Mar 22, 2022 Arts
Kia ora koutou!
In case you were snoozing, the latest issue of Metro magazine is out now and in stores near you. It’s our Best of Auckland issue with an accompanying Best of Wellington supplement. And little humble brag for the arts section — both covers are arts stories. One is about Lisa Reihana and her amazing wheke in Wellington harbour, and the other a profile on Teremoana Rapley. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The issue is packed with greatness, but I would say that. My non-art section highlights from the magazine include Hayden Donnell’s The Trouble with Auckland Transport piece, Bob Harvey’s interview style, a searing Aries metroscope by Tayi Tibble (welcome to Aries season — good luck), and a baby yoda illustration by Robert Wallace. But don’t let me tell you, grab a copy and be your own judge.
Do you have a show, event or release coming up that you want to list in Metro Arts? Let me know lana@metromagazine.co.nz.
Stay dry!
— Lana
Reckons
I’m always incredibly in awe* (*see jealous) of people with extreme talent. But I didn’t realise the ultimate test of skill is one’s ability to simultaneously voice, sing, play instruments, and make sound effects live and over the internet to a movie as it is playing. And that’s what Live Live Cinema: The Little Shop of Horrors – Lockdown Edition is — a full display of the talent we plebs wished we had.
Theatre is often a space that intimidates, and when that moves online, it’s hard to know what you’re walking into. But Live Live Cinema: The Little Shop of Horrors is a joy for all audiences. Its pleasure is largely owed to the skill involved and the joy that comes from watching Barnie Duncan use tongs to create the sound for a blood eating venus flytrap then make and eat boiling noodles, or Hayley Sproull’s face as she moves from playing the keyboard to then creating the sounds for the opening door, or Byron Coll simultaneously voicing Seymour, playing the guitar and sounding footsteps. It’s particularly great when the four actors go into the musical breaks, and Laughton Kora jams on the drums.
Gather your friends, grab a drink and book your tickets now. Live Live Cinema: The Little Shop of Horrors – Lockdown Edition is an excellent way to spend an hour of your time. Geniuses — all of them.
Live Live Cinema: The Little Shop of Horrors – Lockdown Edition, presented by Silo Theatre,
Auckland Arts Festival and Jumpboard Productions
Online now — Sun 27 March
Recommendations
I would highly recommend going to check out Yona Lee’s solo exhibition An Arrangement for 5 Rooms at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. As the title suggests, the installation moves through five gallery spaces working with the architecture of the Auckland Art Gallery and the surrounding park moving in and outside, creating spaces for sitting, working and conversing. It is such a treat to see large scale sculpture that is both skillfully made, fun, and even humourous. Yona Lee: An Arrangement for 5 Rooms is one of the best shows I have seen this year.
Despite much of the cancellation of Auckland Arts Festival’s programme, there are still several events and shows going ahead in online formats. I went through the programme and found my top five picks, which you can read over on the Metro website here. But get in quick, it’s the last week!
And because we love both high and low art, I’ve found a new reality tv kick — Black Ink Crew. So I’m very late to this party, as it was first filmed in 2013 but two seasons have now just landed on Netflix, and so I’m living all my 2010s dreams through the show, and I want you to watch it, so I have someone to talk to about it.
Reconnaissance
Coming up this week:
To Fashion: Dressing Aotearoa
Britomart
10 Mar — 27 Mar
See You On The Horizon by Sunreturn Records
Available on Fri 25 March
Declaration: a Pacific Feminist Agenda featuring Jasmine Togo-Brisby; Marti Friedlander; Jessicoco Hansell (Coco Solid); Taloi Havini; Lonnie Hutchinson; Ioane Ioane; Sione Monū; Suzanne Tamaki; Latai Taumoepeau; Molly Rangiwai-McHale & Luisa Tora; Kalisolaite ’Uhila
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
26 Mar — 31 Jul
New season of shows at Studio One Toi Tū featuring Linda Vaʻaelua, Wai-O-Rongo, Sur Collective, Judith Milner, Ana Travaglio
Opening, 6 April
Shifted Ground
Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell Precinct
April 9
