Author Archives: faithashw

Short+Sweet Festival 2013: Dance Gala Final

Posted by faithashw in Dance, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Short+Sweet DanceShort+Sweet Dance is now done and dusted and true to the tagline of this category the groups involved definitely danced up a storm!  I was thrilled to see that some of my personal favorites from the rounds had made it through to the Gala Final.

A few highlights for me: Sophie Follett’s Kei Wareware Tatou (Lest We Forget) was just as moving and riveting to watch the second time round as the first and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the charming tale of The Crocodile And Monkey again by Prayas Youth Theatre.

Watching an encore of Melana Khabazi’s vivid and energetic Espressivo and also the cheeky and highly entertaining Body Party by Ula Naulutubutubu-Buliruarua actually made me appreciate these two performances even more.

I liked that the riotous dance doco Whose Dance Is It Anyway? by Phoebe Heyhoe and team showcased more dance routines this time round while still effortlessly delivering a very unique performance of hilarious improv and quick-witted banter with the audience.

Overall what an impressive display of creative storytelling through choreography and dance by all involved!  It is truly inspiring to see such fantastic and upcoming talent in this area of performing arts.

Congratulations to all the acts that made it to the Final and congrats also to those who left as award winners!

Here are my reviews of the rounds:
Short+Sweet Dance Week 1
Short+Sweet Dance Wildcard
Short+Sweet Dance Week 2

Next up: Short+Sweet Song!  Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

…with a stranger…: Circus Travels to Stranger Lands

Posted by faithashw in Dance, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

...with a stranger...The carnival is no longer just for kids, folks.  Touted as “arthouse circus”, …with a stranger… brings cabaret and carny to a whole new level in this sublime and scintillating collection of short vignettes delivered through breathtaking aerial dance and impressive circus acrobatics.

Created by renowned circus theatre company The Dust Palace, this visually stunning production is an intriguing study of human nature and the concept of duality.  It explores the idea that intimacy can exist among strangers just as much as it can lack between lovers.

The choreography is heavily influenced by the style of revered Montreal circus troupe Les 7 Doigts de la Main (The Seven Fingers of the Hand) and is performed flawlessly by a star-studded cast of Auckland’s top circus performers.  This extremely talented ensemble display staggering strength and incredible control both on the ground and in the air, defying gravity and contorting their bodies in ways that will leave you awestruck.

Mike Edward and Eve Gordon, who are also the co-founders of The Dust Palace, share an electric chemistry and are simply astounding on aerial silks.  Equally impressive are Rochelle Mangan’s and Zach Washer’s superb skills with the aerial hoop and aerial chain respectively.  Edward Clendon showcases great aptitude with the more ground-based gymnastics and Geof Gilson rounds up the cast nicely as more of an observer of the stories that unfold.

What further enhances this spellbinding evening is the intimate atmosphere that comes from the physical space itself.  The circular stage and cabaret-style seating work effectively with the mood lighting and superb sound design to create a truly immersive experience.  This is a show that really needs to be witnessed live as words alone just cannot do it full justice.

…with a stranger… is a mesmerizing and jaw-dropping visual spectacle and an absolute theatrical masterpiece.  Circus does not get any sexier and more dangerous than this.

The Whimsical Banana rates …with a stranger…: 5/5 bananas!

…with a stranger…  is on at 8pm at TAPAC –  100 Motions Road, Western Springs until June 22nd (no shows Mondays and Tuesdays).  Click here for more details and to buy tickets.

This review can also be viewed on Keeping Up With NZ.

Short+Sweet Festival 2013: Dance Week 2

Posted by faithashw in Dance, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Short+Sweet Dance

The final round of Short+Sweet Dance was the most eclectic of the bunch, with jungle animals, dancing nuns and even a game show.  Here’s what I thought:

Elegant Error 4/5
A compelling “movement study” which draws us in to the inner world of dance and what it takes to be an elite professional dancer.  The performance is made up of a series of intriguing and visually striking ballet vignettes with the performer skillfully showing us not only the physical strength and determination involved but also the inner turmoil that inevitably occurs.

