A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
PRINCELY CINEMA: It was a late addition to the Auckland International Film Festival but, 30 years after its debut, the legendary concert movie of one of the world’s greatest singer-songwriters, guitarist and performers is back on the big screen.
Sign o’ the Times arrived just in time to make the perfect 50th anniversary gift to the festival and has been described as “a life-affirming playground of music and sex” featuring Prince himself, Sheila E, Sheena Easton, Dr Fink, Cat and many more. Sign o’ the Times, Auckland International Film Festival, The Civic Theatre, tonight HER NAME IS SUZANNE: Suzanne Vega, that is. From the early 1980s, when she emerged as a leading figure in the folk music revival, Suzanne Vega captured the imagination of New Zealand music lovers. Her Solitude Standing album went to No. 1 and hits like Tom’s Diner and
Luka, a folk-pop classic written from the perspective of an abused child, remain popular. She’s back in the country, with guitarist Gerry Leonard, to perform songs from throughout her career.
Suzanne Vega, Bruce Mason Centre, Thursday and Opera House, Wellington, Wednesday
IMAGINARY YOU: If you could be anyone else in the world, who would you pick? To 12-year-old Eamonn, there’s no contest: it’d be Will Jones, the coolest kid at intermediate school. Billed as a “hilarious fabulist tale set in the hyper-competitive, dog-eat-dog world of New Zealand’s allboys high schools”, Wellington comedian Eamonn Marra presents a provocative and timely portrait about friendship, toxic school culture and becoming the person you want to be. I, Will Jones, Basement Theatre Studio, Tuesday, August 7-Saturday, August 11 SIBLING RIVALRY: And staying at the Basement — it really is a busy little place — comedian Chris Parker joins forces with his sister, Liv, to test the limits of family in a show where sibling rivalry is at its most, um, performative. Chris, a regular on stage and screen who’s well-known for appearances on 7 Days and Jono and Ben, has agreed to share the stage with his younger sister for the first time as the pair reimagine their earliest theatrical performances — at home when they were kids. They’ve promised their mother they will play nicely but it could end in tears. Probably his. SIBS, Basement Theatre, Tuesday, August 7-Saturday, August 11 INTERNATIONAL THEATRE:
Learning Spanish? Already speak it? Here’s a show that could be just the ticket. As part of the international theatre festival put on by Auckland’s Rangmanch,
Babel Theatre stages Ay Carmela ,an adaptation of a popular Spanish tragicomedy about love, loss and the human cost of war. In the Spanish Civil War, a theatre company travels up and down Spain and, unwittingly cross the front from the Republicans to General Franco's side. When they are surprised by the troops they are forced to improvise a theatrical performance in honour of the army. This adaptation explores also the historical connection of New Zealanders with the Spanish Civil War. Although the show is in Spanish, it has been adapted and uses media to make it accessible to non-Spanish speaking audiences.
Ay Carmela, (Tapac) The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, Friday and Saturday.