Reviews of An Iliad

2020

Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival

Theatreview:  "Hurst is phenomenal in what I would say is a career best performance ... Hamilton audiences are so reluctant to stand for a performer, but here the ovation is genuine and spontaneous ... It shakes you to the core and will not let you go".

Waikato Times:  "Equal parts rage and menace, deadpan humour and heartfelt lament ... epic in scope ... Michael Hurst ... kept the audience ... utterly spellbound ... powerhouse delivery ... Hyperbole should always be avoided in any critique, but there is a singular description that perfectly summarises this performance: Legendary".

Taranaki Arts Festival

Taranaki Community News:  "Here, we witness mastery.  ... With an excited wave of his hands he ... conjures images of vast beaches, of boats as far as the eye can see, rolling fields, villages and off in the distancce the towering walls of Troy.  ... leave(s) the audience breathless, more than one hushed 'wow' was overheard from neighbouring seats.  ... Powerful, thought provoking, ethereal and beautifully performed.  An Iliad is theatre that is as important as it is captivating".

Herald Theatre, Auckland

Theatrescenes:  "Bright as a flame and taut as a bowstring, Hurst flickers between many characters, male and female alike. ...I admire the utter control Hurst has over every fibre of his being.  ... Watching Hurst and Carter in An Iliad is to feel not only the presence of the muses but to witness the gods".

New Zealand Herald: "If you've ever wondered what it might have been like to hear an itinerant minstrel giving voice to Homer's poetry in a Babylonian market or an Athenian tavern, Michael Hurst and Shayne P Carter bring you as close as you are likely to get to such an experience ... Michael Hurst's performance magnificently evokes the anguish and exhileration of an old man surrendering himself to the grip of a relentless muse who compels him to endlessly re-live the horrors of his tragic tale".

The Speakeasy: "Hurst's dedication to mastering the text was phenomenal, and his character work was breath-taking.  ... Hurst manages to switch in and out of about 9 or so different characters on stage while recounting his story, and it was marvellous to watch".

Radio13:  "Please excuse the pun but what a herculean performance by Hurst.  This work requires the actor to have a theatrical range from a lion’s roar to a Godot-like emptiness with moments of humour in between.  Hurst held us in the palm of his hand through his courage and his vulnerability.  He was the quintessential Fool, the prophet, the storyteller.  And, like the Ancient Mariner, it pained him to tell the tale 'Every time I sing this song ... I hope it’s the last time'.  Only the most heroic actor would take on such a task"

AndrewWhiteside: "I have always admired Michael Hurst as an actor - but this performance was beyond anything I have ever seen him do before.  His performance was huge in scope and range, describing battles and rage-filled killings with excruciatingly vivid intensity that transported me to those battle fields.  Then there were tender moments, moments of grief, regret and compassion as he seamlessly transitioned from character to character.  In an audience of at least 200 people I felt I was alone and he was telling this mesmerising story just to me. ... An Iliad is visceral and compelling theatre that is stripped back to its absolute essence.  A damn good epic yarn delivered by a genius story-teller".

Ambient Light: "Michael Hurst as the poet is beyond profound ... Hurst not only draws you in but holds you near for the entirety of the performance. Employing both empathy and at times humour throughout his impassioned delivery he consistently displays acting prowess that most could only ever hope to aspire to, his recital of a list of the wars whose blood has soaked the earth beneath our very feet for the last two millenniums a feat of pure mental agility. This is without a doubt, masterclass theatre".

Libel Music: "Hurst's incredible vocal ability to lift or quiet his voice as he slipped from one character or persona seamlessly ... The emotions conveyed by Hurst and Carter are brilliantly brought to life in a performance that was well deserving of its standing ovation. ... Hurst flawlessly articulates the impressive narrative with such ferver and intensity, an utterly spellbinding performance.  The re-imaging of Homers An Iliad is immersive, compelling, reflective, chilling, simply brilliant and deserves much acclaim",

NZ Entertainment Podcast: "Hurst, which has to be said, is a gift to New Zealand stage and theatre, the charismatic actor certainly stands tall in stature when on stage, a vigour akin to that of a top athlete.  Incredibly intense with a barrage of monologue, for 110 minutes, An Iliad's exhaustive power acting delivers with emotive power ... drawing in every breath, every anguish, every bit of pain and emotional toll, that the story of Troy elicits.  For a play like this to exist, Hurst must have gone through an unbelievable amount of training, discipline to build and create his character.  ... Kiwi theatre is alive and kicking, don't miss this unmissable show, it is an experience begging your attention - A standing ovation.

Up Your Arts:  "focus on the historical and academically cited contrast in masculinity allows the Poet, played by veteran thespian Michael Hurst, to ruminate with resonant intimacy on the consequences of not only the rage provoked in battle, but also of a lifetime recounting it.  ... When Peterson and O'Hare's words paint the pictures, it's beautiful, but when Hurst sees the scenes, it's devastatingly deep".