A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
OH, MAMMA: More than 60 million people around the world can’t be wrong, can they? That’s the number, supposedly, who have said I Do! I Do! I Do! and laughed, cried and sung along with the musical
Mamma Mia!, which returns to Auckland this month. Set on a Greek island paradise and inspired by ABBA’s classic songs, there’s a bride-to-be who, before her wedding, wants to discover the identity of her father. So she invites the three candidates to the celebrations. Be a Super Trouper or a Dancing Queen and head on down to it. Mamma Mia!, Bruce Mason Centre until Saturday, April 14
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: We inherit our sex lives from movies and books, from past lovers, and, let’s be honest, porn. The over-riding message? Women are desired; men do the desiring. So Silo Theatre brings to the stage a fierce, new and very theatrical work that takes a sledgehammer to those ideas and calls for a rewrite of old scripts by exposing the invisible rules that shape our relationships. Nine tales of dating, desire and dancing to offer a new take on romance in the digital age. Auckland Arts Festival — Body Double, Loft at Q Theatre, until Thursday
SOUNDS SWEET: Australian singersongwriter Vance Joy, famous for his hit song Riptide and popular Taylor Swift covers, has released his second album,
Nation of Two. To celebrate, Joy returns to New Zealand shores for a one-off solo show. His folky complexities and honeyed voice are a winning combo on stage. Vance Joy, The Tuning Fork, Wednesday
EASTER TREAT: Now in its 175th year, the Royal Easter Show is back with a massive line-up of entertainment, circus acts, carnival rides, sideshows, exhibits and art. The animal attractions are part of the original A & P section, but many visitors flock to enjoy free entertainment. Transform into a super hero with the PJ Masks Live, listen to some of best Kiwi musical talent, such as Sons of Zion and Che Fu, or scream yourself silly on rides like Turbo Boost, Scream Machine and Gravitron. Stick around for the free fireworks display, lighting up the sky above the ASB Showgrounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening’s blasting off at 9pm. The Royal Easter Show, ASB Showgrounds, Thursday-Monday, April 2
RACING BACK: Following a set at Splore festival, local rockers Racing perform a special Easter midnight show at Cassette Nine. To work around Good Friday, the gig kicks off at midnight, with DJs Caston Major and Tony M opening, and a closing set from Sal Valentine. Racing, Cassette Nine, Good Friday at midnight Dionne Christian and George Fenwick