hangover haze they make the wildly impulsive decision to spend the 25 grand of hot cash that Bob is en route to bank for a low-level gangster.
So begins the legendary lost weekend: a joyous 24-hour spending spree that sends Bob and Helena spinning through the soggy city.
A hit at the 2009 Edinburg Festival, this rough and tumble romantic comedy is an ocean away from the glittering Hollywood rom-coms that have skewed Helena’s ideas about love. Peppered with songs written by Gordon McIntyre of indie folk band Ballboy, this quirky production features a wonderfully wry soundtrack.

My Thoughts:

This was … almost … perfect theatre.
The story, which was insightful, funny and heartwarming, was told by actors who confidently switched between being a narrator, playing a character and performing one of the songs. They worked really well together and worked the audience just as well - conspiratorially breaking the 4th wall regularly. It was obvious how comfortable they were with the material and with each other which made it a pleasure to watch.
The writers included a number of astute observations of life and relationships which rang particularly true and added to the enjoyment.
There was just one thing that prevented this from being ‘perfect’ for me and that was the length of the show. It seemed to me that it was probably about 20-30 minutes too long. There were a few scenes that, while funny, were not critical to the story and should probably have been dropped. Bob’s interaction with his subconscious - while amusing - was a good example of this.
Overall it was perfectly and wonderfully delightful.

Theatre Company: BIG hART INC
Writer: Scott Rankin
Directors: Scott Rankin and Wayne Blair
Cast: Trevor Jamieson and Derik Lynch
Location: Riverside Theatre (Parramatta, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Elea was born in the desert in Arrente country, Central Australia, in 1902. Two years later he was baptised Albert. Thirty one years after that, at his first solo exhibition of watercolour landscapes, he signed his work with his father’s surname for the first time: Albert Namatjira.
Half a century after his death, some of his descendants - third generation water colour artists - to fill the stage with a hug drawing of Namatjira’s country. Each night as they draw, the charismatic Trevor Jamieson will retell Namatjira’s extraordinary life.
At the height of his fame, Albert Namatjira’s shows sold out within minutes. If you didn’t own one of his pairings you probably had a print in your lounge room. He also supported over six hundred members of his community, lost two of his ten children to malnutrition, was forbidden to own land, imprisoned for having a drink with his friends, and died a broken man.
This is a whole-hearted tribute to a great Australian artist and a great Aranda man.

My Thoughts:

I’m so pleased that we got an opportunity to see this play a second time. The first time we tried to see it, at the Belvoir back in September 2010, Trevor Jamieson was too ill to complete the performance. We got to see the first fifteen minutes or so and then it was cancelled.
It was clear from that brief glimpse that this was going to be my kind of theatre - a solid story, imaginatively told, with minimal cast and set.
Trevor Jamieson is extraordinarily talented - managing to simultaneously, and seamlessly, narrate the story, play multiple characters and work the audience (breaking the fourth wall regularly and to great effect). His fellow cast member, Derik Lynch, played the supporting roles - often with great comedic effect.
The result was an engaging, thoroughly enjoyable night out. It was almost worth shifting to Sydney just to get another chance to see this!

Theatre Company: Griffin Independent
Writer: Marius Von Mayenburg (translated by Maja Zade)
Director: Sarah Giles
Cast: Jacinta Acevski, Gig Clarke, Eden Falk and Jo Turner
Location: SBW Stables Theatre (Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Lette thinks he’s normal. But he’s wrong. His personal marketability is dire and his wife thinks he’s unspeakably ugly. Banned from presenting his newly invented plug at a Swiss convention, the mild-mannered Lette takes matters into his own hands with some transformative aesthetic surgery. The operation is a raging success - after the bandages come off women want him, men want to be him and the surgeon’s even thinking of cloning. It is not long, though, before Lette learns there might be such as thing as too beautiful.
Marius Von Mayenburg (Moving Target), one of Germany’s finest writers, brings you a pitch perfect black comedy about identity and contemporary narcissism. A modern day allegory that asks the question - how far would you go to fit in?

My Thoughts:

This could have been so great but, alas, it was not. I was so disappointed.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. The actors could not have applied any more talent or energy than they did. They were magnificent.
What was definitely not magnificent was the script! Just as it looked like the scene had been set for some real drama the play quickly degenerated to farce - and lost me completely.
This was not the thoughtful, insightful theatre that I had been hoping for.

Theatre Company: True West Theatre
Writer: Annie Byron
Director: Wayne Harrison
Cast: Annie Byron
Location: Riverside Theatre (Parramatta, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Annie Byron reveals the heart-hazards of social network dating as experienced by a fifty something single woman. Based on Andee Jones best selling book Kissing Frogs, RU4Me brings a humorous twist to those pressing questions about love such as, why is it so hard to find and even harder to keep? Is romantic love the impossible dream and how do you know Mr Right even when you find him? Directed by Wayne Harrison one of Australia’s most entertaining directors, RU4Me will be a laugh filled show, perfect for a fun night out.

My Thoughts:

This was a delightful performance - although I have to wonder if the men in the audience thought so because a large part of the humour was savaging individual men who did not ‘measure up’.
As it deals with the universal need, and search, for companionship it was off to a good start. Add to that the effervescent performance of Ms Byron, lots of genuine humour (including a lot of in-jokes about Sydney suburbs that I have not lived in Sydney long enough to get) and a good story - with a happy ending - and this was definitely a fun night out.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for anything else that Annie Byron or Wayne Harrison are involved in because they both seem to have a keen eye for good theatre - and a talent for producing it.

Theatre Company: Riverside Productions
Writer: Suzie Miller
Director: Tim Jones
Cast: Glenn Hazeldine, Celia Ireland, Anna Lise Phillips, Amy Mathews and Ed Wightman
Location: Seymour Centre (University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

In the countdown to Christmas the disappearance of a young boy rocks a small town, instigating a chain of events that will alter the lives of everyone involved.
For Simon, the world that he has built was a second chance: in the eyes of the law he has paid for his mistake. Given a new identity, new history and a single confidante, he has successfully buried the truth of his past; even from Jessica, the woman he loves. But will events force Simon to step outside the prison his new identity has become and does the community have the right to know who he really is?
The recipient of the Kit Denton award for brave and courageous writing, Transparency had an acclaimed season at the Belfast Festival with the prestigious Ransom Theatre Company. This will be its Australian Premiere.

My Thoughts:

Although I wish I hadn’t, I found this production laboured and long. The heavy issues that the playwright set out to deal with, which I agree are both interesting and thought-provoking, were too obvious and intrusive.
There were parts of it that were really great: The depiction of a genuine affection between Simon and Jessica; The inventive way that the background story of the missing child was told by a character who was the radio news announcer for the town; and the use of the suitcases that carried emotional as well as actual baggage.
However these were not enough to outweigh the heavy-handedness that I thought was still evident in the way the underlying issues were handled.

Theatre Company: Old 505 Theatre
Writer: Vern Thiessen
Director: Gareth Boylan
Cast: Lucy Miller (with Joseph Nizeti)
Location: The Old 505 Theatre (Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis:

Mrs William Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway, tells her story - from growing up, meeting and marrying Shakespeare to his death and inheriting the marital bed.
The playwright state that he played “fast and loose” with the will and its meaning. He says that he used the will as a springboard for his own imagination and is artistic goal - to explore the journey of a woman who faces adversity, rises above it, and ultimately rekindles faith in herself.

My Thoughts:

This was a really solid, and entertaining, performance. As I am neither particularly knowledgable about, nor interested in, Shakespeare I was surprised at how entertaining it was.
I thought the way that the story was crafted, where the actress switches effortlessly from the present to the past, was very well told - and I learned a lot (despite the fact that the playwright took a lot of artistic license).
My only reservations were the venue (the old 505 theatre is like no other theatre I’ve been to before) and the inclusion of the musical numbers (which I didn’t feel added a lot to the story).

Theatre Company: Griffin Theatre Company
Writer: Tom Holloway
Director: Sam Strong
Cast: Linda Cropper, Russell Kiefel
Location: SBW Stables Theatre (Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

And No More Shall We Part follows Pam and Don’s halting, humorous and devastating attempt at the impossible - to say goodbye after a lifetime together.
The winner of the 2010 AWGIE for best play, And No More Shall We Part reunites the crack team of critically acclaimed writer Tom Holloway (Love Me Tender) and Griffin Artistic Director Sam Strong (Speaking in Tongues).
Two of the country’s most exciting theatre makers combine to bring you a painfully intimate and profoundly moving glimpse into a lifelong love and its poignant conclusion.

