New Zealand Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 6

BWW Review: ANNIE at Harlequin Musical Theatre
by Pauline Vella - November 18, 2020

If 2020 could be summed up perfectly in a show, that show would be ANNIE! ...

BWW Review: THE VICAR OF DIBLEY at Papakura Theatre Company
by Marty Wilson - November 14, 2020

Papakura Theatre Company is taking us on a comedic journey to the small, fictional town of Dibley in Oxfordshire, England. There we meet the familiar characters from the TV series we all know and love: The Vicar of Dibley....

BWW Review: THE SHOWS MUST GO ON at Sky City Theatre
by Monica Moore - October 22, 2020

Dave Spark and Glen Ruske are to be congratulated. Under their respective businesses Pixel and Bouncenz , together with Electro - Tech services and Hang - Up Entertainment, they have not just found a silver lining out from under COVID 19 lockdowns, they’ve found Gold! This revue style show gives the...

BWW Review: DEAD SIMPLE at Howick Little Theatre
by Glenda Pearce - October 10, 2020

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BWW Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Te Auaha
by Lindsey Rusling - September 21, 2020

Blazing a trail between Rock and Roll and Musical Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar was originally released as an album in UK in 1970. The musical is a sung-through rock opera Passion Play depicting the last seven days of the life of Jesus Christ. Banned by the BBC and South Africa for being sacrilegi...

BWW Update: Australian Artists Entertain During Forced Shutdown - List of People And Companies To Follow For Your Theatre World Fix.
by Jade Kops - March 26, 2020

BWW Update: Australian Artists Entertain During Forced Shutown - List of People And Companies To Follow For Your Theatre World Fix....

BWW Review: BAZ LUHRMANNS STRICTLY BALLROOM at Centrestage Theatre - Orewa Reviewed By Pauline Vella
by Pauline Vella - March 09, 2020

The complexity of mounting a show which requires such specialist dancing skills cannot be understated. With Ballroom Dancing mainly relegated these days to the tele and specialist competitions, a reviewer on the drive up to the theatre, may be forgiven for querying whether a community theatre group ...

BWW Review: EMILIA at Pop Up Globe
by Glenda Pearce - March 08, 2020

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BWW Review: Over My Dead Body: LITTLE BLACK BITCH at Mangere Arts Centre
by Monica Moore - March 04, 2020

This story is a sensitive one and there's some pretty dark themes running through it. Tuatara Collective are committed to an innovative arts practice that supports mental health in the arts industry for artists and audiences. A psychologist or qualified counsellor is present during all performances ...

BWW Review: ELECTRIC BILLY T JAMES at Q Theatre Auckland
by Monica Moore - March 01, 2020

The high-voltage laughter was genuine and shockingly easy. All five nominees were exceptional and presented us with their own individualised well-crafted 'slice of life', entwined with fragments of their personal stories. Go along and see their individual shows!...

BWW Review: VOICES ACROSS THE DITCH. AN AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE RELIEF CONCERT at Te Auaha
by Lindsey Rusling - February 24, 2020

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BWW Review: LAST LEGS at Dolphin Theatre, Onehunga
by Monica Moore - February 23, 2020

Director Glenda Pearce is known for her attention to detail and she has successfully replicated the realism of the retirement home; highlighting the atmosphere and the experiences of the diverse characters who live there and delivering the humour....

BWW Review: THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE BY CHICKS at Q Theatre
by Monica Moore - February 20, 2020

'Shakespeare was Written by Chicks' pokes fun at poetry, prose and patriarchy- challenging, questioning and debating the authenticity of Shakespeare's literary contributions as fake news- by 'proving', using examples of strong women from history whom he ripped off,  and apparently claimed as his own...

BWW Review: DR DRAMA MAKES A SHOW at Q Theatre - The Vault
by Pauline Vella - February 20, 2020

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BWW Review: WINDING UP at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland
by Monica Moore - February 14, 2020

The combination of Sir Roger Hall's script, director Colin McColl's skill and supreme delivery by Alison Quigan and Mark Hadlow (ONMZ) created the synergy for superb entertainment. Sir Roger Hall maybe in his 80's but he's let us all know loud and clear that he still has 'it'; in fact, this latest ...

BWW Review: MACBETH & AS YOU LIKE IT at In The Park, The Pumphouse Theatre
by Monica Moore - February 06, 2020

The image of Shakespeare peering out, as if hidden from behind a barrier, as the choice of poster, entices and intrigues - and sets the scene for a pair of revealing performances - is he watching us, or are we watching him? Shakespeare's insights into the tortured depths of the ambitious and unscrup...

BWW Review: LEATHER LUNGS: YAS QUEEN! at Q Theatre Auckland
by Monica Moore - February 06, 2020

With the flamboyant style of Prince and a voice as mind-blowing as Freddy, this daring deviant riffs through 'RESPECT', breezes through 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and will leave you singin' in the 'Purple Rain'. It's all the queens and kings you love to belt along to, in a hilarious cabaret romp you'll b...

BWW Review: OUR PRIDE GALA at Auckland Pride Festival
by Monica Moore - February 04, 2020

A spectacular, colourful night of exotic and extravagant Vaudevillian cabaret - this was...

BWW Review: COMPANY at Te Auaha
by Lindsey Rusling - December 16, 2019

Company, is a bold, seminal musical that premiered on Broadway in 1970. Brief vignettes (by George Furth) and dazzling songs (Stephen Sondheim) are flashes of insight into the life of commitment-phobic, Manhattan bachelor, Bobby as he listens to advice from his married friends while struggling with ...

BWW Review: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Pop-up Globe Auckland
by Monica Moore - December 16, 2019

Opening night of the second play of the Pop-Up Globe's Summer Season of Love - and it's a playful, laughter-filled, exuberant, Polynesian-tinged romp. The slapstick farce of Dogberry and Verges' pre-show action makes immediate and direct connection with the audience. Already, we know there will be n...

BWW Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland
by Monica Moore - December 14, 2019

The opening night audience was enthralled from the first notes of the band to the last at Auckland Performing Arts Academy's 'The Addams Family'....

BWW Review: ROMEO AND JULIET at Pop-up Globe Auckland
by Monica Moore - December 14, 2019

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BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL At Cole Theatre, Waipuna Hotel, Auckland
by Monica Moore - December 11, 2019

Is there anything better than family and the anticipation of Christmas as December's end draws closer? That is the question we were delighted to answer at the opening night of 'A Christmas Story the Musical'. And it is a resounding 'No'. With all the negativity in the world at the moment it was love...

BWW Review: FIRST DATE at the Gryphon Theatre - Simple, Sweet and Entertaining
by Lindsey Rusling - December 02, 2019

First Date is a romantic, musical comedy with book by Austin Winsberg of Gossip Girl fame and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner based on personal experiences with blind dates....

BWW Review: MY HEART GOES THADAK THADAK at Silo Theatre
by Monica Moore - November 22, 2019

Want to see a heart-warming, unexpectedly clever spoof? Commissioned and developed by Silo Theatre with funding assistance of Creative New Zealand and Silo Theatre's Patron Donors, the 'Bollywood' spaghetti western is a superb mix of light and breezy, with an undercurrent of serious political and me...