by Laura Ferguson How exactly is it that I have lived in Wellington these years and not come along to Sing It Wrong yet? Sing It Wrong has the premise wrapped up in the title, performers appear on stage, singing songs to which they have written alternate lyrics. It is absolutely my kind of show. It has comedy to get me laughing, songs to entertain me and a bevy of local talent to sample. What’s not to love?
Laura Ferguson Pat-pat-pat. Pat-pat-pat. My friend finger-taps my forearm as the tension of Venus in Fur mounts. The tendrils of my hair waft, teasing the nape of my neck as my companion fans herself. The whispering air tickles my shoulder, but does nothing to quiet the rushing fire in my blood. I allow a long, slow breath to pass my bowed lips and notice blue flecks dot my décolletage from the nib of my pen. I have been languidly running the cool nub of metal over my skin. My want of touch, of feeling, of sensual pleasure has turned into need. I am not alone. This audience has become a parasitic organism, our lives, in this moment, entangled to Thomas and Vanda. We hunger, we consume, we daren’t blink. We worship at the altar of Venus.
by Laura Ferguson It’s finally Friday. Walking into Fat Comedy amidst raucous drumming from Peru football supporters mixing erratically against the synth-heavy 80’s tones of Eva Beva, I sigh in relief to enter the quirky comedy space. Raising the heavy curtain, my jittery, overworked-self glances curiously into the darkened room. Fat Angel has combined forces with their quizmaster, Bas Jeffrey and comedian, Alexander Sparrow, to provide after-work comedy on Friday nights and Fat Angel’s jesting blessing is one I will happily receive.
Corey Spence From the hotter global temperatures to the drastic alterations to our ecosystems, climate change is definitely at the forefront of social and environmental issues in today’s society. Generation Zero stands to take action against climate change and make our leaders and those in positions of greater power do the same. Partnered with theatre makers, they curated Still Waving: Climate Change Theatre Action, a showcase-style event that brings together several theatrical snippets to show what’s happening, what’s going to happen, what more we could do, and what we’re doing well in terms of battling climate change. The theatre pieces at Still Waving were immersive, imaginative, and important, and while they ranged in quality, the audience was never really irked by that. We’re all here to enjoy what these people have created, to learn more about what’s happening to our environment, and to consider the next steps in sustaining and repairing it.
Courtney Rose Brown I could write a review
In essay form about the theatrical semantics But their disclaimer at the start of the show Covers it all This is the split of body and mind And you will fall in love with one of them (it’s the one dressed in white) Her eyes going grey from the black of her thick lashes she smiles at you Courtney Rose Brown A man has lost his wife, May, and he’s trying to find her. Under by Cassandra Tse explores his struggle of love and memory in his quest to be reunited with his wife. Directed by James Cain and performed by Chris Green, Under explores the mundane, the poetry and the magic that is love.
by Laura Ferguson I freaking love Halloween. It’s a time when we celebrate the hidden, the mystic, the shadows. So, of course, I was simply dying to see Spook Week: A Halloween Skit Show. The koha entry show by Wellington production team, Horse With No Name, gave me exactly what I was looking for: performances squirming and squiggling full of comedy with an undercurrent of sinister intent. With homages to sitcoms, cooking shows, Will Smith and shadow puppets in tonight’s line-up, I can’t wait to see how this mix of theatre will all come together. Spook Show’s skit show format hilariously becoming a metaphor for a slasher flick victim: bits and pieces everywhere, all the better to consume, my dear.
Corey Spence “Where are you from?” we’re asked as we take our seats, waiting for the Department of Lifestyle Encouragement seminar. It’s a question that seems nothing more than an ice-breaker, small talk, until we delve a little deeper into the show and consequently, into that question. Then, this ‘small-talk’ becomes a clever cog in a far greater, far more thought-provoking, far more important machine. WEiRdO shines light into New Zealand’s cultural insecurities and insensitivities. It acknowledges that while we’ve made strides forward as a country, we still have a ways to go.
|