Allegations 5/5
This two hander is a superb symbolic illustration of the downward spiral a marriage can take once it passes that initial honeymoon stage.  The piece is well crafted and choreographed with clever use of contemporary dance to represent the journey; the performers go from moving in unison hand in hand to (literally) becoming a burden on each other seamlessly and with impressive strength and grace.

Mating Rituals Of The 21st Century 3/5
A fascinating group performance akin to a night out on the dance floor with the performers emerging from the wings in turn delivering popular dance moves.  The free-flowing style gives the entire piece a trance-like quality and while there isn’t a specific narrative per se, it still makes for quite an engrossing watch.

Whose Dance Is It Anyway? 4/5
A clear crowd favorite, this comical and entertaining “dance doco” is a play on the improv game show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.  Like the original programme, this piece is almost entirely improvised with audience participation key to the hilarity that ensues – the performers are incredibly quick witted and effortlessly garner laughs, even after they have left the stage.  Personally while I did enjoy it, I think this piece would have been better suited in the theatre category.

The Crocodile And Monkey 5/5
This dramatic dance piece is a modern retelling of an Indian fable, wonderfully conveyed through narration, an animated score, colorful costumes and a brilliant mesh of contemporary dance and Bharatnatyam, an ancient Indian classical dance style.  This was my personal favorite of the night as it is short and sweet storytelling at its finest and the perfect embodiment of this category, in my opinion.

Be-Sides 3/5
This performance is a look back on twentieth century popular music with even the use of a record player for added nostalgic effect.  Using the vinyl records, the two performers reminisce and share stories from their life based on their collection which they artistically fan out on the stage; I liked the quirky nature of this piece – eccentric and slightly absurd yet captivating.

Daylight Come And We Want To Go Home 1/5
Four male ape-like creatures (presumably, judging by their gait and mannerisms) are caught in an unexplained tribal style battle which even extends beyond the stage.  I struggled with this piece – it lacked narrative structure and coherence, and if there was a metaphorical message, sadly it didn’t translate (to me, anyway).

Untitled Drag Performance With Ghosts 2/5
Based on Thomas Hanna’s approach on sensory awareness and fluid movement, this solo interpretative dance is a visual representation of this concept and it is an enigmatic and haunting piece albeit possibly too obscure to be universally appreciated.  I thought the use of imagery from the performer’s mad costume to the wayward choreography against the projected image was particularly effective.

Collage 3/5
Closing the show is an interesting quartet – a group of nuns with a dancing proclivity for 60s Motown tunes.  These “soul sisters” deliver attitude and energy all while (true to character) always looking heavenward in an engaging display of expressive and dynamic choreography.

Overall another great selection of storytelling through dance and I especially loved that there were more narrative-based performances in this round.  Looking forward to seeing who makes the Gala Final!

Short+Sweet Dance will be at the Herald Theatre until June 9th.  Click here for tickets.

SEASON
WEEK 1: Tuesday, May 28 – Saturday, June 1 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
WILDCARD: Saturday, June 1 (3pm)
WEEK 2: Tuesday, June 4 – June 8 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
GALA FINAL: Sunday June 9 (3pm & 7pm)

For the full festival programme, click here.

Short+Sweet Festival 2013: Dance Wildcard

Posted by faithashw in Dance, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Short+Sweet DanceAfter mostly solo acts at the Week 1 round, it was refreshing to see many larger groups performing at The Wildcards round.  Here’s what I thought:

The Blind Leading The Blind 3/5
Brief interaction with the audience quickly indicate that the setting of the first act is cabin crew staff presenting safety regulations, specifically “how to watch people moving in a lit space”.  I thought the tongue-in-cheek nature of the performance and the mime-esque choreography was very clever; just a shame the dialogue got slightly muffled by the airplane audio track.

Same Love 2/5
This two-hander mixes a jazzy style choreography with a hip hop track which I thought was an interesting pairing.  The dance is performed well and the lyrics of the song which promotes equality is moving and inspiring but the two elements just didn’t quite mesh together.

