Month: February 2020

PREVIEW: 9 reasons we can’t wait for March 2020 starring City Of Angels

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts makes West End debut in City Of Angels

We saw this Donmar production in its original home six years ago and the Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical evoking old Hollywood and film noir has a cast to die for. It includes the West End debut of former Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts (and winner of ITV’s The Masked Singer) as well as Vanessa Williams, Rosalie Craig, Hadley Fraser and Theo James. Plays at the Garrick from 5/3 to 5/9. Tickets 

  • Read on for reasons including the new Jamie Lloyd starring Game Of Thrones Emilia Clark and Fat Rascal

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GIG REVIEW: David Baddiel Trolls: Not the Dolls at Portsmouth Guildhall

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey

WHERE?: Portsmouth Guildhall 22/2/20

Never, to my shame, having seen David Baddiel live, this was a Christmas present for Mr Humdrum which, on the morning of the show, almost didn’t transpire when he claimed I’d only bought one ticket. He had, in fact, failed to turn over the print-out.

  • Read on for reasons including why we need more comedy in our lives

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THEATRE REVIEW: Pretty Woman: The Musical starring Danny Mac & Aimie Atkinson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Piccadilly Theatre RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 17/2, press night 1/3 booking to 2/1/21

Perhaps the biggest surprises here are that it’s taken quite so long for the 1990 film romcom to reach the stage and that its music and lyrics would be co-written by middle-of-the-road rocker Bryan Adams.

  • Read on for reasons why Mac and Atkinson make an unlikely but endearing couple

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Number starring Roger Allam & Colin Morgan at the Bridge Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 14/2, press night 19/2 runs to 14/3/20

Colin Morgan plays three very different characters in this Caryl Churchill revival, two of whom are clones of the other.

  • Read on for reasons including how this compares with Far Away the Donmar’s Churchill revival

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GIG REVIEW: Dubioza Kolektiv at Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth

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By Carron Stacey

WHERE? Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

WHEN? 13/2/20

This seemingly crazed swarm of football strip-attired Bosnian bees pumped out a stunning set of rap, rock, ska and funk, pollenating the slightly small (but perfectly formed) audience with their nectar of positivity in a hive of energy.

  • Read on for reasons including how an early incarnation had to practise in the dark due to a lack of electricity during the Bosnian War

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THEATRE REVIEW: Be More Chill starring Scott Folan, Blake Patrick Anderson and Renee Lamb at the Other Palace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Other Palace RUNTIME: 135 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 12/2, press night 18/2 runs to 3/5/20 UPDATE: This production opens at Shaftesbury Theatre for 10 weeks from 30 June 2021 Tickets

Would you pop a pill to Be More Chill?

  • Read on for reasons including how the power of social media was behind the show’s Broadway run

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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Hotspot by Pet Shop Boys (February 2020)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

OUT: now

TRACKLIST: Will-o-the-Wisp; You Are The One; Happy People; Dreamland; Hoping For A Miracle; I Don’t Wanna; Monkey Business; Only The Dark; Burning The Heather; Wedding In Berlin

It seems a very Pet Shop Boys moment that, as the UK leaves the EU, the duo’s ‘Berlin album’ enters this country’s chart at number three.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the Boys’ best album for 14 years

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