Young, Hungry and Beautiful

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at the beautiful ones on Tuesday night.  Here are two of the reviews for you to enjoy!

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES
Reviewed by Maddy Reese, St Catherine’s College

An enthralling marriage of singing, dance and drama, the beautiful ones is an immersive story which plunges audiences into the hyper-real scene of midnight techno clubs. Lead character Ihia is a lovestruck member of a club’s dance crew, pining away for his lover Hana, who left him many months ago. However her sudden return sets in motion a string of events that threaten to tear them apart again… or possibly reunite them forever. Interspersed with utterly incredible dance sequences, musical numbers and projected light shows, this drama is unlike any other production I have seen before. 

Writer and director Hone Kouka expressed that his ambition for this production was to essentially create eight music videos spliced together with a simple-but-effective plotline in between. This ambition could not have been more perfectly realized, as the drama was convincingly suspenseful and the dance numbers were captivating to watch. I – as a fellow dancer – felt a longing to take to the stage with them. However, when this wish actually came to fruition, I was quite surprised. The involvement of the audience was a previously un-experienced phenomenon; the last thing people expected was for the performers to take their hands, pull them out of the audience and onto the dance floor, during one of the more charismatic musical numbers. This involvement proved to be an incredibly invigorating aspect of the show – now we were able to form a palpable connection with the drama and actors onstage, and it was one of the most fun parts of the whole performance. Pair this with music that all but moves your body for you, and one has a sure-fire method of giving audiences the best stage experience possible.

the beautiful ones is an eloquent combination of set design, musical incorporation and all three aspects of theatre: song, dance and acting. Easily one of the most innovative, successful and exciting productions I have seen this year. It demands you to involve yourself in your entirety: not only mind and body are required, but heart and soul as well. In return, the beautiful ones gives you everything back, rewarding you for its demands. This drama will leave half of your soul on the stage even as you walk out of the theatre.

the beautiful ones - on at Circa until Saturday 11 July

A RIVETING PERFORMANCE
Reviewed by Yasmin Yumul of St Mary’s College
 
Projections of street scenes, graffiti, rugged walls kick-started the performance which later on evolved to Maori patterns, nature scenes and interiors. Disco coloured lighting frolicked the dark stage. This ominous atmosphere and the characters’ sensuous costume commanded attention. It was a consistent atmosphere that unified the performance. 

Although the show was modern, it kept a Maori motif which made a direct connection to a lot of the character’s ethnicities and the marginalised theme of the show.

The actors had great stage presence as they dominated the floor, the air space and the corners of Circa theatre. It was a delight to watch every dance number, particularly Ihia’s performance as he longed for his lover Hana. Emotion was evident in every movement of his muscles.

The music was at times contemporary topped off with some sick beats.

There were smooth transitions between dance numbers, the music was fluid and so was the lighting. However, the transitions between scenes seemed protracted and gave the impression of ‘technical difficulties.’

The inclusion of the audience in the performance was excellent. An inviting hand from the characters to hop onto their sexy enigmatic world and groove into Ardie’s voice cemented a bond between the two ecospheres (reality and fiction). 

Passion, intensity and flair were palpable in the characters’ dancing. However, it was not only the dancing that engaged the audience’s attention. It was also their personalities; Ardie’s suave attitude, Juju’s cheekiness, Kotiro’s relatability. The fact that the characters’ had their own distinct movements and mannerisms that continued even in moments when they were not the main spectacle of the scene heightened the show’s professionalism. 

The dialogue between characters was ineffective through most of the show as it became lost in the atmosphere.

The show revolved around Ihia waiting for his lover Hana to come back. The plot was not executed well. The revelation of the twist was poor as there was little involvement, reactions from the main characters (i.e. Ihia, Hana) and it seemed to have been disregarded too easily. In addition to this, the plot itself seemed to be 2-dimensional, predictable, there was no depth or breadth achieved in the exploration of the love story. It was a surface plot about a boy waiting for a girl.

Overall, however I would moderately recommend it. It is a stimulating, and wonderful treat for the eyes and those that adore dance.


the beautiful ones is on at Circa until Saturday 11 July.

Young and Hungry on EDGE

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at EDGE on Tuesday night.  Here is one of the reviews for you to enjoy!

