Photos: AK07
AK07: What's on this weekendKEY POINTS:
Auckland's AK07 festival has been on for a week and runs until March 25. Here's our picks of the most (and least) entertaining events at AK07 so far.
MOST colourful ... Ballet Preljocaj's Les 4 Saisons
Described as a kaleidoscope of colour and magic, the French ballet troupe has delighted all those who have seen it. 14-year-old ballerinas Anastazja Kramarz and Rhiannon Fairless attended the show's opening night and came away star-struck, saying it was simply "amazing". Herald dance reviewer Bernadette Rae described the show as "zestful, warm-hearted and witty".
MOST spectacular... La Clique
La Clique deserves every bit of hype and adulation surrounding it. Featuring an assortment of sassy, scintillating and downright bizarre circus acts, La Clique is, without doubt, the standout highlight of the festival. It is also incredibly disappointing. Because once you've seen it, you realise that David O'Mer's bath tub act is probably the hottest thing you will ever see in your lifetime, thus, it's all down hill from here. Sigh.
MOST anticipated ... Mahler 2 - The Resurrection
It was the first AK07 show to sell out and classical music lovers across the country eyed Auckland with green envy that the one-off show by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra was to be performed here. Reviewer William Dart said the show, which featured 200 musicians, delivered "85 minutes of often heart-stopping drama".
MOST boring ... Dark Tourists
Quite literally. Dance reviewer Bernadette Rae named this production by New Zealand choreographer Malia Johnston "the most boring show on earth". Rae was not alone. Radio New Zealand's Paul Bushnell said he "disliked it every bit as much as [Rae] did ... I found it incomprehensible, it just went on and on and on."
MOST ambitious ... Penumbra
At three hours and 50 minutes, local theatre production Penumbra is incredibly ambitious. Featuring 40 characters, dozens of scene changes and two intervals, the show gave it its all but came up lacking. Herald theatre reviewer Paul Simei-Barton said: "It is difficult to conceive of a less imaginative way of presenting events that are so rich in dramatic potential."
MOST explosive ... Groupe F A Little More Light
200,000 people can't be wrong. Auckland turned out in force for AK07's free opening event and what a show it was. The French pyrotechnicians used flames and fireworks to create an explosive 45-minute spectacle that had people talking for days.
MOST intriguing ... Windows exhibit
Whether it was Japanese artist Hiromi Tango serving tea and massages or Australian artist Hayden Fowler enduring hours of pain as two huia were tattooed on his back, the Windows exhibit couldn't help but catch people's eyes. Throughout Auckland's CBD, ten artists took up residence in ten shop windows where they set about creating various installations. Windows finale takes place tonight from 5 to 7pm with all artists on site with their creations.