My Thoughts:

This is one of the best productions I have ever seen and unquestionably the highlight of 2011 for me.
The play revolves around a couple that have been together a long time. They have developed the kind of connection that is only possible after many years of marriage. I think it is a credit to all involved - the playwright, actors and director - that they managed to capture the magic of that connection so well.
We watch as the wife, who has been battling a terminal illness, decides to end her life and her husband, who doesn’t want to say goodbye, tries to support her as best he can.
As promised in the flyer, I found it “profoundly moving”. Despite my best efforts to restrain myself, I was literally sobbing during the performance. And, I guess, that is what the best theatre does - it moves you in some way.

Theatre Company: Belvoir St Theatre
Writer: David Milroy
Director: Kylie Farmer (Kaarljilba Kaardn)
Cast: Roxanne McDonald
Location: Downstairs, Belvoir St Theatre (Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia)

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Maymay has come back to the pastoral station she worked on as a domestic half a century ago. As she beavers away around the old washing line, she recalls the season of love and revenge which swept through and turned this dusty collection of bungalows into the scene of an achingly beautiful tragedy. Windmill Baby is the story of Black Australians in the service of White Australia. It’s also an ancient tale of unexpected love and sudden ruination.
Most wonderfully of all, Windmill Baby is that rare thing: a real love story.
First performed in Perth in 2005, Windmill Baby has since played all over the world, but never in Sydney. Now, Kylie Farmer (last seen burning the floor in The Sapphires) makes her directorial debut with a new production in our Downstairs Theatre.

My Thoughts:

This was a little slice of theatre magic.
The main - and only - character, talks directly to the audience and transports us all back fifty years to when she was a young woman working on an outback station.
With only a basic set (which was made pretty authentic with the addition of actual sand from the outback at Kimberlee), she takes us on an epic journey with a cast of colourful characters, plenty of drama and the odd ghost.
I found the story, and the lovely actress who told it, thoroughly engaging. I just wish there was more theatre like this!

Theatre Company: The Rebel Alliance
Writer: Anders Falstie-Jensen
Director: Anders Falstie-Jensen
Cast: Catherine Nola, Brian More and Candice De Villiers
Location: TAPAC

Synopsis (from Rebel Alliance site):

3 actors on 3 treadmills. It’s as simple as that in Standstill.

Thoughts on this Production:

Anders managed to fit a lot of astute observations about the human condition into just sixty minutes. He certainly seemed to get to the ‘nub’ of the issue in that time ... is the key to a happy life giving up on our crazy-making “dreams/concerns” and accepting our reality.

That would have been satisfying enough alone, so it was a bonus to have the ideas presented in such an imaginative and fresh way - on Treadmills! They were not only a powerful (and slightly predictable) metaphor but ensured that the way the mix of stories/ideas were presented was really engaging.

So pleased to have caught this one-night-only encore of this wonderful production.

Theatre Company: The Outfit Theatre Company
Writer: Howard Korder
Director: Sam Shore
Cast: Andrew Ford, Toni Rowe, Sarah Graham, Ema Barton, Joel Herbert, Nicole Jorgensen, Jacqui Nauman, Devlin Bishop and Pete Coates
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from Basement promo):

A frequently witty and thought-provoking urban drama, Boys’ Life could succinctly be described as the male’ ‘Sex in the City’. Playing out predominantly through the eyes of 3 young urban men (who refuse to grow up), it portrays the sexual politics and attitudes of late 1980’s America. But the themes and issues it raises are deeper than they seem and equally as relevant to today’s New Zealand, as men and women (or boys and girls) continue the struggle for identity in an increasingly confusing world.

The New Yorker called Boys’ Life, “the most balanced and intelligent comment on the battle of the sexes I've seen in a long time…"

Variety says “"Howard Korder's Boys’ Life puts sexual insecurity among under-30 males under the comic microscope and the result is a satisfying and thoughtful work by a fresh playwriting voice."

With a top-notch creative team headed by rising star, and the creative force behind The Idea of America, Sam Shore, who will direct this slick and sassy production, with costumes styled by fashion designer Lindah Lepou and set design by recent Arts Foundation Laureate John Parker; Boys’ Life is set to be one of The Outfit Theatre Company’s most talked about productions of 2011.

Thoughts on this Production:

I found this deeply unsatisfying theatre.

It wasn’t the fault of the production - which I thought was really well done. The acting, scene transitions (which felt like mini parties) and the 80s vibe were all great.

For me, the problem was with the script. I felt like I spent an hour watching caricatures talk ‘at’, rather than ‘to’, each other. The play seemed superficial - devoid of any genuine human interaction or connection.

It didn’t help that I didn’t recognise, and found it impossible to relate to, the three main characters.

Theatre Company: Red Leap Theatre
Director: Kate Parker and Julie Nolan
Cast: Emmett Skilton, Julia Croft, Veronica Brady, Alison Bruce and Justin Haiu
Location: Mercury Theatre

Synopsis (from Auckland Festival brochure):

Henry lives alone. He reads poetry. He writes poems and tucks them into different places, his pockets, between books, under furniture. Henry has been on a few dates but they never seem to work out. Then he meets Lumina and he can’t quite believe her. How she captures his thoughts like the pages of a book, how she wanders in his mind like letters on the wind.

Love illuminates. It makes us bold. It makes us take risks.

Performed by an ensemble cast under the direction of Kate Parker and Julie Nolan, Paper Sky incorporates striking visual imagery and physicality to unfold a love story as intimate as the space between two people and as epic as the sky.

Thoughts on this Production:

This was a fantastical tale imaginatively told.

Like The Arrival, which I enjoyed two years ago, it included a brilliantly versatile set that is masterfully changed throughout. Also, without speech, it found inventive ways of conveying messages.

It was also very funny. In the early stages of the play, there were three alter-egos for the main character. The way they interacted with the main character, and with each other, to emphasise his emotions were probably the highlight for me.

If I understood the story correctly, the mystical female love interest literally gave her male suitor a small package containing what he needed (confidence, hope, love?) to be able to face the world outside his apartment - and the possibility of romance with his very real neighbour.

At times I found the amount of puppetry (especially the parts where the main characters were looking for each other across vast plains of paper) a little wearying . At those times it seemed like the story might have been built around the puppetry rather than the other way around. But that was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the performance.

Theatre Company: UrbanYOUTHMovement
Director: Neil Ieremia
Dancers: Ruby Ala’i, Lucy Lynch, Briana Chapman, Skye-Leanne Hurst, Nita Latu, Chris Ofanoa, Angelica Osuji, Rodolfo Villanueva, Laura Watkin, Ashlea Williams, Kimberley Young, Xinia Alderson
Location: Playhouse Theatre (Glen Eden)

Synopsis (from Auckland Festival brochure):

“I told these young people that my perception of their generation is that they binge drink, are impatient and want everything NOW. They are unable to make a lasting commitment, are generally lazy and wouldn’t know what a hard day’s work was if it kicked them in the backside.

Then I told them to prove me wrong”

-Black Grace Artistic Director Neil Ieremia

From nearly every walk of life, from all over Auckland, young dancers between the ages of 16-21 are led through a demanding and often life changing creative process to voice their concerns, face their fears and express their hopes for their generation.

Thoughts on this Production:

I was expecting lots of energy and some really great music. And I was not disappointed. This action packed, one hour performance was ‘chock full’ of raw energy and power. And there was some great music. For the record, it included:

• Creator by Santogold, Freq Nasty and Switch (Santogold Album)
• Black Mud by The Black Keys (Brothers Album)
• Boogie by Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! Album)
• Smack my Bitch Up by The Prodigy (Their Law: Singles 1990-2005 Album)
• The Cousin of Death by Beastie Boys (The Mix-Up Album)
• Close to Me by The Cure (Greatest Hits Album)

But this production was SO much more. It dealt well with some pretty heavy issues - drugs, domestic violence, the drinking culture, high-school fights on YouTube and the tragedy of lives needlessly lost on the road. And, when it wasn’t thought provoking it just made me feel good. I often caught myself sitting there with a dumb grin on my face. The choreography was fun, inventive and thoroughly engaging.

Theatre Company: Teatro de los Andes, Bolivia
Director: CeSar Brie
Location: Maidment Theatre

Synopsis (from flyer):

Teatro de los Andes weaves together several different threads to create their startling re-vision of Homer’s classic Greek tale.

Journeying, loss, love, struggle, the search for the father, the loss of children, the search for identity and revenge are central and unifying threads of La Odisea. Like Homer’s character, this Ulysses is also on a journey as an immigrant who encounters obstacles, monsters and difficulties in his search for a better future. At another level La Odisea is a reflection on present day Bolivia - a country that is changing radically - shaped by the very forces that affected Homer’s Ulysses so profoundly - migration, return and the search for identity.