EDGE

Reviewed by Zoe Fuller, Queen Margaret College

From the moment I was informed of the title and contextual basis of the play, I was ready to succumb to Sylvia Plath’s world of mental brutality, bleakness and darkness; the three things that Plath emulated in her final poem EDGE. Being familiar with Sylvia Plath’s works I was curious as to how the play would be structured and slightly apprehensive on it being a one woman show.

However, when I walked into the Theatre, the set consisting of multiple chairs, scattered books and a writing desk, served to capture my curiosity and excitement. It also eliminated my hesitant approach for the events to follow.

Angelica Page as Sylvia Plath in EDGE

The play is set in 1963 and explores the possible events and mental state of Sylvia Plath on the day she commits suicide. The spellbinding production is both captivating and intense. It presents Sylvia’s entire life in an artistic manner that allows the audience to be enraptured by her tale and sympathies with her character. The playwright, Paul Alexander, skillfully integrates lines from Plath’s poetry into the production. This serves to further enhance the presentation of Sylvia’s poetic outlet and recollection of her past.  The production, like Plath’s poem EDGE, does not serve to please the audience but rather exists to express a colossal presentation of Plath’s emotional states. Furthermore, not only is it an exploration of Plath’s life before she dies but it also unveils society’s ability to perform acts of cruelty and the consequences of doing so. Overall, the play is an emulation of intensity that will forever remain in my memory.

Angelica Page as Sylvia Plath in EDGE

The set, although busy, was very effective in terms of its symbolic projection and relationship with the actress. From my interpretation, I gathered that the books were individual representations of both Sylvia’s past and her poetry. Their presence illuminated her passion for writing and also acted as small portals into Sylvia’s turbulent past.  During the play, Sylvia often collected and sorted the books, which I found to be her way of collecting, accepting and saying goodbye to her past life. Furthermore, the set had just the right amount of props and furniture to allow the audience’s attention to remain fixated on the actress herself and the story she was telling.

The actress who played Sylvia Plath, Angelica Page, performed Sylvia Plath so skillfully that the idea of resurrection became believable. Her ability to transition between a wide range of characters of different genders and ages and emotions was both phenomenal and inspirational.

Overall, the entire production was absolutely incredible and an unforgettable experience.


EDGE has only two more shows on Wednesday 17 and Saturday 20 June - BOOK NOW!  http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Edge

Y&H Reviews of Second Afterlife

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at Second Afterlife on Tuesday night.  Here are some of the reviews for you to enjoy!

A Must See for Internet Lovers

Reviewed by Miriam Roberts-Thomson, Newlands College 

Second Afterlife, written by Ralph McCubbin Howell and directed by Kerryn Palmer was an amazing show filled with humour and pop culture references. The portrayal of the characters different dimensions and developments definitely did the show justice, and I would highly recommend it.

The use of projectors was a very effective way to indicate the setting, as it meant we were able to see clearly which world we were in at the time. For example, when Dan was fighting his emo self from Bebo, the Bebo logo was able to be seen clearly indicating that that was where he was. For the flashbacks, the projected lights came off, indicating that they weren’t in the ‘second afterlife’ but instead in the real world. When the projected lights came back on it was clear that they were back in the afterlife, making the transitions between the two settings very smooth and pleasing to watch.

The acting was stunning, and the actors definitely did a great job at showing the essence of their characters. Michael Hebenton showed the journey that his character, Dan, went through clearly as he developed both mentally and physically along the way. The supporting actors did a wonderful job transitioning between fed up friends and fiendish foes, and Ruby Hansen’s guide did an amazing job showing a sarcastic compatriate and a sinister ex-profile.

Overall I would say that Second Afterlife was an amazing show, and a must see for internet lovers. Scripting was filled with many references to popular culture, and it hints at many other stories such as The Wizard of Oz and A Christmas Carol so there is something for everyone.

'EMO Dan', photograph by Stephen A'Court

A Second Viewing of Second Afterlife

Reviewed by Tabatha Billington, St Catherine’s College

In 2014 I was lucky enough to see Second Afterlife as part of the Young & Hungry Festival, and I was completely blown away. Comedic, amusing, entertaining, brilliant, a night to remember. Now, almost a year later, I have had the opportunity to go to a second viewing of the great show.

