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.
Nuclear Zephyr
Wellington
07/08/2007 - 11/08/2007
"Focused political satire timely and provocative..
The Cape
Wellington
04/08/2007 - 01/09/2007
"Captivating contemplation on culture, life and friendship..
"Plumbing the depths of what’s important..
More reviews
King Lear
Wellington, Dunedin
01/08/2007 - 01/09/2007
"Return season wanted in Wellington..
"A great work realised with fidelity..
More reviews
Ennio Marchetto
New Plymouth, Wellington
01/08/2007 - 18/08/2013
"Cabaret, drag, mime, and vaudeville..
"Celebrity send-up thrills with skill..
More reviews
Jennifer Ward-Lealand – FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
Havelock North, Wellington
27/07/2006 - 04/11/2015
"In love again with the era, Dietrich and her voice..
"Transported with sensitivity and humour..
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Part of Me
Wellington
11/08/2006 - 26/07/2007
"Beauty meets average and arrogant but no statement intended..
"Snappy writing..
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Once Were Samoans
Auckland, Wellington
22/05/2007 - 28/07/2007
"Heartfelt and hilarious with a moral heart..
"Inspires the most hilarity..
The Gods In Post-Nuclear New Zealand
Wellington
23/07/2007 - 28/07/2007
"Warning on horrors to come..
"Admirable skills could give greater return..
MONARCHY the Musical
Wellington
21/07/2007 - 25/08/2007
"“Monarchy is musical chairs, all high kicks and foreign affairs…”..
"Many jewels in the royal repartee..
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Antigone
Wellington
05/07/2007 - 15/07/2007
"Searing examination of justice, authority and power..
"The price of hubris..
Falling Petals
Wellington
05/07/2007 - 21/07/2007
"Initial premise is not realistic or believable..
"In search of an ending..
More reviews
Strange Resting Places
Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, (not a specified venue), Nelson, Edinburgh, Scotland
18/03/2007 - 25/08/2014
"Beautifully constructed, creative and engaging..
"Humour, pain and profound insight shared..
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The Woman in Black
Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington
14/06/2007 - 08/07/2007
"Nothing special..
"Special effects play star role..
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Dumb Show
Wellington
30/06/2007 - 28/07/2007
"Valuable questions amid black humour..
"Needs more subtlety..
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Lucia di Lammermoor
Auckland, Wellington
23/06/2007 - 21/07/2007
"Superb execution of music and production..
"Compelling, true and worth it..
Finding Murdoch
Wellington
16/06/2007 - 14/07/2007
"Theatre was the winner on the day..
"Great ensemble let down by script..
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Fat Pig
Wellington
09/06/2007 - 14/07/2007
"A prompt for some questioning of our values..
"A sharp, classy production of a smart, bittersweet play..
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Infinite Thread
Wellington
02/05/2007 - 25/05/2007
"Varied and often impressive..
"Invigorating celebration..
LandLies
Wellington
29/05/2007 - 02/06/2007
"Underlying themes undeveloped..
"Volatile and relevant issues probed but not fully explored..
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Blackbird
Wellington
23/06/2006 - 26/05/2007
"An amazing theatrical experience..
"In blistering Form(an)..
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The End of the Golden Weather
Wellington, (not a specified venue), Auckland
18/07/2006 - 03/06/2007
"Capturing the essence of a Kiwi classic..
"Powerfully insightful and poignant..
More reviews
Sharp
Wellington
23/05/2007 - 26/05/2007
"Many memorable moments..
To be continued ...
Wellington
22/05/2007 - 26/05/2007
"My challenge to NZ improvisers..