Thoughts on this Production:

Utterly charming! Thoroughly enjoyed watching the small talented cast tell an epic tale using an imaginative set and a variety of theatrical techniques. The music and dancing were great and provided some of the “Latino Flair” that was promised in the flyer. The humour and local references were a real bonus.

I’m afraid the sections of the play, dealing with modern Bolivia, were baffling at the time. It is only with the benefit of rereading the promotional material that I can make sense of how it fits with the historical story. Without the benefit of that background information I found those scenes confusing.

Theatre Company: Massive Company
Writer: Lennie James and Massive Company
Director: Sam Scott
Cast: Fasitua Amosa, Olive Asi, Loretta Aukuso, Scott Cotter, Wesley Dowdell, Joe Folau, Kura Forrester, Ash Jones, Beulah Koale, Miriama McDowell, Tuyet Nguyen, Bree Peters, Nicole Thomson and Jake Toaga
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (from flyer):

A single act of violence is about to shatter an Auckland neighbourbood. Five families are forced to confront secrets they have kept buried. Havoc in the Garden is an explosive new play about the lies that parents tell and children reveal; the beliefs that hold families together and the myths that tear them apart.

Thoughts on this Production:

The actors did a spectacular job, the set was wonderful and the sound and lighting excellent. And, as always, it was a pleasure to see our local cultures, experiences and locations represented on stage. But, overall this was just too much for me. Too many competing storylines - each containing too much heartbreak with insufficient time to know, and empathise with, any of the characters.

Theatre Company: The Outfit Theatre Co.
Writer: Devised by Outfit Theatre Co.
Director: Joel Herbert (assisted by Andrew Ford)
Cast: Gypsy Kauta, James Jennings, Ema Barton, Joel Herbert, Devlin Bishop, Kate Lumb, Catherine Rood, Matt Baker, Holly Bradfield, Bede Skinner, Jacqui Nauman, Pete Coates, Stefanie Lawrence, Edward Clendon, Toni Rowe, Colin Garlick, Anoushka Klaus, Chris Neels, Sarah Graham.
Location: Galatos

Synopsis:

Explores the interrelated stories, and sexual exploits, of several couples and individuals:

• Alex (Devlin Bishop) and Claire (Kate Lumb) - A married couple who are dealing with the fallout of her rape.
• Cole (Colin Garlick) and Sophia (Anoushka Klaus) - A confident talkshow host, getting lessons on handjob technique, who is not happy about having to compete for her boyfriend’s attention.
• Joe (Bede Skinner) and Ally (Jacqui Nauman) - A philandering and thoughtless All Black and his long-suffering fiancee. He is so thoughtless that he takes a phone call in the middle her spectacular striptease!
• Kev (Pete Coates) and Brooke (Stefanie Lawrence) - Nightclubbers, not adverse to a spot of sex in the toilets, who might be ready to give up the one night stands.
• Clark (Matt Baker) and Grace (Holly Bradfield) - A priest, who isn’t a fan of the idea of a play called “The Sex Show” and his sexually inquisitive wife.
• Ross (Chris Neels) and Angie (Sarah Graham) - A young man eventually acts on his long term crush for his “friend” with the help of some male encouragement, alcohol and drugs. Makes the sweetest speech about knowing he was in love because he realised the weak knees (that he saw a doctor about) only happened when she was around.
• Krystal (Toni Rowe) - Uses sex as a way to feel validated until a particularly unsatisfying encounter helps her to realise the ultimate futility of that way of living.
• Josh (Edward Clendon) - A young man who realises he is gay after not finding he is able to “get off” using traditional pornography.
• Celeste (Catherine Rood) - A gorgeous and nubile dancer , who is a few months off being sixteen, with a serious crush on her dance teacher and is determined to have him in spite of the fact that he is married.

These stories were glued together with a sex-savvy trio comprising Inana (Gypsy Kauta), Minerva (Ema Barton) and Nicky (Joel Herbert).

Thoughts on this Production:

This devised production brought together the information that had been gathered from an anonymous survey of 116 people in a cohesive and thoroughly entertaining way. It was great to see such a diverse range of common experiences and issues being dealt with on stage. The only weakness was that, possibly due to the number of parallel threads, key character developments were represented using symbolism. This was slightly unsatisfying. Overall, Outfit theatre company definitely succeeded in their goal of relating with, and engaging, audiences.

Theatre Company: Frisky Productions
Writer: Gregory Burke
Director: Gareth Reeves
Cast: Kevin Keys, Emmett Skilton, Edward Newborn and Will Wallace
Location: 181 Hobson St

Synopsis (from the promotional material):

Gary and Eddie, two factory workers awash with anti-globalism anger, kidnap a visiting Japanese executive. The stage is set of the dramatic release of their manifesto and a statement to the waiting world through political violence.

Only, Frank the exec isn’t Japanese; Eddie forgot the balaclavas; Gary’s manifesto is a little hazy; and Tom, a young security guard with a degree in political science, has come back for his hat.

With the four men confined to a claustrophobic factory store room, the tension crackles. As each of their stories emerge throughout the play a visceral and fiercely comic explosion of ideas, beliefs and hopes plays out.

Thoughts on this Production:

Staging this play in an actual industrial space was inspired. It really helped to set the scene and transport us to post-industrial Scotland. The play was cleverly written. The acting was great - really great! For me though, there was something missing. Something I could really relate to on an emotional level. It reminded me of listening to a bunch of bright blokes whiling away an evening butting heads with their, predominantly uninformed but strongly held, views of the world’s problems and how they should be solved. At the end of the evening, you have a little more understanding of what those men’s lives look like (some bare details relating to their work, relationships and history) without a real understanding of who they really are.

Theatre Company: Four Afloat Productions
Writer: Fiona Graham
Director: Lauren Jackson
Cast: Rachel Nash, Antonia Stehlin, Donogh Rees and Lavinia Uhila
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (from the flyer):

A small boat is suspended in a boundless sea when three women clamber inside and fight for the right to stay aboard. They hide from the truth, push and kick, insult and lie. Lost in their stories they no longer know what is fact or fiction. It is the arrival of a young girl which turns the tide.

Weaving themes of migration, identity, truth and reconciliation, Passage is a beautiful story navigating the hopes and fears of mothers and daughters all over the world.

Thoughts on this Production:

The most remarkable thing about this production is how brilliantly it conveyed a story that takes place exclusively in, and around, a boat. The boat itself was both beautifully built and perfectly designed for the audience to be able to see all characters at once. When combined with the way that it was manually moved across the stage, dry ice and video in the background, the effect was truly magical. I was mesmerised. The story itself was entertaining, if a little long, as we watched the interaction between the women and slowly learned the real nature of their journey.

Theatre Company: Silo Theatre
Writer: Will Eno
Director: Peter Elliot
Actors: Oliver Driver
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (from the promotional material):

Meet THOM PAIN: an enigmatic everyman in a sharp suit but no socks.

He’s got an itch to scratch and he needs your help. Armed with a wicked attitude and a broken heart, he’ll weave narrative threads of childhood trauma, yearning, that thing called the human condition, a bee sting and a boy who died. In his quest for salvation, he’ll stop at nothing, be distracted by nothing. Except maybe a piece of lint. Or the woman in the second row.

Full of hip-to-the-hurt linguistic gymnastics, Will Eno has reconfigured existentialism for the Ricky Gervais generation. THOM PAIN is part stand-up comedy, part sales pitch and part elegy for lost love. Oliver Driver will create theatrical mischief with his indefatigable comic chutzpah. Not to be missed.

Thoughts on this Production:

Wow! What a compelling and insightful piece of theatre. The playwright, Will Eno, is officially the person I would most like to have dinner with. The conversation certainly wouldn’t be dull. Kudos to Oliver Driver for an incredible performance. Without his confident, perfectly pitched, performance this would have been a completely different experience.

Theatre Company: Belvoir Theatre
Writer: Scott Rankin
Directors: Scott Rankin & Wayne Blair.
Actors: Nicole Forsyth, Robert Hannaford, Trevor Jamieson. Genevieve Lacey, Derek Lynch, Keven Namatjira, Evert Ploeg and Elton Wirri.
Location: Upstairs Theatre at Belvoir

Synopsis:

Tells the story of Albert Namatjira - an aboriginal artist who is famous for his watercolour landscapes.

Thoughts on this Production:

I am very sure that this play would have lived up to all of the rave reviews that I have since read. Unfortunately, the main actor (Trevor Jamieson) was unable to perform the night that we had booked to see this play. He gave it a valiant effort - fronting up twice before he left the stage defeated by ill-health. So disappointing as the ten minutes or so that we did get to see gave the impression that this would have been a real treat!

