Month: October 2022

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Hold The Girl by Rina Sawayama (October 2022)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Minor Feelings; Hold The Girl; This Hell; Catch Me In The Air; Forgiveness; Holy (‘Til You Let Me Go); Your Age; Imagining; Frankenstein; Hurricanes; Send My Love To John; Phantom; To Be Alive

There’s no mistaking the ambition of Sawayama’s 2nd album and with an Elton John collaboration under her belt she will doubtless hope Hold The Girl builds on the success of her debut.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Sawayama on tour this autumn
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GIG REVIEW: Ella Henderson and Cian Ducrot at 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Tuesday 25 October 2022, last night of tour

SETLIST: Emotions; Risk It All; We Got Love; Places; Ugly; What About Us; All For You; Let’s Go Home Together; Northern Lights; Everything I Didn’t Say; Heartstrings; Crazy What Love Can Do; This Is Real; 21 Reasons; Friends; Good Things Take Time/About Damn Time; Glitterball; Yours; Ghost

The most electric moment during this gig was when support act Ducrot took to the stage with Henderson (pictured above centre with her band at this veniue) to duet on their current top 20 hit, the beautiful ballad All For You, and followed it with the brilliant lockdown smash Let’s Go Home Together.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Cian Ducrot on tour in London in March 2023
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THEATRE REVIEW: My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) at Garrick Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 23 October (matinee), runs 6 November 2022 RUNTIME: 65 minutes (no interval)

We’ve written before that 1 way you know when a piece of theatre is connecting with its audience is when you can hear them sobbing in the quiet bits.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should grab your chance to catch this ‘personal, different and groundbreaking’ show
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THEATRE REVIEW: Tammy Faye starring Katie Brayben & Andrew Rannells at Almeida Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 22 October (matinee), runs to 3 December 2022 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

There are so many male reasons – music by Elton John, lyrics by the Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and a book by James (Ink) Graham – to be excited for this musical life story of US tele-evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker but, ultimately, it is its leading lady Katie Brayben whose input shines brightest.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a musical designed with a Broadway transfer in mind
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GIG REVIEW: Micky Flanagan at the Leicester Square Theatre

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 60 minutes

WHEN?: Tuesday 18 October 2022

We’re asked not to record this sell-out show of a work-in-progress set in any way otherwise we will be asked to leave and so forgive us if our recollection is not as accurate as we would have liked.

  • Read on for reasons including our prediction that some arena-sized shows are about to go on sale
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2022 starring Best Of Enemies

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. West End debut of Zachary Quinto in Best Of Enemies

Quinto (The Boys In The Band) is probably best known for his role as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek franchise and here plays Gore Vidal in the Young Vic production of this James (Ink, Almeida) Graham play opposite David Harewood as William F Buckley about the 1968 ATV TV debates. Runs at the Noel Coward Theatre 14 November through 18 February 2023. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Florence and the Machine, The Crown and My Policeman
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THEATRE REVIEW: Marvellous starring Michael Hugo @sohoplace

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By Neil ‘Nello’ Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 15 October, runs to 26 November 2022 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

We’re at the opening night of the 1st new West End theatre in 50 years to see the transfer of this New Vic Theatre production about the life of Neil Baldwin, ground covered in the BAFTA-winning film of the same name starring Toby Jones.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a great venue configured brilliantly here into an intimate space
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SONG OF THE MONTH: We Will Be Loved Anyway by Rob Madge and guest singers (October 2022)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Think Disney theme song goes X Factor winner’s single and you’re halfway there but it’s the lyric urging parents to embrace their child’s queerness which lifts this 1st single from a new musical to much greater heights.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see this show and Madge in pantomime this Christmas
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THEATRE REVIEW: Cabaret starring Callum Scott Howells at The Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 8 October (matinee), booking to 16 December 2023

We’re here for our 4th visit to The Kit Kat Club in less than a year because a major cast change gives us our 3rd EmCee – Callum Scott Howells from TV’s It’s A Sin – and 3rd Sally Bowles.

  • Read on for reasons including why the West End’s most magical show continues to weave that spell despite its 3rd major cast change
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