Art Murmurs - Reviews

Album Party

29/11/2016

Dusty May Taylor

I sat down with Kate McGill and Frith Horan to discuss their tongue-in-cheek, pop-inspired brainchild Album Party, aka The Better Best Possible Album Party That Anybody Has Ever Been Two. Coming to Wellington’s BATS Theatre from 13-17 December, Album Party is launching The Besties Tour, a brand new collaborative venture between BATS Theatre in Welly and The Basement Theatre in Auckland. Winners of the 2015 Auckland Theatre Award for Best Entrance, Wellington natives Kate and Frith (with the help of their lovably demented characters TYLA and DENI$) are more than up to the challenge of spearheading a new initiative.

Urinetown

19/9/2016

Aimee Smith

Standing outside the Gryphon stage doors at Stagecraft’s production of Urinetown, I had the strange feeling I was at a highly anticipated rock concert. There was no need to tingle that familiar foyer bell to alert people when it was time to take our seats - the literal throng politely pushing its way through the doors must have been mildly intimidating for our night’s usher.

The Menagerie August 2016

30/8/2016

Dell Mitchell & Oliver Probert

The Menagerie is a monthly variety show produced by Rachel Rouge. The August show was a mix of circus, burlesque, magic, comedy, music and poetry all tied together by the MC Mr Wizowski.

The performers were equally balanced between emerging artists and established performers. Each of them obviously being chosen for their talent and stage presence, both of which was notably high across the board even if there were occasional doses of nerves.

Legally Blonde

13/5/2016

Aimee Smith

I have this belief that watching a good musical imparts upon you the powerful knowledge that you, too, were born to sing, act and dance. This quality of musical theatre is almost a spiritual experience, infecting you with what may very well be a totally illogical belief in your own abilities, and imparting a desire to leave your seat and get onstage so strong it requires a degree of physical constraint. Potentially this religious fervour quality is why musical theatre tends to have such zealous fans.

Savage

13/5/2016

Julz Burgisser

I went to a comedy show tonight that not only made me laugh big snorting laughs, but also made me question my life, made me cry as I remembered my mother, and reignited my desire to do something more than just what I do everyday until I retire or die. Though I was a complete stranger, I hugged that comic hard. That comic was Alice Fraser and her show is Savage.

That’s Shentotainment

6/5/2016

Julz Burgisser

That’s Shentotainment is exactly what the name promises, comedian Dan Shenton being entertaining. This is a show of big belly laughs, a guitar and a stream of conscious so unusual that makes you wonder what it’s like living inside Shenton's head.

Pressure Makes Diamonds

5/5/2016

Julz Burgisser

Pressure Makes Diamonds and this show is a shining example of that. Laura Daniel is a 2016 Billy T Nominee and the pressure is on to compete with the other nominees for that coveted top spot. She promises us a spectacle and what she’s delivered is a rollercoaster ride of glorious glitter, dancing and comedy to sink your teeth into.

Guy MontgoMERRY Christmas

29/4/2016

Julz Burgisser

As we enter the room for a show entitled Guy MontgoMERRY Christmas we are greeted with a cheery Christmas image. There is a table set for dinner, a festively lit Christmas Tree and a leaping Reindeer holding a piece of Mistletoe trying to kiss everyone into moving up the front. In fact, if you’re planning to go see this show, my recommendation is to just go down the front to avoid the kisses (no offense Guy).

Wow! You Won't Believe This Disney Prince Reimagined as an Absolute Comedy Legend.

29/4/2016

Julz Burgisser

The Internet has grown to be such an essential part of our lives that it's hard to imagine life without it anymore. Of course, some parts of it are less essential to daily life than others. Eli Matthewson’s show ‘Wow! You Won't Believe This Disney Prince Reimagined as an Absolute Comedy Legend.’ is a clickbait title if ever you heard one and that’s the point!

Lost in the Looping Glass

2/3/2016

Brooke Matherly

Helen Bower steps onto a stage, settles on to her knees surrounded by a semi-circle of looping pedals, picks up her violin, and with a raspy pull of her bow, begins to create. Lost in the Looping Glass takes the audience through one magnificent soundscape after another. From thin wispy pulls to playful plucks, it’s easy...

The Biddys

28/2/2016

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.

Suddenly! A Musical

27/8/2015

Rosie Cann

From the outset, this show has a heartbeat, channelled through the skilful introductory music of Liam Kelly and Tilomai Matafeo-Solia. The audience is noticeably excited, perhaps having attracted the particularly adorable subsets of ‘theatre nerd’; the ‘musical nerd’ and the ‘improv nerd’. These are meant as the highest compliments.