Herald Theatre
Oct 24-Nov 15 | Reviewed by Renee Liang

HOLLYWOOD, as we all know, is corrupt, seething with the power-hungry, the talentless, the beautiful cardboard pin-ups. The Little Dog Laughed makes no attempt to dissuade us of that impression. But this is the kind of play that creeps into your pants and under your skin, until two hours of laughing later, you realise that far from being shallow, this is a very clever play.

Basement Theatre
October 15-25 | Reviewed by Renee Liang

WHAT HAPPENS when a group of disaffected twenty-somethings get together to make a play? In one parallel universe, A City of Souls comes into being. Strangely enough, it’s about what happens when a group of disaffected twenty-somethings get together. If you’re not into deep and meaningful discussions about life, alcohol and the multiple uses of sexual organs, then this play may not hit your G-spot. On the other hand, if you enjoy this kind of discussion on a regular basis (or feel nostalgic about your long-past hedonistic youth), then you’ll probably love it.

Downstage Theatre
Sept 23-Oct 3 | Reviewed by Helen Sims

IT’S HARD to believe that Toa Fraser’s Bare is ten years old – this 10 year anniversary production of the award-winning play, directed by Oliver Driver, feels anything but dated. Bare still ‘speaks’ of and to New Zealand culture in a unique way – and that is what is at the heart of the play – an attempt to capture the word, the voice, the song of multicultural youth at a time when the term multicultural seems to have lost its meaning, as expressed through a multiplicity of characters. As such Bare sets a challenge for its actors and director, which Driver and his two young performers, Curtis Vowell and Morgana O’Reilly, rise to meet in an interesting way. They bring a varied tone to the piece that never looses an uncompromising thrust.

Circa Theatre
Sept 27-Oct 25 | Reviewed by Helen Sims

I HAVE to admit that the premise of this show did not wildly excite me – four high school mates, now in their 30s, gather for a once-a-month tennis match and moan about the receding hairlines. I’m getting a little tired of the subject of male friendships and the marketing line of “Men behaving badly” added to the impression that I would be seeing a play that trod a well-worn path – and one I’m not particularly interested in at that. Whilst Drinking Games didn’t go anywhere new, it did exceed my (admittedly low) expectations. And whilst writer Damien Wilkins hasn’t broken the mould with this play, his ear for dialogue is well served by a cast of four excellent actors.