Review Archive
John Smythe has trained and worked professionally in New Zealand, Australia then back in New Zealand as a playwright, director, screenwriter (& screenwriting teacher), actor, theatre critic and book writer.
His formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Dramatic Art from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney) and a Certificate in Screenwriting from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He has also completed honours papers and a range of script writing courses.
Theatre directing credits in Australia include plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Gorki, and world premieres of plays by himself, Len Radic, David Williamson, Louis Esson, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Jack Hibberd and David O’Brien. Back in NZ he directed his own trilogy of short plays – ENTRANCING EXITS: Ms Conception; Nothing Twisted; Used Heads, at Bats Theatre, Wellington International Festival of the Arts; Faulty (sic) Towers & Blackadder’s Banquet at the Museum Hotel.
Playwright credits include Entrancing Exits (BATS Theatre), Conundra (Ensemble Productions), Swaggy Mack and his Magic Back Track (Arena Theatre), The Seven Stages of Hugh Mann (Melbourne University Theatre), Party Games (Jane St Theatre; La Mama) and Making A Play (Melbourne Theatre Company; Central Theatre), Where There’s a Will (BATS Theatre). Unproduced plays include Thelma, Weather and The Virtues of Reality.
John has also written The Peace Monster (Vintage, 1991); Downstage Upfront: the first 40 years of New Zealand’s longest-running professional theatre (Victoria University Press, November 2004) and The Plays of Bruce Mason – a survey (VUP & Playmarket, November 2015).
Amid a wide range of acting roles on stage, television and film, John has played Polonius and the Gravedigger in Hamlet twice (2006 and 2011). In 2012 and with Arts On Tour NZ in 2013 he played James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and Carl Jung in Jan Bolwell’s Dancing in the Wake. In 2015 he played Barry Scanlan in his own play, Where There’s a Will, at BATS Theatre. (Since 2000 he has also played Birdboot in an annual VUW English Dept reading of Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.)
Before becoming the founding Managing Editor of Theatreview.org.nz in 2006, John was a theatre critic for The Melbourne Times, The Australian, Theatre Australia Magazine, The National Business Review.
Welcome to the review archive.
Theatre and dance reviews since 2006.
THE PRESIDENT
Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Auckland
26/10/2016 - 12/11/2016
"The Future is Now..
"Funny, clever, depressing..
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INVADERS FROM MARS
Wellington
27/10/2016 - 05/11/2016
"Has yet to stand up and command respect..
FRED IS COLD
Wellington
25/10/2016 - 29/10/2016
"Memorable production elements but leaves many questions unanswered..
LUNGS
Wellington
22/10/2016 - 19/11/2016
"Unique and intriguing..
"Engaging, exciting, entertaining and vital..
SHORT+SWEET Wellington 2016
Wellington
19/10/2016 - 22/10/2016
"Intriguing range of styles, topics and themes..
CENTRAL
Wellington
15/10/2016 - 12/11/2016
"Thought-provoking theatre..
"Well-matured, vintage Armstrong..
DEATH COMES TO US ALL
Wellington
07/10/2016 - 07/10/2016
"An ingenious premise skilfully developed..
THE TROJAN WOMEN
Wellington
05/10/2016 - 09/10/2016
"Compellingly immediate..
WHEN WE DEAD AWAKEN
Wellington, Palmerston North, Dunedin
19/02/2016 - 01/10/2016
"A rarefied atmosphere of psychological and metaphysical intrigue..
"Passion and commitment..
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THE GRASS IS MEANER
Wellington
13/09/2016 - 24/09/2016
"Could be even more thrilling and blackly comedic..
LAST LEGS
Wellington, Dunedin
10/09/2016 - 27/05/2017
"Hall again puts spotlight on later years..
"New-minted jokes to make us smile and sometimes a real revelation..
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HOLD ME
Wellington
06/09/2016 - 10/09/2016
"A surreal and fascinating look at relationships..
"Enigmatic and intriguing..
ORPHANS
Wellington
30/08/2016 - 03/09/2016
"A powerful and deep-felt experience..
NO POST ON SUNDAY
Wellington
27/08/2016 - 10/09/2016
"A fine example of Kiwi commedia..
CORIANDER
Wellington, Dunedin
24/08/2016 - 18/03/2017
"Quirky, original, good clean fun..
"Coriander strikes a yoga pose and wins the Bats audience..
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RICHARD II
Wellington
18/08/2016 - 27/08/2016
"A Shakespeare for Brexit times..
"Fresh, fruity and pertinent..
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WELL
Wellington
16/08/2016 - 20/08/2016
"Towards a better understanding..
ENIGMA
Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North
09/08/2016 - 07/07/2017
"Infectious energy and flirtations..
"Serving the ‘copulāre ergo sum’ niche..
MOM (Meet Our Mum)
Wellington
09/08/2016 - 13/08/2016
"Commitment and energy lifts MOM..
"Less than the sum of its parts..
THIRSTY
Porirua, Wellington, Auckland
09/08/2016 - 02/09/2017
"Leaves this reviewer thirsty too..
"Impressive vocal and physical command..
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VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
Wellington
06/08/2016 - 03/09/2016
"Chekovian mash-up provides plenty of delights..
"A wittily insightful play impeccably done..
HYDE
Wellington
27/07/2016 - 06/08/2016
"Abiding wisdoms and timely insights..
DEAD DAYS
Wellington
16/07/2016 - 30/07/2016
"Festival allows young casts to shine #3..
"Astute comic timing..
