SmackBang Theatre Company’s first performance at Te Karanga Gallery on K Rd was a triumph for contemporary New Zealand theatre.
The Rosenberg Sisters by Michaelanne Forster tells the stories of three Jewish sisters living in post-war Wellington. Elsa (Lori Dungey) is the cynical eldest: a terminal mix of sarcasm, wit and alcoholism, “I’m already dying, why do I need a doctor?” Lotte, the youngest, is engaged to a American man, but Elsa doesn’t welcome the marriage “He’s a goy not a Jew”. Mim (Tracey McGuire) plays the diplomatic go-between.
Abbreviated to stage name, the Rose Sisters, the threesome perform through a group of singers (Carolyn Medland, Mandy Stark, Megan Shackell) also onstage. The actors gave a thoroughly professional performance and accurate timing on the singers behalf ensured that the scenes progressed seamlessly. A wonderful effort on Director, Rita Stone’s behalf, and excellent debut for SmackBang theatre.
Phobia by Mel Johnson followed as a short dialogue between two flatmates slash couple. Woman (Kura Forrester) and Man (Richard Lambeth) face the monotony of everyday life, living together, getting bored together. Man decides they should get in the freezer to escape boredom and come back when technology has progressed to bring them back from the dead. Woman, hesitant at first, becomes more accustomed to the idea – even calling her parents to say goodbye. But man, sulking, becomes feeble and undetermined.
The dialogue was executed brilliantly; just as I was starting to think that Mel Johnson was just scripting a whole bunch of post-modern existential wank, the play ended and I was left believing that life really was a “terminal disease”, that “nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent” and that Kim Hill really is god.
As the audience prepared to leave having been entertained by two great performances, we were introduced to “Singer of Songs”, Wayne Anderson, who took an impromptu song request (Delilah) from his repertoire of 800. Wayne Anderson captivated the audience for another 3 minutes and left us confident that SmackBang had more than deserved the $10 ($8 for students) we’d just spent attending.
SmackBang is a theatre company mash-up of students and industry professionals working together to promote and encourage Auckland’s locally made theatre. Performances occur every Thursday night at Te Karanga Gallery on K Rd.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Tearaway
My PR for A Midsummer Night's Dream got into Tearaway - online, so that's exciting. Hopefully it will also appear in the print edition.
http://www.tearaway.co.nz/index.php/plain/content/view/full/15335
http://www.tearaway.co.nz/index.php/plain/content/view/full/15335
My Night with Reg - review
My Night with Reg was SmackBang Theatre’s second performance at the Te Karanga gallery on Karangahape Road. A laugh out loud performance proved that professional actors and direction with zero budget can produce wonderfully compelling and entertaining theatre.
Guy (Jonathan Hodge) is an aging gay man living by himself in an apartment. Guy’s been pining after friend, John (Edward Peni), for fifteen years, but has never made his affections known. His cautious and shy demeanour is confirmed by Daniel “he won’t watch pornography without a condom on his head”.
When John turns up for Guy’s flatwarming, Guy plays the awkward host, still unable to vocalise his feelings. In the theatre, you could smell the fruity perfumes of the homosexual guests as they arrived at the apartment through the aisles. Flamboyant Daniel (Glen Pickering) brought dramatic energy and humour to the stage through his stereotypical camp mannerisms. Eric (Matthew Baker), the 18 year old Bromley painter mastered his accent flawlessly as he received too much attention from the 30-something gays in the lounge.
The party conversation centres around the events that had occurred at a flatwarming many years ago. The audience, and some of the characters, find that the late Reg had slept with many of the guests around that period. We share the anxiety of the characters as they discuss the worry that they too may be infected with HIV.
The production was seamlessly executed, however the dialogue did lose momentum as the play progressed. This was made up by the nude scene which caught the attention of many. Director, Rita Stone, should be congratulated on such an excellent performance created within a short timeframe and shoestring budget. It was a great way to showcase the work of some very talented actors.
Guy (Jonathan Hodge) is an aging gay man living by himself in an apartment. Guy’s been pining after friend, John (Edward Peni), for fifteen years, but has never made his affections known. His cautious and shy demeanour is confirmed by Daniel “he won’t watch pornography without a condom on his head”.
When John turns up for Guy’s flatwarming, Guy plays the awkward host, still unable to vocalise his feelings. In the theatre, you could smell the fruity perfumes of the homosexual guests as they arrived at the apartment through the aisles. Flamboyant Daniel (Glen Pickering) brought dramatic energy and humour to the stage through his stereotypical camp mannerisms. Eric (Matthew Baker), the 18 year old Bromley painter mastered his accent flawlessly as he received too much attention from the 30-something gays in the lounge.
The party conversation centres around the events that had occurred at a flatwarming many years ago. The audience, and some of the characters, find that the late Reg had slept with many of the guests around that period. We share the anxiety of the characters as they discuss the worry that they too may be infected with HIV.
The production was seamlessly executed, however the dialogue did lose momentum as the play progressed. This was made up by the nude scene which caught the attention of many. Director, Rita Stone, should be congratulated on such an excellent performance created within a short timeframe and shoestring budget. It was a great way to showcase the work of some very talented actors.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
New blog chronicling my desperate attempts to make friends
New blog chronicling my desperate attempts to make friends.
http://www.usu.co.nz/inunison/blog/add-me/
http://www.usu.co.nz/inunison/blog/add-me/
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tearaway article - "Drugs at school: your rights"
Tearaway - February 2008 issue - check it - pg 16-17.
I'm really happy with the way this article turned out in print, well worth the effort that was put into it.
I'm really happy with the way this article turned out in print, well worth the effort that was put into it.
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