Theatre Company: Nocturne Theatre
Writer: Rachel Corrie. Edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner.
Director: Lara MacGregor
Cast: Kate Prior
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from flyer):

Rachel Corrie was born in 1978 in Olympia, Washington. She had a strong social conscience, a sharp sense of humour, and love a good dance around her bedroom.

In January 2003 she travelled to Palestine-Israel as a member of the International Solidarity Movement. On March 16th she was killed by an Israeli military bulldozer while protecting the home of a Palestinian family.

My Name is Rachel Corrie is a one woman play taken completely from the diaries and e-mails of a woman who lived - and died - according to her beliefs.

Thoughts on this Production:

There is nothing better than a solid one-person show. What a skill being able to carry an entire story, all by yourself, for an entire show. And Kate Prior managed to do all that. She was helped by inventive staging and an equally inventive set. And the story, which I was really hoping would help me to understand the Israeli-Palestine conflict, did not disappoint. This production provided a real insight into that part of the world from the very accessible perspective of a young woman from America.

Writer: Stuart McKenzie
Director: Tim Spite
Cast: Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie
Location: Concert Chamber, Town Hall

Synopsis (from the promotional material):

Written by Miranda’s husband, acclaimed playwright Stuart McKenzie, what starts as a solo show is soon anything but, as people from her life pop up to argue their side of the story.

Set agains an 80s and 90s soundtrack - and a backdrop of traffic violations, the ’81 Springbok tour, Gloss, Princess Di, true crime and the search for the perfect moisturiser - Biography trace the role of a lifetime through four decades we’ll never forget.

Thoughts on this Production:

A thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre. Reminded me of the fun you have when you spend an evening with a couple that have been together long enough to be totally comfortable with each other, to have well-worn ways of relating to each other and familiar stories that they enjoy sharing. Not life-changing but very satisfying.

Theatre Company: Stage Two Productions & Theatre of Love
Location: Musgrove Theatre

Synopsis:

A selection of plays, presented in the order determined by audience vote.

• Roast - Set yourself on fire with Roast and get deeper into Auckland’s scandalous cafe scene. Side with Cafe Furnace’s Queenie, Johnny Fizz and the gang as they get revenge on rivals La Falcones and have a hell of a time. Written by Nicole Steven. Directed by Adam King. Cast: Nick Frentz, Hannah Claydon, Lucinda Bennett, Michael Bugbee, Kirstie McDiamid and Jonathon Riley.
• Misplaced - Get lost in Misplaced as Mike finds himself in a helpless spot. Surrounded by misplaced objects and over-enthusiastic overall-wearing workman, Mike is faced with a difficult decision - remain lost or find his way home. Written and directed by Cam Nealie. Cast: James Walker, Rory Nolan, Aman Bajaj.
• Single Talk - Explore the dilemmas of dating with Single Talk. Follow Dianne as she sets out to find out just how ‘single’ her boyfriend Bailey really is. Watch as her best friend Claire follows her progress and offers advice. Is Bailey single or not and what is Claire hiding? Written and directed by Leigh Fitzjames. Cast: Tasha Daniel, Shoshana McCallum and Liam Nolan.
• French Bay - Join Josh as he cruises the streets in one man play French Bay. While trying to take responsibility for the first time in his life. Josh runs into trouble in the form of a shitty car, on duty cops, and a girl. Written and directed by Jonathan Riley. Cast: Jay Williams.
• The Lamentable Tragedy of John F - Set your soul as John F conjures up a demon to help him pass his exams. Is he making the right choice? You decide as the demon and an angel fight for his soul using all the dirty tricks they know. Written and directed by Tom Carlyle.
• The Rose - Avoid marriage at all costs with The Rose. After years of emotional repression a wife yearns to get out of her surreal existence. Left to constantly attend her husband’s obsession with cleanliness she goes quietly insane until a rose stirs something deep inside her. Written by Johnathon Potton. Directed by Benjamin Teh. Cast: Paul Fagamalo and Chanel Turner.
• The Captain - Go out and live in The Captain, where a mysterious man meets Adam at a bus stop and leads him on a wild range that changes his life forever. At 18 Adam is average and unhappy, but as he follows the Captain he learns that life is full of unexpected situations and dangerous choices. Written and directed by James Wenley. Cast: Nick Gray, Omar Al-Sobky, Daryl Wrightson and Kristina Hard.
• The Improv Play - Devised by the members of ‘Getting it up Live’.

Thoughts on this Production:

Every now and again you see a real gem of theatre. Something that is both local and emotionally challenging and engaging. French Bay was such a gem. It was powerfully written, by Johnathon Riley, and powerfully delivered, by Jay Williams. I’m determined to see anything that these incredibly talented men are involved in in the future.

Theatre Company: Silo Theatre
Writer: Samuel Beckett
Director: Michael Hurst
Cast: Robyn Malcolm and Cameron Rhodes
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (from flyer):

Amidst blazing light and scorched grass, Winnie is half-buried in a mound. Still she greets each day with a smil, rummaging around in her handbag, applying makeup, brushing her teeth and nattering away to her husband. She’s always got a loaded revolver stashed away should it all get too much. Hers might not be the ideal life, but should a happy day come her way she’ll seize it with both hands. Buried slowly beneath the mire of an indifferent universe, Winnie offers the bravest response possible. She persists.

In HAPPY DAYS, Samuel Beckett’s luminous simplicity and boldly imaginative vision deals with existence in a world where existence has ceased to exist. Ironic, funny, despairing and courageous.

Michael Hurst once again takes a modern masterpiece and distils its abiding essence to produce a theatrical experience acutely insightful and unexpectedly moving. The magnificent Robyn Malcolm joins with old mate Cameron Rhodes to take us all brink in a tour de force performance of this legendary work from the writer of WAITING FOR GODOT.

Thoughts on this Production:

I know that Samuel Beckett is a “great” playwright but I’m afraid this story just seems like a load of old nonsense to me. By his own admission, Samuel Beckett said it was tells the story of a woman stoically making the best of the “most dreadful thing that could happen to anybody”. She is sinking into the ground alive and it’s full of ants; and the sun is shining endlessly day and night and there is not a tree ... there’s not shad, nothing; and a bell wakes you up all the time and all you’ve got is this little parcel of things to see you through life. Why on earth would I want to waste and evening sharing this depressing fantasy?

The only thing that saved this evening for me was Robyn Malcolm’s incredible performance. God she is gorgeous and SO talented. Her energy was awe-inspiring. She was mesmerising. Without a performer like her I would probably not have lasted through the whole show.

Theatre Company: Tawata Productions
Writer: Miria George and Jamie McCaskill
Director: Hone Kouka
Cast: Jamie McCaskill and Kali Kopae
Location: Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre

Synopsis (from flyer):

He Reo Aroha weaves the beauty of original waiata, with a compelling story of love and music. Childhood sweethearts Laia and Pascoe were always worlds apart. Kaia had trained to sing, grooming her voice for greatness. Working for the fishing boats with his father, a song was never far from Pascoe’s lips.

In the heart of Ti Kapa, one warm summer’s night, their voices entwine sealing a love that will last a lifetime. Choosing music over love, Kaia leaves for New York in search of a career that offers privilege and prestige. Broken-hearted, Pascoe is left behind in Ti Kapa to follow in his father’s footsteps.

When life doesn’t bring Kaia and Pascoe all they had hoped for, the soon discover it is music that will get them through and love that will bring them back together.

Thoughts on this Production:

This was imaginatively presented, full of laughter and utterly charming. The cast was really strong and did a convincing job of shifting between characters. I really enjoyed the ease with which music was realistically integrated into the production - without anyone inexplicably breaking into song (as in musicals). The only weakness, from my perspective, was finding some aspects of the central relationship unconvincing.

Theatre Company: The Playground Collective
Writer: Eli Kent
Cast: Eli Kent
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from the flyer):

Jack and Eli spend their days hanging out in Eli’s bedroom, drinking beers and riffing on movies, music and girls.

When the death of a friend causes Jack to look inside himself, he doesn’t like what he sees, sparking a spiritual journey to James K. Baxter’s grave in Jerusalem, New Zealand.

Thoughts on this Production:

I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration of the meaning of life, the universe and everything.

I enjoyed Eli Ken’s astute observations of life. There were some great one-liners ... that I wish I could have written down at the time to remember.

I enjoyed all of the different, and innovative, methods employed to tell the tale including a blast from the past - an overhead projector.

On the strength of this production I’ll be looking forward to seeing anything else that the Playground Collective present up in Auckland.

