Dell Mitchell For a storytelling show that has been performed around the world over the last couple of years, Gerard Harris comes across as very unscripted. He sets the scene by telling us that we shouldn’t believe everything we hear, but these are his stories and so are true to him. Harris then takes us on a journey through his...
Brooke Matherly Through heavily physical theatre, wacky guitar music, and a whole lot of water, Pat-A-Cake productions shows the audience its take on the economic policy in The Trickle Down Effect. The message of this piece is very clear...
Brooke Matherly As an audience member walking into Knitting While Sleeping, you are faced with an important choice. Do you join in, or do you spectate? Joining in means being immersed in the dance experience. It’s certainly an exciting option not often offered to dance audiences. Choosing to participate brings you close to the dancers...
Brooke Matherly Against the Piercing Sun, written and composed by Flinn Gendall, bills itself as a show that combines traditional musical elements with drama to allow an ensemble cast to explore a range of concepts from ego to friendship.
Dell Mitchell I have been a fan of Neil Thornton since I first saw him perform, primarily because he is one of those great comics that can make you laugh and think at the same time. Tonight I discovered he can also have you make you cry tears of joy and sadness simultaneously as well.
Julia Burgisser The Biddy's’ are a trio of grey haired, nosy, naughty, Irish ladies; who introduce themselves with a barbershop style song pronouncing themselves as “Crazy, Mad and Mental”.
The show feels like we should all have a cup of tea and biscuits as three woman not scared to tell stories with long setups and familiar punchlines. Julia BurgisserHaving read that the show Lovely Lady Lump was about comedian Lana Schwarcz’s experiences with early detected cancer, I prepared myself for an emotional assault linked to memories of losing my mother to that dreaded ‘C’ word.
Julia BurgisserA Tension to Detail begins with our storyteller for the night, Gerard Harris, informing us about what we will hear. There’s warnings of mature and immature content, and also that while he confesses a gullible nature, believing everything he is told, we should be careful to trust the story and not the teller.
Dell MitchellJundas Capone is slightly awkward, Louis Tait is arrogant and brash. Both have excellent comedic timing. Together they take us on an aimless ramble through NZ society in what is accurately described as a “low brow masquerading as high brow” show (their words).
Brooke MatherlyJust as dreams show us every possible fantasy and whimsy, Sabrina D’Angelo takes her audience through a carnival of creativity in Why Do I Dream?. No matter if you like or dislike D’Angelo’s show, you have no choice but to admire her extreme physicality.
Dianne PulhamThe Gryphon Theatre is cheerfully decorated for this year’s Fringe Festival and I was happy to have access to some beersies (one does not watch a themed show of the 1960s advertising industry without consuming alcohol).
Dell MitchellThrough Rose Coloured Glasses draws you in with a playful scene that sets the nature of the relationship between best friends Sam and Taylor. The play flicks back and forth between past and present with hints of the trials they experienced as children/teenagers to the confrontation of how that impacted them as young adults.
Brooke MatherlyThe signs outside the theatre warn the audience that “as the title might suggest ;)” the show contains nudity. As a woman who unashamedly supports women’s right to go topless, I was delighted as The Offensive Nipple Show proved exactly why.
Julia BurgisserThe Two Monkeys Show is a show that totes itself to be a “mix of stand up comedy, sketches and character bending nonsense… guaranteed to charm”. I for one, do not believe there is ever enough good sketch comedy in the world; and I attend the show excited and nervous, hoping to find that mythical great live sketch.
Matt Loveranes“I’m not saying I’m innocent, I’m just not saying I’m not”
This is the pervading sentiment and rally call behind Last Meals, Keely Meechan’s first professional theatrical outing, which features nine monologues from nine women from around the world, all on death row. |