Month: August 2019

THEATRE REVIEW: Appropriate starring Monica Dolan, Steven Mackintosh & Edward Hogg at the Donmar

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 16/8, opens 22/8 and runs to 5/10/19

The stage is so cluttered that at a suitably dramatic moment lead Monica Dolan turns on her heels, loses her balance, falls off the stage and ends up in an unsuspecting audience member’s lap.

  • Read on for reasons including what Dolan did after winning the Best Supporting Actress Olivier

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Doctor starring Juliet Stevenson at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Almeida Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 12/8, opens 20/8 and runs to 28/9/19

STOP PRESS: The Doctor transfers to the Duke Of Yorks in the West End from April 2020 Tickets

Welcome to writer/director Robert Icke’s final production as Associate Director at this venue in a remarkable run which has seen 3 West End transfers at 5 attempts.

  • Read on for reasons including how Stevenson sits on the end of the stage with her legs hanging immediately in front of us

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THEATRE REVIEW: Blues In The Night starring Sharon D. Clarke at the Kiln Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Kiln Theatre RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 3/8, runs to 7/9/19

It’s our 1st visit to north London’s refurbished Kiln Theatre and we’re in the centre of the front row to see Olivier Award-winning Sharon D. Clarke’s (pictured above) turn in this musical set in a rundown Chicago hotel in 1938 and concentrating on the lives of 3 women.

  • Read on for reasons including why it is the live music and impressive singing you’ll remember here

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AWARDS MONSTAS: Our Best New Musical of 2019 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2018 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2019 so far and what’s to come. Eugenius, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Groundhog Day are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best new musicals of 2019 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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GIG REVIEW: Eurythmics Songbook starring Dave Stewart, Nile Rodgers, Beverley Knight & Emeli Sande

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHERE? Royal Festival Hall

WHEN? 9/8/19

SETLIST: Intro: Take Me To Your Heart/Never Gonna Cry Again/The Walk/The City Never Sleeps; Love Is A Stranger; I Love You Like A Ball And Chain; I Need A Man; You Have Placed A Chill; I Saved The World Today; Who’s That Girl?; There Must Be An Angel; Miracle Of Love; When Tomorrow Comes; Baby’s Gonna Cry; Thorn In My Side; Here Comes The Rain Again; When The Day Goes Down; I’ve Got A Life; It’s Alright; Missionary Man; Would I Lie To You?; Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves; Sweet Dreams

We’re sitting in the front row next to a fan wearing a Eurythmics tour T-shirt from 1989 and we think the only time we ever saw the band live was probably around then at the old Wembley Arena.

  • Read on for reasons including why the Eurythmics never recorded later than 7.30pm

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AWARDS MONSTAS: Our Best New Play of 2019 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2018 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2019 so far and what’s to come. The Inheritance, The Ferryman and Oddshaped Balls are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 Best New Plays of 2019 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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THEATRE REVIEW: Evita starring Samantha Pauly at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

Screen Shot 2019-08-10 at 13.29.59

STOP PRESS: This production of Evita is now booking at the Barbican 27/6 to 22/8/20 Tickets

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre RUNTIME: 130 minutes (plus 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 2/8, opens 8/8,  runs to 21/9/19

It’s apt that in the week where UK girl group musical Six announces its Broadway transfer, that the latest actress to play Evita should have the voice of Anna Kendrick and the moves of Cheryl Cole.

  • Read on for reasons including how this 1st preview earned its standing ovation

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AWARDS MONSTAS: Our Best Theatre Actor of 2019 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2018 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2019 so far and what’s to come. Arinze Kene, Andrew Scott, George Mackay and James McAvoy are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 5 best theatre actors of 2019 so far and our hopes for the next half year

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