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.
BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS
Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland
17/02/2013 - 19/02/2014
"Delights, surprises and delivers the goods..
"Clever and engaging bastards..
More reviews
MIDNIGHT in MOSCOW
Wellington
11/05/2013 - 08/06/2013
"A witty and perceptive conflation of fact and fiction..
"A Kiwi play to really sink your teeth into..
TOM BINNS as IAN D MONTFORT
Wellington, Auckland
08/05/2013 - 18/05/2013
"Pseudo-spiritual double bluff?..
"Mysterious comedy ideally pitched..
BRAD ZIMMERMAN in SKYDIVING WITH MY MUM
Wellington
08/05/2013 - 11/05/2013
"Living the dream..
VAUGHAN KING & ALAN MCELROY in ONE BUCKET, TWO COMEDIANS
Auckland, Wellington
07/05/2013 - 18/05/2013
"Unpolished, unfocused, sloppy..
"A hodgepodge of ‘hey, this’ll be funny’ ideas..
THRILLS & SWOON: IMPROVISED ROMANCE
Wellington
07/05/2013 - 11/05/2013
"A happy blend of celebration and satire..
THE BACCHAE
Wellington
04/05/2013 - 10/05/2013
"Audience robbed of chance to fully engage..
JOSEPH HARPER in THINK: TREE (Omoutautahi)
Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington
03/05/2013 - 12/10/2013
"Witty, literary, metaphysical and thrumming with nervous energy..
"Endearing, quirky, spontaneous, touching..
More reviews
BARNIE DUNCAN in CALYPSO NIGHTS
Nelson, Wellington, Hamilton, Edinburgh, Scotland, Auckland, Dunedin
01/05/2013 - 07/10/2016
"From bewilderment to dancing via calypso..
"Sexy, mysterious and political..
More reviews
THE IMPROVISORS in COMIC HEROES
Wellington
30/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"If you like lycra …..
TAUTAI
Auckland, Lower Hutt
13/04/2010 - 02/05/2013
"Packs a socio-political wallop simply by telling the truth..
"Inspired Pacific-New Zealand theatre at its best..
More reviews
SEASONS
Wellington
11/04/2009 - 12/10/2013
"A wonderland of learning and entertainment..
"Fresh and inspiring delights..
More reviews
DANCING TILL WE DROP
Wellington, Palmerston North
17/04/2013 - 27/04/2013
"Substantial if ephemeral fare clearly explored and expressed..
"Absorbing, thought-provoking, often compelling, always adventurous..
THE GREAT PIRATICAL RUMBUSTIFICATION
Wellington
20/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"A play to inspire play..
SQUIDBOY
Nelson, Auckland, Wellington, Edinburgh, Scotland, Tauranga
06/03/2013 - 27/10/2013
"Crafty construction and a rare charisma..
"Squidboy has heart, it's fine-tuned art..
More reviews
BANGKOK
Wellington
16/04/2013 - 27/04/2013
"Dramatic contrivances obscure the play’s heart and soul..
ROMEO AND TUSI
Wellington, Playing the fool with tragedy refreshes a very old tale, Lower Hutt, Auckland
17/01/2013 - 07/09/2013
"1000% energy, attack and commitment..
"Big hearts and enthusiasm – but is the play dated?..
More reviews
COROnation STREET ON STAGE!
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson
01/04/2013 - 28/04/2013
"Exercise in reduction thrills fans..
"Many memorable moments somewhat marred..
More reviews
TRIBES
Wellington
06/04/2013 - 04/05/2013
"Plenty of substance and some strong performance elements..
"Demands attention..
LIFE. AFTER.
Wellington
04/04/2013 - 13/04/2013
"Real spirit of sisterhood..
"Some questions answered, others not..
THE CLOUDS
Wellington
02/04/2013 - 13/04/2013
"A happy birthday thanks to new take on ancient satirical comedy..
"Satire and surprises aplenty..
MIKE AND VIRGINIA
Wellington
23/03/2013 - 20/04/2013
"Entertaining mix of subjective engagement and objective appreciation..
ELIXIR
Wellington
21/03/2013 - 28/03/2013
"Be puzzled, amazed, entertained …..