Moving Through New York 4/5
Lines between reality and fantasy are blurred in this dance medley which celebrates the Big Apple through song and the iconic New York subway system.  The quintet jump back and forth between two worlds – the regular humdrum of traveling the subway and an alternate reality which is represented through a collection of engaging and well structured ballet and jazz performances.

Mitera 3/5
A fascinating and incredibly restrained dance symbolizing a mother’s support for her son.  This duet makes full use of the performance space – their bodies frolic, connect and intertwine, skillfully moving as one unit from one end to the other with great strength and grace.

The Sound Of ‘Music’ 2/5
This large ensemble performance is a nod to arguably the most popular tune from the movie.  I liked the beginning and the end but I found the main body of the performance far too messy; the verbal exchanges unfortunately got lost under the track and the choreography while well crafted appeared to lack focus.

There Was A Time 5/5
A melancholic piece which conveys the effects of psychological and physical loss through some brilliantly well thought out choreography.  The trio are enthusiastic in their delivery and work together in perfect tandem, injecting personality and a touch of humor into their performance – they were a clear crowd favorite.

Wing$ 5/5
Another crowd favorite, this energetic performance explores the consumer culture, specifically people’s obsession with exclusive sneaker collections and branded gear.  The quintet are the youngest performers on the bill but they are skilled dancers beyond their years with bucket loads of attitude.

Transitional Space 1/5
This solo piece is strange and abstract but a little bit too much for my liking.  I liked the concept of the dancing against a projected image; there was a rather soothing almost haunting rhythm watching live versus filmed movement but when the imagery shifted to the performer in the second half, I found it far too self-indulgent.

Woman’s World 5/5
The final act celebrates women through a series of beautifully choreographed belly dances and what a visual treat it was!  Their colorful costumes and sensual dance moves are perfectly juxtaposed with the choice of music and everything comes together to form one slick and seamless performance.

Overall this was a much more diverse and mixed bag compared to the Week 1 round which I appreciated.  I daresay a few of the performances definitely deserve to move up from wildcard status if they choose to compete again next year!

Short+Sweet Dance will be at the Herald Theatre until June 9th.  Click here for tickets.

SEASON
WEEK 1: Tuesday, May 28 – Saturday, June 1 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
WILDCARD: Saturday, June 1 (3pm)
WEEK 2: Tuesday, June 4 – June 8 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
GALA FINAL: Sunday June 9 (3pm & 7pm)

For the full festival programme, click here.

TITUS: Shakespeare On Acid

Posted by faithashw in Review, Theatre and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Titus CupcakeRevenge is a dish best served cold.  Unless it is sixteenth century Rome, to which it would be best served freshly baked.

New theatre company Fractious Tash presents a new take on Shakespeare’s most violent work and it is both a gripping and terrifying experience.  Dark and gritty with a generous serving of bloodshed, mutilation and even cannibalism, this intense adaptation is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Titus tells the story of Roman army general Titus Andronicus and how he finds himself in a twisted, vicious cycle of revenge and murder with Tamora, the Queen of the Goths.  Under the masterful direction of Benjamin Henson, this five hundred year old macabre tragedy gets a contemporary makeover with brilliant use of pop culture, tongue-in-cheek creative choices and a hauntingly superb atmospheric set.

In contrast the dialogue is still delivered in the authentic Shakespearean style which does take a while to get used to initially but the story is easy enough to sink your teeth in to which is a credit to the well crafted script and also the exceptional performances by the all-male cast.  All recent graduates from Unitec, these actors are skilled performers, each embodying their characters effortlessly with raw authenticity and great conviction.

Titus

Paul Lewis is well cast as the titular character, brilliantly conveying Titus’ unraveling insanity whilst the villainous Tamora is performed with staggering credibility by Cole Jenkins.  I also found Eli Mathewson’s portrayal of the ill-fated Lavinia particularly stirring.  The actors as a collective are a well-oiled machine, perfectly complementing one another and feeding off each others’ energy.

Stylistically, this play is a visual treat – kudos to the creative team for an outstanding effort.  The lighting and chilling sound design work well in further enhancing the spooky-looking set and these elements all come together as one to create a genuinely scary and unsettling atmosphere.