Writer: Renae Maihi
Director: Rachel House
Cast: Nicola Kawana, Renae Maihi, Lana Garland, Rhys Castle-Hughes, Sara Henare and William Timothy Davis
Location: TAPAC

Synopsis (from Eventfinder listing by Bored_Housewife):

Nga Manurere follows Manawa’s (Nicola Kawana) journey to reconnect with the son Morehu (Rhys Castle-Hughes) she gave up through whaNgai. Supported by her three closest friends Wai (Sara Henare), Rina (Lana Garland) and Jess (Renee Maihi) who are all single mothers, the women are tied together by their roots and friendship, but each secretly harbours their own view on Manawa and the son to whom she is a stranger.

At once funny and shocking, the play explores the everyday experience of being a solo mum with honesty and humour. It also reveals a terrible truth that exposes the danger of emotional silence.

Thoughts on this Production:

This was a good story that was well told.

The main character was clearly a strong and moral woman who had done all that she could to deal with a difficult event in her life.

I liked the way that, like the characters in the story, we were kept in suspense. It wasn’t until the final stages of the play that we found out why Manawa had given her child up for adoption. And, when we do find out, we’re filled with admiration for her decision and the way that she has lived her life.

As part of a child-free couple I was worried that this play about solo mums might not have much relevance for me but I am so pleased that I saw it in spite of my reservations. It would have been a shame to have missed such a gem.

Theatre Company: Shoreside Theatre
Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Various
Location: Theatreworks Theatre (Birkenhead)

Synopsis (from the flyer) and Thoughts:

• This production was a smorgasbord of the following four plays:
• Shadows (Written by Josephine Carter, Directed by Martin van Lersel and Starring Tracey van Lent, Toni Austin, Victoria van Raalte, Antony van lersel, Alan Curtis, Kahurangi Carter and Steven Jury) - Intriguing tale that kept the audience in suspense until the full picture was revealed. Solid and convincing performances.
• Cupid’s Bane (Written by Mike Borgfeldt, Directed by James Bell and Starring Melissa Roberts, Lauren McLean, Ryan Dulieu and Ben Wright) - Interesting premise whereby cupid competes against his imaginary nemesis “George”.
• Foreplay (Written by David Ives, Directed by Katharine Hair and Starring Ryan Dulieu, Natalie Braid, Ben Wright, Toni Tippett, Frank Wolfkamp and Caitlin Ivory) - Clever idea of a sequence of men using standard set of “lines” in an attempt to win over women on a mini-golf green. I think this probably worked better in theory than in practice.
• Sexual Perversity in Chicago (Written by David Mamet, Directed by Bryan Johnston and Starring Mike Borgfeldt, Blake Henshaw, Caitlin Ivory, Sarah Webster and Michael Murphy) - Was really looking forward to seeing a snippet of this play (which I missed the Oliver Driver production of late the previous year). Wasn’t quite what I expected. Didn’t enjoy this part of the performance at all. I think the main issue was that I found it hard to see any redeeming qualities in the main characters and found it hard to relate to any of the playwright’s observations of human relationships.

Theatre Company: Yes Please Theatre
Writer: Sophie Henderson and Curtis Vowell
Director: Cameron Rhodes
Cast: Sophie Henderson, Curtis Vowell, Brett O’Gorman and Michelle Blundell
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from the flyer):

William has surprised Samantha by taking her to the campground she came to every year as a child. Samantha is lying about loving the place. William is lying about being a camping expert. They are about to find out they barely know each other.

Torrential rain. Outrageous neighbours. Stolen baked beans. Third degree burns. No privacy.

Welcome to the great outdoors.

A hilarious look at a Kiwi summer tradition. I HEART camping will evoke wonderful memories of bygone summers.

Thoughts on this Production:

This was a fun night of theatre. A relatively light-hearted story, recognisable characters, a familiar Kiwi activity and lots of humour.

The main characters did a great job but I especially enjoyed the ‘extras’ which were played by Brett O’Gorman and Michelle Blundell. They did a fabulous job of a sweet, older married couple who wanted everyone to have a relationship as supportive, companionable and lust-filled as their own.

That made it easy to forgive they play’s one weakness for me - expecting us to believe that two people could have gotten married with one person not knowing what the other actually did for a living!?

Writer: Harold Pinter
Director: Tara Riddell
Cast: Craig Hall, Michelle Langstone and Matt MacDougall
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from Janet McAllister’s review in The Herald):

Leaving for work, a buttoned-up English banker asks his housewife: “Is your lover coming today?”. Harold Pinter teasingly sets the scene for his caustic 1963 send-up of middle-class sexual mores with his matter-of-fact question. The wife’s polite answer is: “Yes”.

Thoughts on this Production:

This play was great but not quite in the way that I was expecting it to be.

After reading about the wonderfully provocative opening line, I was expecting it to be great because it would provide an insight into a relationship that had introduced at least one other player on at least one occasion. This is, I believe, an intriguing approach to dealing with the monotony that can be part of monogamy.

Unexpectedly, the play did not turn out to be a detailed exploration of the implications of such a decision. What it did turn out to be was both surprising and mesmerising (a word I can’t seem to help using when describing anything Michelle Langstone is in!?). Brilliant story with a great twist.

The production itself was slick. Great set, great costumes and great acting. Just right!

Theatre Company: Catalyst Theatre Company
Writer: Sam Berkley
Cast:
Location: Musgrove Theatre

Synopsis (Description from Bored_Housewife on EventFinder):

What is TWACAS, you may ask? It’s the latest work from Catalyst Theatre Company, the inspiring collective responsible for 2008’s sleeper for 2008’s sleeper hit A City of Souls.

TWACAS is also the acronym for “The West Auckland Cardigan Society”, a group of three lonely individuals (you’d have to be to start a cardigan society ...); Les, Tim ad Trish - the founders of the society. Their non-existent lives are changed however upon the arrival of two new members: Lara and Bruce.

Lara is a quintessential “babe” with her focus set on fashion, while Bruce is an ex-scuba diver-come-dolphin trainer - and with the club now a success beyond their wildest dreams, TWACAS looks to truly fulfil its potential. But while change is inevitable, change can also be a painful process. Cue sex, drugs, porn shops, dildos, lies, deceit, betrayal, prison, love triangles, pass the parcel, rousing oratory, freestyle rap, a touching ballad and more knitwear than a Glen Eden op-shop!

Thoughts on this Production:

This play had some genuine moments of humanity and humour that made it well worth seeing. I enjoyed many of Sam Berkley’s observations on loneliness and the need to connect with others. And those moments made it possible to forgive the occasional lapse into stereotypes.

Theatre Company: The Emergency Room
Writer: Neil LaBute
Directors: Shane Bosher, Kip Chapman, Margaret-Mary Hollins, Dena Kennedy, Colin Moy and Edwin Wright.
Actors: Julia Croft, Peta Rutter, Todd Emerson, Rachel Forman, Ross Anderson, Elizabeth Easther, Andi Crown, Simon London, Olivia Tennet, Will Wallis, Annie Whittle, Bruce Phillips
Location: The Basement

Synopsis:

Comprised six short vignettes involving two people - who are stuck in a vehicle which may or may not be moving:

• Teenage Rebel (Julia Croft and Peta Rutter directed by Margaret-Mary Hollins) - A young woman, being driven home from the “Twin Oaks” rehabilitation facility, knows exactly how to drive her mother to despair.
• Attempted Breakup (Todd Emerson and Rachel Forman directed by Shane Bosher) - A white, middle-class academic is foiled in his attempt to break up with a girl he obviously only intended to be involved with while he was studying.
• It’s Hard to Say I’m Sorry (Ross Anderson and Elizabeth Easther directed by Edwin Wright) - A guy who is a little rough around the edges, with some interesting thoughts on language, spends 15 minutes not really apologising for calling his wife the “c-word” in the supermarket.
• “I KNOW you shouldn’t drink” (Andi Crown and Simon London directed by Simon London) - Its clear that this attractive, effervescent, young woman’s story about fainting with two strangers at her door and waking up sore “down there” is missing a few details.
• Please Say You are her Father!!! (Olivia Tennet and Will Wallis directed by Colin Moy) - A precocious young girl has been dragged from school and is being driven to a secluded cabin with an older, but not unfamiliar, man with dubious intentions.
• We Gave it Our Best Shot (Annie Whittle and Bruce Phillips directed by Kip Chapman) - An older couple a driving home after “returning” a foster child who just didn’t work out as they had hoped.

Thoughts on this Production:

I was looking forward to seeing this because, well, what better vehicle for exploring a wide range of human interactions than watching two people who are stuck in a car. And this play didn’t disappoint! It was great trying to figure out what was going on by listening to a conversation you are dropped into the middle of with little or no context. Half of the vignettes were thoroughly engaging and laugh out loud funny. The other half made me squirm in my seat. I should have expected at least some level of discomfort from the person who wrote “The Shape of Things”. Definitely left the audience with lots to think about!

