Glenda Pearce - Page 3

Opening night of the second play of the Shoreside's Auckland Shakespeare in the Park - and it's raining. However, spirits undeterred - the actors and the audience move into the auditorium, and the comedy begins. The Two Gentlemen of Verona was probably one of Shakespeare's first comedies alongside The Comedy of Errors and The Taming of the Shrew. By writing a play about friendship versus love, Shakespeare was challenging more established writers of the time --namely, Chaucer, Lyly and Francis Bacon. The play incorporates many of the themes, stereotypes and ideas of his later works: how appearance and reality might not be the same thing, the use of disguises, mirror plots, and cross gender performances.

Opening night of the first play of the Shoreside's Auckland Shakespeare in the Park - and it's a clever comedy, its controversy eloquently driven by polarised emotions: friendship, revenge, love, hate, justice, mercy. Whether this is your first time or another of many viewings, there is much to surprise, engage and amuse you in the superb and imaginative direction by the director, Trevor Sharpe. Shakespeare meant his audiences to be addressed directly and to feel as if the thoughts being spoken, are being spoken immediately and spontaneously to us. His text is dialogue not poetry.

This is an intricate plot of murder, police, drug addicts, invisible ink, hidden doorways, secret drawers, dropped clues and engineered plot twists. Expertly directed by Matthew Cousins, with well-timed plot elements, well-balanced farce, and creative flair, the audience is entirely entertained and engaged.

What would you expect from a classic murder mystery, written in 1952 that ran in London's West End continuously until 16 March 2020? And even then the stage performances were only discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic! Aren't you just a little curious about this phenomenon?

 “Why did we wait a lifetime to speak?”

Set in a suburban town in England in present time, 'THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN' is a contemporary and complex psycho-thriller, a 'whodunnit' with twists and turns, anticipations and numerous attempts to guess just who is guilty and who is not. Can we trust the 'storyteller' or she suffering from alcohol binge-brained amnesia? What are the secrets she is trying to unearth?

Powerful performances and fresh new perspectives - the tragedy unfolded with well-focused emotionally charged performances full of clarity and conviction.

Opening night of the second play of the Shoreside’s 25th Summer Shakespeare in the Park  – and it’s a comedy through and through.

Queen_St are four talented significant soloists in their own right, but combine them into powerful duets, and commanding creative quartet arrangements – and we get harmonies and melodies delivered with effortless conviction, tonal glow and clarity of diction.

2020 has been a tough year for the arts in New Zealand, not only for those who appreciate the opportunity to enjoy imaginative and skilled live theatre and the power of music to stir the soul , but of course for the performers themselves. So – yes – when we get the opportunity to go to a real kiwi classic garage party, we’re delighted -- and it’s clear we are there as welcome guests.  This is a chance for the whanau to get together and have a party. And what a party! It doesn’t take long before the cares of the day, week, year drop away and the audience is enraptured, engaged and smiling, laughing and singing! This show almost makes 2020 worth it.

How many times as a child were you warned about strangers? The opening night of 'Love from a Stranger' at Howick Little Theatre reminds us that we need to be very mindful about what we wish for, and to be very careful of a tall, brooding, handsome stranger who brings a romantic passionate whirlwind.