Titus is a slick and impressive production with a stellar cast and is really Shakespeare as you have never seen before.  It is brutal and shocking, visually arresting and emotionally charged – a truly immersive and visceral theatrical experience.

The Whimsical Banana rates Titus: 5/5 bananas! 

Titus is at the Loft at Q until June 8th – click here for tickets.

Short+Sweet Festival 2013: Dance Week 1

Posted by faithashw in Dance, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Short+Sweet DanceShort+Sweet is back!  Showcasing a plethora of bite-sized performances, this festival – now in its fourth year – is bigger and better than ever with the program split in to three categories: dance, song and theatre.

First up: Dance – Week 1 group.  Featuring a generous bill of twelve acts, it was quite the tasting platter!  Here’s what I thought:

Peace 5/5
A contemporary group dance backed by live vocals and guitar with a powerful message about how we make judgments on others.  The performance was a beautiful, seamless mesh of song and dance; the unplugged vibe made it a soothing piece yet the lyrics grabs your attention and makes you also reflect.

The Bachelor 5/5
Described as a “piss-take on the reality TV show The Bachelor”, this dance features a lot of amusing and rather “disjointed” choreography that oddly still comes across as graceful. Even if you have not watched the series, the hilarious dance moves of these five ladies which depict the various typical women who are on the show is entertainment enough.

Two.gether 4/5
A solid and well structured performance about the bond between brother and sister.  The two performers have an intuitiveness and undeniable chemistry that really does feel like one you might see shared between siblings.

Man/Made Heaven 3/5
This solo is quite an intriguing one; the performer has her back to us initially but excerpts from songs which bear clear religious themes draws us in.  This is juxtaposed well with the arresting dialogue that follows which she skillfully delivers like a remix track, however for me it was more monologue than dance piece.

Aima Andante 3/5
A stirring interpretative solo about a soul’s journey of reliving past memories.  Graceful and haunting dance with great use of the performance space and I thought the colored spotlights was a nice touch, adding another visual layer to the performance.

A Kathak Dance 4/5
This cultural piece is a refreshing one and with the dance involving ankle bells and the performer donning a bright and sparkling costume, it is both a treat to the ears and the eyes.  This is Bollywood meets tap dancing and it is a joyous watch.

Espressivo 5/5
Another solo piece and this one explores the different relationships people have with music.  The choreography is energetic and has a wonderful rhythmic quality to it that I found incredibly mesmerizing  – this was one of my favorites of the night.

Kei Wareware Tatou (Lest We Forget) 5/5
A highly emotive and chilling group performance which reflects on the lives of the Maori Battalion soldiers.  The piece is excellently crafted and choreographed; the performers work in harmony together while having great solo moments too and I loved the beautiful acappella rendition of Amazing Grace at the start and the end.

Virgin Insect 3/5
A captivating solo exploring the process of metamorphosis.  The choreography is edgy and visually engaging; the performer’s face is concealed initially which not only suits the theme but coupled with the dimly lit stage, added an element of mystery to the performance.

Flee 3/5
This very clever and tongue-in-cheek duet is physical comedy meets contemporary dance.  The two performers are adept dancers as well as effortless entertainers, garnering laughs easily with their comical facial expressions and slapstick-esque banter with each other.

Demi God Half Human 1/5
This dark piece is one which I struggled with and found to be extremely confusing – the lack of synopsis in the program didn’t help but I think that is the point.  The performance is very unsettling and visually disturbing especially near the end.

Body Party 5/5
The final performance is well placed at the end as it is a medley of many styles of dance and what happens when they all come together in a confused state.  A brilliantly choreographed piece with the performer smoothly merging into and  jumping between the different styles skillfully.

Overall it was certainly a visually stimulating seventy-five minutes that will prove that you do not need to solely rely on words to tell a story.  The performances are mostly within the realms of interpretative and contemporary dance so it is not quite the variety I was expecting to see but they were all very creative pieces so it was still an enjoyable watch.

Short+Sweet Dance will be at the Herald Theatre until June 9th.  Click here for tickets.