I was not disappointed, it was equally as amazing as I remembered, however the plot twists of course less surprising and suspense less impactful. The evening was great, jokes funny, staging well timed and thought out. The new set was a lovely improvement, and the use of the DJ was absolutely hilarious and a great addition. The roles were played convincingly and I absolutely loved it the plot is intricate and eventful, with the flashbacks being a lovely addition; the profiles were amusing and very realistic. I felt the play was relatable as so many of us in this generation have a digital past which we may not all be proud of but have to admit and accept them as part of our history.

There were some technical things, such as the screens being blurry and difficult to read and some of the jokes were lost on me. I also am not familiar with the works the play was based off, so any references there were lost on me as well. However I didn’t feel that this hindered the enjoyment or entertainment factor of the play.

Overall it was a great night out full of laughs and fun. I would definitely go see it a third time!

The onstage DJ in Second Afterlife, photograph by Stephen A'Court

A Play for All Audiences

Reviewed by Thomas Simpson, St Patrick’s College

Second Afterlife is not just a lighthearted comedy. While it does have its comedic parts, it is not so two-dimensional. For it does have deeper meanings involved - what it means to communicate, embracing our past and using it as a learning tool, and these are what set it apart from other plays of its type.

Don't get me wrong. This play is still perfect to see if you are wanting a lighthearted laugh, too. The plot line sets itself up for success, with the typical teenage-like humour making it perfect for teenagers to relate to, or even allow older viewers to reminisce about their own childhood. While there are doubts at the ability of the main character to truly connect with his teenage persona and to make him truly believable (especially in his many times of fainting), him and the rest of the class get it spot on 95% of the time, making for a wholeheartedly enjoyable show.

However if you are looking for theatre with a little bit more depth to it, that will challenge your imagination and conceptions of the world and daily life, Second Afterlife also provides that in spades. As the main character reminisces about his childhood, he realises how blind he was, due to his intense connection with the electronic world and not the real world around him. The audience is able to see how this negatively affects our relationships with others, and that it is how we interact with others in the real world around us that truly grants us happiness.

Second Afterlife is the perfect play for all audiences, whether you're looking for a light hearted laugh or something to challenge your preconceptions. I highly recommend you give it a try as soon as possible.

Dan and Bea, photograph by Stephen A'Court

Second Afterlife is on until 13 June at Circa Theatre:  http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/Second-Afterlife

Young And Hungry Servants

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust Ambassadors are a group of keen bean Year 12 & 13 students, who attend shows at Circa and others theatres throughout the year and write reviews.  They joined us at A Servant to Two Masters on Tuesday night.  Here are some of the reviews for you to enjoy!

"Live, Love, Laugh."

Reviewd by Tabatha Billington, St Catherine’s College

Circa’s production of A Servant to Two Masters, was both hilariously entertaining, while also thought provoking. From reading just the brief outline of the plot from the back of the programme, I knew I was in for an amusing evening full of laughs and inappropriately funny jokes. Two and a half hours later, I was not disappointed, I had a big smile on my face, and my stomach hurt from laughing so much. The cast, the costumes, the lighting and plot all were completely perfect, and flavoured the evening into one I shall always remember.

From the first entrance, with the characters dancing on stage, I was hooked, the set was well designed and inventive and used to the best of it’s ability, however, I found that the backdrops both looked quite similar, and so them being rearranged to show a change in location didn’t quite work as well as it could have, despite this one flaw in the evening, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the play. With slick, well practised staging and cues, stunts, fights, and sword duels, the show was comical without looking tacky. The plot was understandable and kept the audience absorbed in the world of Truffaldino and his tricks. A personal preference of mine, is when the actors involve the audience, which is exactly what they did last night, asking us for prompts, and using us to help their improv. The play was so well done, so comical, so captivating, that if I hadn’t been told in the Q&A afterwards that a lot of it was improvised, I never would have known. To me, this is the best kind of acting.

