Posts Tagged Play Review
Archive
August 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Burn Her: Theatre
Burn Her Direction: Katherine McRae (written by Sam Brooks) Circa Theatre; Circa One (August 3 – 31) Burn Her is the kind of must-see, thrill-ride, brilliantly written, acted, directed theatre we can now pretty much expect down at Circa. Every aspect of this production sizzles. Debbie Fish’s set-design is magnificent, standing there as if about to deliver a monologue of its own as we enter […]Archive
March 31, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Children: Theatre
The Children Direction: Susan Wilson (written by Lucy Kirkwood) Circa Theatre; Circa One (March 30-April 27) In Lucy Kirkwood’s script and in Susan Wilson’s staging and pacing The Children is a triumph. This is an example of every part of the puzzle fitting, of every piece needing to be there – for this production is elegantly and […]Archive
May 16, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Problems: Theatre
Problems Direction: Gavin Rutherford (written by Joe Musaphia) Circa Theatre; Circa One (May 11 – 26) We walk in past the murals of The Great Leader and Madame Great Leader and we’re sat in front of two huge doors. Behind them…The Great Leader. He’s having his nap. With a loaded gun. Two guards (Stephan, played […]Archive
April 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Lie: Theatre
The Lie Direction: Ross Jolly (written by Florian Zeller; translated by Christopher Hampton) Circa Theatre; Circa One (April 7 – May 5) The Lie is the latest by the brilliant French novelist and playwright Florian Zeller. Here, again, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed for Circa by Ross Jolly – as was the case, last […]Archive
April 4, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Switzerland: Theatre
Switzerland Direction: Susan Wilson (written by Joanna Murray-Smith) Circa Theatre; Circa Two (March 17 – April 14) Written by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, Switzerland imagines the crime writer Patricia Highsmith in her final days at home – hiding – in the Swiss Alps. She’s a grump, worse than that she’s racist, she’s a misanthrope; trusting […]Archive
March 27, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
At The Wake: Theatre
At The Wake Direction: Jane Yonge (written by Victor Rodger Circa Theatre; Circa One (March 21-31) In her Wellington stage debut, internationally renowned, Kiwi-born Lisa Harrow is the revelation. As Joan, the grandmother with grit, with a heart of gold but a potty-mouth and some dark secrets, Harrow is constantly the hook and hinge of […]Archive
February 4, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Joan: Theatre
Joan Direction: Tim Gordon Circa Theatre; Circa One (Jan 27 – Feb 17) Tom Scott (cartoonist/humourist/writer) wrote the very successful Daylight Atheist about his father – that was nearly twenty years ago now. And it’s his mother’s turn with Joan – played by mother/daughter combo Ginette McDonald and Kate McGill.Archive
October 17, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Father: Theatre
The Father Direction: Ross Jolly (written by Florian Zeller; translated by Christopher Hampton) Circa Theatre; Circa One (Oct 14 – Nov 11) The Father manages that rare feat: to be profoundly moving and deeply, often darkly, hilarious. Florian Zeller’s script is a masterpiece, the writing just about perfect, an examination of the cruelty of aging […]Archive
September 19, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Anahera: Theatre
Anahera Direction: Katie Wolfe (written by Emma Kinane) Circa Theatre; Circa One (Sept 9 – Oct 7) Anahera (‘Angel’) is a young Maori social worker – and her angel-like presence hangs over the production; she’s there on stage in many non-speaking moments – quite literally embodying the ‘take a stand’ theme within this play, an […]Archive
July 4, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
WEED: Theatre
WEED Direction: Ross Jolly (written by Anthony McCarten) Circa Theatre; Circa One (July 1 – 29) The play WEED was first performed as a contemporary piece – the playwright Anthony McCarten had the success of Ladies Night behind him and its 1990 premiere was at Circa Theatre in its earlier locale.Archive
May 1, 2017 by Simon Sweetman