Theatre Company: Silo Theatre Company
Writer: Brendan Cowell
Director: Shane Bosher
Actors: Andrew Grainger, Ellie Smith, Peter Elliot, Dean O’Gorman, Chelsie Preston Crayford, Toni Potter, Oliver Driver
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (From Promotional Material):

Black comedy with a big drunken heart.

Ruben Guthrie is flirting with the brink. He's the Creative Director of a cutting-edge advertising agency, engaged to a Czech supermodel and drinking like he invented it. He pours himself a drink to celebrate, a drink to work, a drink to sleep and one spectacular night he drinks so much he thinks he can fly. Given that the demons of self-destruction are hovering, Ruben steps toward a life of sudden sobriety - one day at a time.

But this is no community service announcement - Brendan Cowell lines up the shots for us in a heady cocktail of fizzy humour and epiphanic poignancy. Spiral high, crash hard and go to AA with you mum.

Thoughts on this Production:

This powerful production, brilliantly performed by the entire cast - especially Oliver Driver, certainly left me with a lot to think about. Its primary focus was addiction. The main character attempts to solve his problem using the standard 12-step method (through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)). The “white-knuckle approach” works for a while but, after a crushing rejection from a girlfriend, he spirals downwards again. The final words of the play “Hi, my name is Ruben Guthrie and I am ...” made me wonder whether the playwright believes the only hope there is for solving an addiction is to learn to be self-reliant enough to be able to experience whatever it is the addiction helps you to avoid. But I also can’t help but wonder how much he believes addiction he believes addiction is physiological - rather than psychological.

Theatre Company: The Dust Palace
Cast: Colleen Davis, Steven A Davis, Campbell Farquhar, Geoff Gilson, Eve Gordon, Tui Gordon, Sarah Houbolt, Nisha Madhan, Ascia Maybury and Callum Stembridge
Location: The Basement

Synopsis (from The Big Idea):

The Dust Palace (Making Love to the Audience, Fete Macabre) presents a smouldering burlesque which promises to be comedic, politically astute, and poetically informed. Hand pickeed for their individual talents, the troupe uses circus acts, singling, dancing, clown, balance acrobatics and more to undress ideas around sexuality both modern and historic.

The show comprises feats of daring, coercion, seduction and sedition by a luscious troupe of gorgeous performers.

Thoughts on this Production:

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

This series of acts was a wonderful celebration of sex and sexuality. An evening full of song, dance, humour and glorious bodies - in various states of dress and undress.
I’m no expert but it appeared to be a genuine burlesque experience.

Theatre Company: Ishinha, Japan
Writer: Yukichi Matsumoto
Producer: Michiko Aoki
Actors: Cast of thirty five
Location: Aotea Centre

Synopsis:

From the promotional material produced for the Auckland Festival 09:
This compelling work evokes the passion, joys and the distress experienced by travellers and immigrants everywhere. Against a backdrop of overscale images, the immigrants travel to new lands. Slowly they emerge from the constraints of their past, to experience the colour, excitement - and despair - of a new South American life.

Thoughts on this Production:

I think I would characterize this production as more mesmerizing than engaging. It was very different to New Zealand theatre ... with the story being told through movement and chanting as much as words.

Theatre Company: Read Leap Theatre
Writer: Adaptation of book written by Shaun Tan
Director: Kate Parker, Julie Nolan
Actors: Kate Parker, Jarrod Rawiri, Alison Bruce, Sally Stockwell, Chris Graham, Tahi Mapp-Barren, Jared Turner, Ella Becroft, Jason Haiu and Tama Jarman
Location: The Civic

Synopsis:

From the promotional material produced for the Auckland Festival 09:
Fleeing and oppressive force, and leaving behind his wife and child, a man travels vast oceans, in search of a better life in a new land. There he encounters indecipherable languages, peculiar customs, curious animals and dazzling architecture. Baffled and bewildered, he sets out to find a home, a job and the security he needs to reunite his family.

Thoughts on this Production:

This production was utterly enchanting. I was completely mesmerized from beginning to end. Although there was very little language used, it was easy to follow the story because of the very imaginative ways that the cast used themselves and puppets to convey information. It really is quite incredible how they have brought a picture book to life!!!

Theatre Company: Taki Rua Productions
Writer: Albert Beltz
Director: David O’Donnell
Actors: Donough Rees, Rangimoana Taylor, Ngapaki Emery, Michael Whalley, Tainui Tukiwaho and Karl Drinkwater
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis:

From the Taki Rua website:
Estranged from both his family and faith, Matthew Connell’s new regimented existence in the police force is threatened when Ranea, a young Maori woman from his childhood re-emerges to challenge his future. With civil unrest brewing across the country [because of the Springbok tour], Matthew is forced to confront his past.

Thoughts on this Production:

I wanted to like this production more than I actually did. Its credentials were rock-solid - Taki Rua (which has produced some excellent work) and Albert Beltz (who has also written some great plays in the past). Don’t get me wrong, the production was incredibly solid - a well constructed story which was very well told by the cast. It just seemed to lack what I needed to feel emotionally connected to what was going on on stage.

Theatre Company: The Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis:

From the Oryza Foundation website:
A premiere of seven short-format works:

• Mount Head (by Hiroshi Nakatsuji) - This tragic comedy begins when the stingy protagonist greedily munching on cherries and the seeds he finds under a cherry tree. One of the seeds germinates within him and grows into a cherry tree… on his head! This surrealistic story closes with the most unexpected and peculiar ending.
• The Mooncake and the Kumera (by Mei-Lin Hansen and Kiel McNaughton) - Set in September 1927 in a market garden in Manawatu during the four weeks leading up to the mid-autumn moon festival, the play tells the story of the growing relationship between Chao Kum Chee - a Chinese man from Long Gai in Naam Tsuen - and Alice Paniora Williams - a Maori girl from Whatawhata, Waikato. In the shadow of this blossoming relationship is the dwindling connection between Chao and his wife in China. During the play Chao and his wife exchange letters which reveal Chao's struggle to find a sense of belonging in New Zealand and his wife's struggle to deal with his absence.
• Midnight, State Highway 1 (by Mukilan Thangamani) - A young Indian man and an East-Asian woman meet after an unexpected incident, a late night car accident on a deserted highway. As they wait for a tow-truck, they start to bond and soon realize that they might share a special connection.
• Intrusions (by Misa Tapou) - Condemned and despised for the colour of his skin, and through the hypocrisy of society, Lone Figure holds on to his golden dream of being with his lover. But how long can one hold on for? Soon the pressure invades his soul and he snaps into action to fight for his right, as the weight of discrimination against him viciously usurps his lonely world.
• Mask (by Renee Liang) - A modern theatre piece inspired by traditional Chinese Opera forms, Mask is the tale of a Chinese daughter growing up in New Zealand and how she comes to terms with her split identity. It is also about a Chinese father and how he responds to his daughter's changing ideas. At its heart, Mask is about inter-generational conflicts that we all might face, no matter what colour we are, and about bravery in the face of change.
• The Loyal Customer (by Ying Ly) - A trashy pregnant girl who dreams of going to fashion school becomes a regular customer at an Asian food stall. She charms the stoic owner into a friendship he doesn't expect. In the end her opportunistic action inadvertently changes the course of his life.
• Citizen 3 (by Davina Goh) - Citizen 3 portrays the story of Sean, a young Malaysian Chinese man who, due to his multi-cultural upbringing, is having trouble living up to the expectations of both his nationality and ethnic background. It starts to take a toll on his career prospects and overall spirits. He eventually accepts the need to act on his cultural shortcomings. However, the helping hand that Sean’s girlfriend offers leads to a sudden turn of events that exposes the detrimental effects of Sean’s conditioning into ignorance of kin.

Thoughts on this Production:

With seven completely different pieces, it is not surprising that there were a few that I didn’t enjoy as much as others. However there were enough that I really enjoyed to make the night out worth it. The standouts for me were The Loyal Customer (a very touching story that was extremely well executed by the two main characters), Mask (which clearly communicated the difficulties of trying to build a bridge between parental expectation and the realities of living in a different culture), Midnight, State Highway 1 (reminded me that there is often a lot about other people we don’t know) and The Mooncake and the Kumera (which did a powerful job of communicating the difficulties of relocation - and the woman who played the maori character was utterly beguiling).