From the title, I was expecting a more serious play, yet with the disguises and large amounts of humour, girls dressing as boys, and the eccentric costumes, turned the play into something almost pantomime or shakespearian. There was almost a sense of it being a comedic take on Romeo and Juliet, with Florindo and Beatrice thinking that they were enemies but then once the disguises were removed, they remembered their lost love. With romance, sword fights, plot twists, humour and provocative themes, I feel that A Servant to Two Masters would be suitable for an audience of any age. The play had something for everyone, and I would definitely go see it again.

Keagan Carr Fransch plays the wise Smeraldina.  Photo by Stephen A'Court

Despite the humour and comical cover, when delving deeper into the themes in the play, one will find some quite inspirational themes, of what it truly means to be in the working class, shown through Truffaldino and how he just wants to make some decent money and have a good meal, yet doesn’t exactly use the best methods to get this. Also the theme of equal rights, shown through the maid Smeraldina who has a lot of sass and cheek, yet is still wise, and just wants to find love and help her mistress find that too. The main message I took from the play was ‘to be true to yourself’. With all the disguises and tricks and confusion and problems caused within the play, everything would have worked out easier if everyone had just been honest and true to who they were. But then of course, there would have been no play. I believe that this show was made to make people think about how we treat those who have less than us, and that if we have less than someone, does that make us worth less than them?

Overall, my night was full of laughs and fun, the show was great, and enjoyable and everyone left the theatre more positive and happy than when they arrived, the cast were great fun to talk to afterwards, and it was a nice time to catch up with some old acquaintances. I would highly recommend this play to anyone, and although I didn’t have to pay for my ticket, I believe that it would definitely be worth the $46. I wish the cast good luck for the rest of their season, and I hope each performance is as enjoyable to be in, as it was for us to watch.

"A Brilliant Performance"

Reviewed by Rebekah Ward, Taita College
  
A Servant to Two Masters was truly a brilliant performance. I read a short description of what I was getting myself into, and I wasn’t excited. The description does not do the amazing  performance justice. I was thoroughly pleased that I had been mistaken, thrilled to be deceived by the short description. I loved the energy , I felt for each and every character, and I laughed all night. The comedy was brilliantly timed and I believe the actors complimented each other well. I had my doubts about the set, however after the interval I feel that the retractable slats added atmosphere and well thought out scene changes. The lighting was minimal as was the sound, which really caused the brief lead’s and music used to have a larger impact and meaning. The costumes I feel symbolised each characters personality and behavior during the play. I feel that it would be a true sin to miss this masterpiece. It was beautiful in every way with each choice both careful and complimenting.

"A Servant to Two Masters"

Simon Leary stars as Truffaldino, photo by Stephen A'Court

Reviewed by Thomas Simpson, St Patrick’s College

A Servant to Two Masters is a played presented by Circa Theatre, which is an adaptation of an Italian Comedia piece written in the 1700s. It tells the story of a servant, Truffaldino, who in search of more than one meal a day, decides to work for two masters instead of one. He encounters some difficulty along the way, as one would expect working two jobs, but still uses his charm and trickery to make it work, even fitting in time for a love interest.

On first impression on my entrance to the show, I thought that it was a rather intriguing set up. I had no idea what to expect, the only clues that I had was of the style of housing on the backdrop which allowed me to picture myself in an olden day Italian town, but that was all that was given away.

Therefore I was given no indication of how good the performances were going to be. I found that most of the actors were able to really put across to the audience the true nature of their character, and it made for an all round fantastic performance. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Simon Leary as Truffaldino. I found his charm to pair perfectly with the character of Truffaldino, his athleticism and humour make him enjoyable and relatable, and his involvement of the audience really helped me to understand the story, which was hard to follow in the beginning. I also found that the personal monologues of all the characters that were directed at the audience a huge help in understanding what was going on in the play. Having not researched the play beforehand I did get lost in some places, particularly at the beginning, but the characters showing their train of thought helped me to understand the motives and the plot.

In conclusion, I came away from the play with an overall happy and content feeling. The laughs and overall vibrant vibe of the play made sure I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I came to it not knowing what to expect, but I came away with a smile on my face. If you’re looking for a play to make you smile and laugh a little, I thoroughly recommend this play, it is a must see and you must go along to Circa to see it as soon as you can. It runs from the 2nd to the 30th of May.