SEASON
WEEK 1: Tuesday, May 28 – Saturday, June 1 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
WILDCARD: Saturday, June 1 (3pm)
WEEK 2: Tuesday, June 4 – June 8 2013 (Tues-Thur 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm)
GALA FINAL: Sunday June 9 (3pm & 7pm)

For the full festival programme, click here.

The Illusionists: Witness The Impossible

Posted by faithashw in Magic, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The IllusionistsMagic is making a spectacular comeback thanks to the likes of the seven outstanding world class magicians that make up The Illusionists.  With a grand display of energetic dance, strobe lighting and pyrotechnics as well as support from a rocking live band, this is more than “just a magic show”.

The Trickster (Jeff Hobson) is the honorary host of the evening and he quickly forms a great rapport with the audience with his unique blend of magic and comedy.  His excellent aptitude at sleight of hand tricks along with his comically camp and cheeky antics with the crowd will both amuse and thoroughly entertain.

Dan Sperry, the Anti-Conjuror, appears intimidating and slightly sinister with his Marilyn Manson appearance but yet is also strangely alluring; he easily draws you in to his macabre world of impressive shock illusions – prepare to gasp and definitely cringe.  He leads you to believe he is a silent magician but his nail-biting game of Russian Roulette at the end proves he is quite the conversationalist.

The Inventor (Kevin James) is the embodiment of the art form as he seemingly magics things out of thin air and creates the impossible.  From physically putting together a person before our eyes to dismembering another, this unassuming but extremely skilled magician will leave you gobsmacked.

Philip Escoffey, The Mentalist, is a mind reader with swagger and a wry sense of humor which worked very well with his set.  I felt he had the greatest performance arc – initially coming across as not very convincing and rather facetious, he then proceeds to miraculously predict things that he couldn’t have possibly known.

The Gentleman (Mark Kalin) and The Enchantress (Jinger Leigh) are the archetypal magician and magician’s assistant duo and they use theatrics to give classic magic an added wow factor.  This brilliant duo are the consummate illusionists; their reinvented version of the infamous “sawing woman in half” and a literally gravity-defying trick will astound you.

Andrew Basso rounds up the ensemble as The Escapologist and as his name suggests, his skill is death-defying escapes.  This is the only time in the evening where the theater is devoid of sound and rife with tension; it was truly remarkable witnessing the escape unfold live before your eyes – I only wish he had another escape up his sleeve!

This sensational and spellbinding evening is complemented perfectly by Los Angeles band Z who kept the energy and excitement pumping from start to finish.  Additionally the large screen above that captures a close up view of what is happening on stage helps everyone be in on the action and is especially handy for the more intricate illusions.

The Illusionists is a visual spectacle that will impress, amaze and just blow your mind.  The seven magicians are absolute masters at their craft – prepare to be enthralled by an epic medley of jaw-dropping and extraordinary illusions.  You will witness the impossible.

The Whimsical Banana rates The Illusionists: 5/5 bananas!

The Illusionists will be at the majestic Civic Theatre until 2nd June.  This is an unmissable show so don’t miss out – get your tickets today!
Performance Times: Wed to Sat 7.30pm, Saturdays 2pm, Sundays 11am & 3pm, Tues 28 May, 6.30pm

NZICF 2013: Markus Birdman – Love, Life and Death

Posted by faithashw in Comedy, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Markus BirdmanI had only seen Markus do brief spots throughout the festival and what I saw I loved so I was eager to see this man strut his stuff for a full hour.  And am I glad I did as it was an absolute comedic treat!

Markus Birdman is 42 years old, a stroke survivor, a self-proclaimed obsessed hypochondriac, an atheist and an ex-goth.  This is only the tip of the iceberg; Love, Life and Death is a candid recounting, a memoir of sorts, of the things he has encountered and experienced in life plus a generous helping of jokes and funny anecdotes along the way.

Throughout the hour, laughter fills the room as we learn a myriad of things like his idea of the perfect death, the time he slapped a disabled child and how a first date got ruined by carrots.  Markus is the consummate raconteur – he holds our attention with ease and each and every story is perfectly structured with excellent comedic timing.