Theatre Company: Court Theatre
Writer: Joanna Murray Smith
Director: Ross Gumbley
Actors: Ali Harper
Location: Musgrove Theatre

Synopsis:

Bombshells is a one-woman play which humorously exposes six women balancing the demands of their inner and outer lives with funny and touching portrayals of the modern female. We see an overwhelmed mother, an older woman finding comfort with “succulents”, a very confident teenager in a catsuit, a young bride, a widow who reads for the blind and an aging singer who is making a comeback.

Joanna Murray Smith says “It seemed to me that in the post-feminist era, women have forsaken one kind of madness for other kinds. Where once women went mad suppressing their ambitions or dreams, they now drive themselves mad trying to fulfil them all simultaneously, dissecting themselves under the microscope of self-analysis, disappearing inside the impossible pressures of the will to be good, to be great and to be true to every individual instinct.”

Thoughts on this Production:

Amazing! Ali Harper was nothing short of incredible. She managed to convincingly transform herself into six completely different characters. Her energy and commitment was awe-inspiring. The play itself was brilliantly written ... cleverly balancing poignant moments with humour. I found it to be what Joanna Murray Smith described as a “delight in the passionate, miserable, hilarious wildness of women”.

Theatre Company: Taki Rua Productions
Writer: Rob Mokoraka, Paolo Rotondo
Director: Leo Gene Peters
Actors: Rob Mokaraka, Paolo Rotondo, Maaka Pohatu
Location: Glen Eden Playhouse

Synopsis (From Flyer):

Italy 1944: A battle-torn theatre of World War II. The Allied onslaught stalls at Monte Cassino and the 28th Maori Battalion find themselves centre-stage. A young Maori soldier goes out to steel food; an Italian soldier takes cover in a stable and both find themselves trapped in a dangerous and deadly stand-off, but with the Germans just outside, their survival depends on co-operation.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, Strange Resting Places weaves fiction with history to tell stories inspired by the Maori Battalion in Italy.
Crafted from personal experience and extensive research by writers Rob Mokoraka and Paolo Rotondo, Strange Resting Places shines a light on the three universals that Maori shared with the Italians - Whanau, food and song ... not to mention wily cunning, a love of vino and a passion for the ladies.
Performed in Maori, English and Italian with live music and numerous hilarious and moving characters, Strange Resting Places examines the complex emotional bonds of New Zealand’s wartime history.
More than just theatre entertainment, Paolo says Strange Resting Places is a celebration and commemoration to all those whose lives were touched at Monte Cassino, Italy in 1944.

Thoughts on this Production:

I think the thing I loved about this most about this production was how inventively the epic war story ... involving the bombing of a monastery ... was told. Despite the fact that there were only three actors, a small space and a few props, I was transported to Italy in 1943-44 and moved by the stories of the people involved. It was a pleasure to watch three actors, each a real personality in his own right, enjoying sharing the stage together and creating something so engaging and entertaining. The wonderful singing throughout was a bonus!

Theatre Company: Migratore Worx
Writer: Donna Banicevich Gera
Director: Cathy Downes
Actors: Alana Barber, Steven Papps, Jeremy Elwood, Darien Takle, Liz Tierney
Location: Musgrove Theatre

Synopsis (From Flyer):

Lila, a young proxy bride, arrives in New Zealand from Dalmatia to meet her new husband Miro. He is living in the underdeveloped area of Henderson Valley, west of Auckland, trying to establish a vineyard in keeping with the traditions he has left behind in the Adriatic. To her the whole place breathes defeat.
The play focuses on her struggle to overcome the odds and adjust to a new life in a new land.

Thoughts on this Production:

This play was far more shocking and confronting than I had expected. It dealt with a number of gritty life issues in a short timeframe. I initially found it difficult to figure out how the narrator fitted into the play and the first half was a little stilted. However, it settled in the second half and the ending was very satisfying - showing genuine growth for each of the main characters ... both as individuals and as a couple. It was genuinely moving. A rare treat!

Theatre Company: Silo Theatre
Writer: Harold Pinter
Director: Caroline Bell-Booth
Actors: Oliver Driver, Michelle Langstone, Colin Moy
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (From Silo Website):

LOVE AND DECEIT. TOLD IN REVERSE.
The high price of passion is examined when an illicit affair destroys a marriage and sabotages a friendship.
Robert and Jerry were best friends.
Robert and Emma were married.
Jerry and Emma were lovers.
Welcome to the tangled emotional world of BETRAYAL
Peeling back the layers of time to reveal the unexpected, Harold Pinter captures the psyche's sly manouevres for self-respect with sardonic forgiveness.

Thoughts on this Production:

This was slick! The way the play was written, where the story unfolded in reverse order, required you to pay close attention. My only criticism was that I didn’t find the story emotionally engaging - merely intellectually stimulating. The casting and acting were brilliant. Both Oliver Driver and Colin Moy were exceptional and Michelle Langstone was mesmerizing. This was an excellent production.

Theatre Company: Peach Theatre Company
Writer: Dave Armstrong, Oscar Kightly
Director: Jesse Peach
Actors: Ashley Hawkes, Fasitua Amosa
Location: Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre

Synopsis (From Flyer):

Funny and poignant, Niu Sila is about a friendship spanning over thirty years, two cultures and one neighbourhood. Six-year-old Ioane Tafioka - fresh off the boat from the Pacific - moves in next door to six-year-old Peter Burton. They begin an unlikely friendship that will change their lives.

Thoughts on this Production:

As expected, this play contained a lot of laughs. What I didn’t expect was the amount of depth as well. The flyer describes this play as “poignant” and I think that really sums it up. After the laughs, there was definitely a lot to think about ...

I think Paul Semei-Barton’s Review in the New Zealand Herald was pretty spot on!

Theatre Company: Auckland Theatre Company
Writer: Sia Figiel, adapted for the stage by Dave Armstrong
Director: Colin McColl, David Fane
Actors: Robbie Magasiva, Goretti Chadwick, Pua Magasiva, Anapela Polatiavao, Joy Vaele
Location: Concert Chamber (Town Hall)

Synopsis (From Silo website):

Alofa, Lili and Moa are typical teenage girls. They tease the local boys, misbehave at school and worship Charlie’s Angels. But there is a darker side to Alofa’s life, as she struggles to win the acceptance of her unforgiving family.

As the young Alofa Filiga navigates the mores and restrictions of village life,she begins to come to terms with her own changing identity and the price she must pay for it

Thoughts on this Production:

Amazing! Brilliant! Superb!

It did take a while for the different ideas being presented to gel but, once we were given the thread of a storyline to hold on to I was entranced. The main story kept my interest while being blown away by the unique way in which it was told - complete with an incredibly versatile set, excellent singing and the most inventive use of Jandals ever! The cast were exceptional - especially the lead - Joy Vaele. The speech towards the end of the play, talking about how the Samoan people die a little more with the adoption of each new bit of “Western” culture, was particularly memorable.

Theatre Company: Silo
Writer: Nina Raine
Director: Oliver Driver
Actors: Claire Chitham, Dean O’Gorman, Edwin Wright, Jodi Rimmer, Madeline Sami, Peter Elliot
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis (From Silo website):

Bella is living, working, drinking, and loving in the 21st Century. And damn it to hell, she’s turning 29. None of her closest friends really know each other, but that hasn’t stopped her from assembling this gang of bright young things out to dinner for a celebration. As the booze flows and the festivities spiral out of control, this occasionally rancourous quintet bait and bite one another in an uncivil war of the sexes. Central Perk this ain’t.

But even as she toasts the skirmishes of contemporary love, Bella can’t help but face up to the confronting relationship she has with the one man in her life who has ever meant anything to her.

Told with merciless wit and explosive attitude, this lacerating black comedy probes the nature of identity, the elusiveness of memory and the emotional minefield of becoming an adult.

Birthdays are battlefields.

Thoughts on this Production:

Thoroughly engrossing but ultimately unsatisfying. I found the interactions between the characters mesmerising ... all were strongly portrayed. However, the fact that the story didn’t allow for any transformation or growth meant that I left wondering what the point was.

Note: This was the first production for the Silo Theatre outside of it’s original theatre space. It was a promising start. There was enough of the intimacy and authenticity that have characterised the Silo of old. Although the “reconfiguration” of the Herald theatre was disappointingly minimal and the cramped , uncomfortable, steep seats remain.

Theatre Company: Fingerprints and Teeth Productions
Writer: Thomas Sainsbury
Director: Thomas Sainsbury
Actors: Todd Emerson, Stephen Fitzgibbon, Hannah Marshall, Morgana O’Reilly
Location: The Basement

Synopsis:

The story of four twenty-somethings - a model, a gay man, a part-time cleaner and a veteran clubber - looking for love in all the wrong places.

