Welcome to KIWIreviews - product reviews
•  click here to return to the homepage  •
Welcome visitor.Join us or log in

Product reviews on kiwireviews.nz : Friday 29th March 2024 - 08:08:37

QuickSearch for:    What is QuickSearch?
QuickJump to:    What is QuickJump?
logon name: p/w:  

I want to:

You Are Here...

Home > Categories > Entertainment > Stageshows > ANZAC EVE review

« Beauty and the Beast reviewBeauty and the BeastTransformation 3 : Infinity Engine reviewTransformation 3 : Infinity Engine »

Score: 10.0/10  [1 review]
5 out of 5
ProdID: 7506 - ANZAC EVE
Performed by Barnaby Olson, Hayden Frost, Ruby Hansen, Trae Te Wiki

ANZAC EVE
Price:
varies
Available:
from 28th March 2017

ANZAC EVE product reviews

Proud to promote NZ productsWritten by Dave Armstrong
Directed by Jamie McCaskill

Multi-award winning New Zealand playwright, Dave Armstrong, offers a contemporary take on one of the nation's formative historical events in the premiere of Anzac Eve, playing Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 March at Playhouse Theatre, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. This highly entertaining and unflinching look at the ANZAC experience speaks to a generation of Kiwis whose national identity has been moulded by the heroic efforts of their forefathers.

Anzac Eve follows four young antipodean travellers on their big OE. Tempers flare, romance sparks and ghosts are uncovered, as two young Kiwi guys meet two young Aussie girls on an evening where national pride is fiercely felt. Each seeing historical events through their own lens, are they really there to solemnly commemorate the occasion? Do these characters really know their history or are they simply buying into convenient Anzac myths? Have we really learnt from Gallipoli or are we still making the same mistakes 100 years later?



Tags:
anzac   armstrong creative   barnaby olson   creative new zealand   dave armstrong   gallipoli   hayden frost   jamie mccaskill   nzmade   ruby hansen   trae te wiki
Other listings you may be interested in:
Planet Earth : Volume 1Planet Earth : Volume 1
Rating: 10.0
Angelina Ballerina - Angelina's SurpriseAngelina Ballerina - Angelina's Surprise
Rating: 8.0
Africa - Eye to Eye with the UnknownAfrica - Eye to Eye with the Unknown
Rating: 10.0
BBC MadagascarBBC Madagascar
Rating: 10.0
Star Trek: Voyager - Season 3Star Trek: Voyager - Season 3
Rating: 10.0
An Idiot Abroad: Series TwoAn Idiot Abroad: Series Two
Rating: 10.0
Chuggington:  Ready to Build Chuggington:  Ready to Build 
Rating: 7.5
The Winery Tour 2015The Winery Tour 2015
Rating: 9.6
How to Get Away With Murder (Season 1)How to Get Away With Murder (Season 1)
Rating: 10.0
How I Met Your Mother: Season ThreeHow I Met Your Mother: Season Three
Rating: 6.0
The Shannara ChroniclesThe Shannara Chronicles
Rating: 9.3
Orphan Black: Season FourOrphan Black: Season Four
Rating: 8.5
The Twilight Zone: Season 2The Twilight Zone: Season 2
Rating: 8.5

Product reviews...

Everyone is welcome to post a review. You will need to Join up or log in to post yours.

Click here to read the profile of sweetpea

Review by: sweetpea (Sarah)
Dated: 29th of March, 2017

Link to this review Report this review

 

This Review: 10/10
Performance:
Score 10 out of 10
Value for Money:
Score 10 out of 10
See it Again:
Score 10 out of 10
Enjoyment Level:
Score 10 out of 10

Performance: Hamilton

I was excited just at the name of this show "ANZAC Eve". I have been to Gallipoli for the eve of and day of Anzac Day and though it was many, many years ago (before the hype) it remains as one of the most moving and memorable experiences of my life. So it was with great anticipation that I found a friend to accompany me and we headed to the venue at the Gallagher's Academy of Performing Arts. The theatre is named The Playhouse and is a very small theatre with seating right up to the stage. It was absolutely perfect for such an intimate play as this.

Firstly each character arrived on stage one by one at the setting of the Gallipoli Remembrance service on the eve of the 25th of April, allowing an introduction to the characters and a building up of the characters persona we develop an instant affinity to the characters. Ben and Phil were portrayed exactly as they might have been and Barnaby Olson and Hayden Frost were brilliant in their portrayal of the characters. Ruby Hansen as Maia the Australian and Trae Te Wiki as Lizzie the Maori Aussie were just so spot on. I related to all four of the characters from my own travels and the nature of these backpackers couldn't be more apt. The set up of the scene was very skilfully done and there was no distraction from the dialogue as the stage is set only with a tarpaulin in camouflage. The characters were in place center stage as they set up the Eve of Anzac day and after the initial banter the dialogue very quickly progresses.

The story line is incredibly well written and perfectly delivered as the dialogue seamlessly transgresses through a diverse range of topics all the while bringing the subject back to Anzac Day and the battles that took place at Gallipoli and the meaning not only of the Anzac Day commemorations but ANZAC itself and the battles that took place as well as the aftermath and the present day impact on our generation.

Issues of racism, refugees, kiwi ingenuity, mass migration of Kiwis to Australia, democracy, patriotism homosexuality, suicide, glorification of war, religion, bias, preconceptions and terrorism were amongst some of the issues discussed through the play. The dialogue was delivered flawlessly and for an hour the entire audience was focused on the lives and story's of the four characters. The facts of the battle that occurred in the hills around Gallipoli are very well weaved through the story line so the audience can gain a good understanding of what occurred but what really impressed me was the way that the play raised so many issues that are relevant in the here and now as much as they were in World War one. I found incredibly thought provoking and it certainly has provided fodder around our beliefs about why soldiers go to war, what was the point of the war in Turkey and why are we so proud of soldiers that die believing them not to die in vain because what would it mean if they did die on vain.

To sum up this play was everything a play with four people alone on a stage for an hour should be. The humor was enough that the audience spent most of the play in laughter but serious enough that often the laughter was quickly sobered by what came next. This is a truly hilarious, thought provoking and extremely challenging play. I would love to see a repeat performance and have been busy all day recommending this to my work colleagues to attend. If you have an opportunity to view this take it as it will be a very enjoyable and thought provoking hour of your life.

Fantastic acting from a very talented cast, a perfect script and great production. Definitely a show not to be missed. It certainly has me thinking and with Anzac Day fast approaching it is very timely.

'Lest we forget'.

Random listing from 'Entertainment'...

Score: 10.0
Product reviews for listing 5417: Islands on The Edge
Type of Show: Documentary

Product image for Islands on The EdgeFilmed over the course of a year, Scotland's enigmatic Hebridean islands are the stage of rock and water that offer unrivalled dramatic scenes of contrasting natural forces. From grey seals trying to protect their young from giant waves, to puffins, eagles and basking sharks, this is wildlife at its purest.

Filmed with pioneering underwater macro, aerial and infra-red cinematography Islands on the Edge delivers unrivalled richness of content about a landscape that few of us will ever have the privilege to experience.

Go to the listing

General Disclaimer...

Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page. Creative Commons Licence All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
George S. Patton (1885 - 1945)