His material does have a controversial side so be prepared to be shocked and there will be some cringe-worthy moments too.  No topic is considered too taboo and nothing is too inappropriate for Markus to talk about in a room full of strangers but it is this brazen attitude that is part of his charm.

Love, Life and Death is an hour of constant hilarity with an uplifting ending that leaves you unexpectedly inspired.  Markus Birdman’s witty and sometimes crass style of comedy will thoroughly entertain and leave you gasping for breath.

The Whimsical Banana rates Love, Life & Death: 5/5 bananas!

Your last chance to catch Markus Birdman is TONIGHT at 7:15pm at The Classic Studio (click here for tickets) and/or at the final The Big Show at 8:45pm at The Comedy Chamber (click here for tickets).

NZICF 2013: Dan Nightingale – On Love, On Life and on the North Island

Posted by faithashw in Comedy, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Dan NightingaleSome people have a natural gift of the gab and just know how to tell a good story and Dan Nightingale certainly is one of them.  His storytelling style is casual and conversational and his set feels more like you’re out at a bar having drinks with a good friend.

On Love, On Life and on the North Island is a collection of hilarious anecdotes and random musings from Dan’s life. He covers a range of topics from sharing about his Saturday mornings with Nigella to ranting about his maddening flatmate who has the nerve to eat the “bread defender” (the crust) to an amusing story involving his nephew’s unwavering commitment to singing carols.

It takes great skill to be able to deliver a string of ramblings in a way that it doesn’t appear too prepared but still forms a cohesive and compelling hour of stand up.  Dan nails this perfectly; his material is well structured and cleverly written with some genius one liners, some of which are easily missed as they come up as mere fleeting remarks.

The thing I particularly enjoyed about this show was Dan’s boundless energy and jovial nature which I found to be extremely captivating.  He comes across as genuinely personable which made the Vault at Q the ideal venue as it helped him to easily engage and form a great rapport with the audience.

Dan Nightingale’s observational humor is incredibly fast paced, deliciously self-deprecating and highly entertaining.  On Love, On Life and on the North Island gives you plenty to laugh about and is the perfect mid-week comedy fix.

The Whimsical Banana rates On Love, On Life & on the North Island: 5/5 bananas!

Dan Nightingale has 2 more shows at 8:45pm tonight and tomorrow night at the Vault at Q plus one extra earlier show at 5:30pm tomorrow.  Click here for tickets.

NZICF 2013: Tom Binns as Ian D Montfort

Posted by faithashw in Comedy, Review and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Ian D Montfort A medium who is also a comedian – now there’s an unlikely pairing.  Tom Binns proves this is perfectly possible with his excellent and convincing portrayal of alter ego Ian D Montfort, the spirit “comedium”.

You are immediately drawn to Ian from the get-go as he is just such a warm and affable character.  He kicks off the show by ironically poking fun at other mediums and telling us he is not like them, that you do not have to be bereaved to be at his show as he only delivers messages from people you don’t know.  This humorous perspective of his ability coupled with his camp disposition is part of his charm and what makes the show so enjoyable to watch.

Throughout the hour, Ian engages with the crowd and makes predictions with staggering accuracy through the usual divinatory means – astrology, tarot cards, numerology.  While I don’t doubt some of his mind-reading methods must involve some form of skilled trickery, there were some things he managed to guess correctly which he couldn’t possibly have known.  I still don’t know how he does it and I don’t want to know as it’s all part of the magic and brilliance of this show!

There are also times when he does get it wrong but he quickly recovers, simply amending the reading to suit so it turns out he is still right.  For example he would guess that someone’s car is black and when they say no he would say matter-of-factly without a skipping a beat that it is indeed black…at night.  His quick wit and sharp responses remind us that Ian is also quite the adept comedian.

Skeptic or not, there’s no denying that Ian D Montfort is an accomplished and gifted performer and what he pulls off in the show will truly astound you.  This is a show you will have to see to believe, and what you will see will baffle and amaze.

The Whimsical Banana rates Ian D Montfort: 5/5 bananas!

Ian D Montfort will be making predictions for 2 more nights at the Loft at Q.  Click here for tickets.