Thoughts on this Production:

Wonderful! It was great to see the old Silo space being used for local, fresh, minimalist theatre again. The story was a little rough around the edges but SO magnificently told - the cast were excellent. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Theatre Company: Migratore Worx
Writer: Donna Banicevich-Gera
Director: Judith Stevens-Ly
Actors: Andrew Laing, Ingrid Park, Vicky Yiannoutsos, Noa Campbell, Liz Tierney
Location: MusgroveTheatre

Synopsis:

Passion, Urge, Compatibility

The play focuses on four women who influence Anton, a Dalmation gum digger, as he strives to become a New Zealander. We step in and out of time as we see Vanya, left behind in Damatia; Hewa, the Maori woman he met on the gum fields; Isobel, the English woman he married and Danica, brought from the homeland to marry his son. They gather on what looks to be Anton’s last day.

Thoughts on this Production:

It was wonderfully refreshing to see an indigenous play revealing a part of our heritage not often discussed or explored. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story gradually unfolded as the characters convincingly switched from the present to the past.

Theatre Company: Silo
Writer: Richard Greenberg
Director: Shane Bosher
Actors: Glen Drake, Eryn Wilson, Tandi Wright
Location: Silo Theatre

Synopsis:

How does history collide with the human heart?

A brother, his sister and their childhood friend gather to divide the estate of their late fathers. Both were longtime friends and partners in architecture; their legacy is the brilliant Janeway House, a daring and much-celebrated icon of American design. But who was the provocateur, and who the follower?

In this tense and brittle reunion, the children are offered a lesson in perspective - and not just of the architectural kind. When their father’s diary is discovered, the siblings use it as a tool to unlock the relationships between the two men and the women in their lives, decades before. Over three days of rain, a creative dilemma and romantic import that none of them could ever have imagined comes to light. The past is the present (and the future too).

A witty, urbane take on the nature of inheritance and the peril of interpreting the past from the writer of TAKE ME OUT.

Thoughts on this Production:

I wasn’t looking forward to this as a production of the same play in Sarasota had been pretty underwhelming. However, the proximity of the Silo theatre made this production more accessible and therefore enjoyable.

Theatre Company: Silo
Writer: Catherine Downes
Director: Katie Wolfe
Actors: Danielle Cormack
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis:

A chronological journey following Katherine Mansfield’s life - based on her journals, letters and stories.

Thoughts on this Production:

A very professional production which was interesting but not engaging.

Theatre Company: Unknown
Writer: John Osborne
Director: Miranda Harcourt
Actors: Aaron Alexander, Mia Blake, Louis Sutherland, Lucy Wigmore, Ken Blackburn
Location: Silo
Year: 2007

Synopsis:

Notes from the director, Miranda Harcourt.

HELENA: I have discovered what is wrong with Jimmy. He was born out of his time.
ALISON: I know.
HELENA: It is as though he still thinks he is in the middle of the French Revolution.

This exchange between Alison and Helena struck me the first time I read John Osborne’s searing examination of domestic relationships. But perhaps Jimmy was not born too late as Helena posits. Perhaps Jimmy was born too early.

HELENA: ...There’s no place for people like that, in sex or politics or anything ... he doesn’t know where he is or where he’s going. He’ll never do anything and he’ll never amount to anything.

The relationships, the psychology and the sexual politics in Look Back in Anger seem so startlingly contemporary that it’s impossible to respond to these characters as a period piece. These people are us, living in flats in Newtown or Grafton in 2006. Alison’s passive aggression, Helena’s misguided determination, Cliff’s confusion and Jimmy’s nihilistic passion are as recognisable to us now as they were revolutionary to the original audience in 1956.

JIMMY: ... I’ve an idea. Why don’t w have a little game? Let’s pretend we’re human beings and that we’re actually alive. Just for a while. What do you say? Let’s pretend we’re human.

In this production we have played with anachronism, the interplay between being true to the period and being true to the voices of the characters.

The environment you see onstage here - the food, the pay, the clothes, the jobs, the domestic chores ... these remain true to the British Midlands in 1956. But we have brought some contemporary elements to our version of Osborne’s story. You will hear no assumed British accents. We have striven for an authentic voice, using natural NZ accents to serve the intricate subtleties of this universal drama.

Thoughts on this Production:

The performance seemed awkward. Perhaps a combination of the actors and the raw material they had to work (which included a main character that was hard to make credible).

Theatre Company: Makerita Urale & Colin Mitchell
Writer: Jodie Molloy, Jacques Strauss, Mario Gaoa and Chris Garland
Director: Colin Mitchell
Actors: Emily Barclay, Phil Brown, Danielle Cormack, Andi Crown, Stuart Devenie, Barnie Duncan, Benjamin Farry, Anna Hutchinson, Pua Magasiva, Nathan Meister, Ene Pataia, Madeleine Sami, Henry Taripo
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis:

What happens when someone awakens to discover they have shared the most intimate of acts with a person they do not know? From this starting point we see eight couples regain blurry-eyed consciousness in the same situation but each reacts and relates with a dramatic difference. Sex with Strangers is theatre with a dark sense of humour that uses a provocative premise as a starting point for surreal vignettes about relationships, sexual politics and lifestyles, loneliness and human vulnerability.

Thoughts on this Production:

Patchy but, overall, thoroughly enjoyable.

Theatre Company: 3 Girls 6 Legs
Writer: Davis Watts
Director: Natalie Hitchcock
Actors: Andi Crown, Barnie Duncan, Aaron Ward
Location: Silo Theatre

Synopsis:

Boney is a disturbing tale about what we want and what we lose. In a country music bar in Auckland the doors shut at twelve. No one enters, no one leaves. When the music plays, Bill, Billie and Boney dance to songs of jealousy, violence and manipulation.

Thoughts on this Production:

Raw and gripping. I recall this having the same powerful energy as the production I saw at Bats in Wellington back in 1983 that started my love affair with live theatre.

Theatre Company: Taki Rua
Writer: Hone Kouka
Director: Nancy Brunning
Actors: Rangimoana Taylor, Rawiri Paratene
Location: Herald Theatre

Synopsis:

Notes from director, Nancy Brunning.

I think many of those who have chosen the responsibility of being the keepers of the fire do so to maintain a community, a family, a place of belonging for those who stretch their wings and explore the world around us. The keepers ensure that the travellers will always know they have somewhere to return to. A place called home.

Homefires or Ahikaa is about both these people, o brothers Tau (the traveller) and Jacob (the keeper of the fire). It is a story about choice, release, acceptance, of the old and the new worlds coming together and the resolution of their past in order to move on.

Thoughts on this Production:

I went to this production expecting great things after being thoroughly and utterly moved by an earlier Taki Rua production (Paraparawhetu, by Briar Grace-Smith, 1999).

Unfortunately, this production didn’t compare. The actors did a good job ... but the story didn’t seem to gel.

Theatre Company: 3 Pesos Productions
Writer: Paolo Rotondo
Director: Andrew Foster
Actors: Paolo Rotondo, Eryn Wilson
Location: Maidment Studio

Synopsis:

Follows Ernesto (Che) Guevara on his trip around South America with his friend Alberto.

Thoughts on this Production:

Employed a number of different elements to tell this story, including puppetry, to great effect. Very engaging and entertaining.

Theatre Company: X-Cat Productions
Writer: Kate McDermott
Director: Hamish Hector-Taylor
Actors: Katrina Devine, Blair Strang, Jodie Rimmer, Rod Lousich, Jo Davison, Mark Clare
Location: Maidment Studio

Synopsis:

A story of love marriage, betrayal and toilet paper.

Thoughts on this Production:

Lots of raw energy and laughs. A great production.

Theatre Company: Silo
Writer: Josie Ryan
Director: Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Actors: Josie Ryan
Location: Silo Theatre

Synopsis:

This one-woman comedy is a fictional tale about the trials and tribulations of ‘Sylvie’ - a humdrum homespun girl from the sticks - and her big sister ‘Rhonda’ - the most beautiful girl in the world.

Sister WonderWoman was first performed at the Endinburg Festival Fringe 2000.

Theatre Company: American Stage
Writer: Zora Neale Hurston
Director: Unknown
Actors: Unknown
Location: American Stage, St Petersburg, Florida, USA

Synopsis:

One of Florida’s great unsung heroes, Hurston has put together a triumvirate of eccentric characters that cross the boundaries of race, gender and time. Music and dance bring together the tales of dirt-poor Central Floridians, and rock-bottom Harlem dwellers, creating a joyful gift for the audience.

Thoughts on this Production:

I remember being blown away by this production. It was truly a product of the Southern States - unlike anything I had seen before or since. Brilliant!