Month: August 2024

THEATRE REVIEW: Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre starring Jo Foster & Leesa Tulley

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Thursday 29 August and runs through 13 February 2025 RUNTIME: 145 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) Update: now closing 19 January 2025

It’s such a simple idea – 2 best friends on a sofa discussing their lack of romantic success as big song and dance numbers break out all around and starring them – that it really shouldn’t work.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best new musical of the year so far
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2024 Day 3 starring Wet Leg, Biffy Clyro, Soft Play, Panic Shack & Al Murray

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Sunday 25 August 2024 (press ticket)

It’s getting harder every year to get down early for the good bands. Day Three seems to be in reverse, with our best bands on at the beginning on the Castle Stage.

  • Read on for reasons including Wet Leg, Biffy Clyro, Panic Shack & Al Murray
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival Day 3 starring Wet Leg, Panic Shack, Yard Act, Soft Play & Natasha Bedingfield

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Sunday 25 August 2024 (press ticket)

We’re here because we want to see Isle Of Wight’s Wet Leg play almost on home turf after a meteoric rise to success but sometimes festivals surprise you and so it is with the 1st act we catch on the Castle Stage, Cardiff’s very own Panic Shack (pictured).

  • Read on for reasons including Natasha Bedingfield, Yard Act & Soft Play
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2024 day 2 starring Welly, Pixies, Busted, Sugababes, Lightning Seeds & Crystal Tides

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 24 August, Victorious runs through Sunday 25 August 2024 (press pass)

90steachergirl was right. It was Busted who were the secret set. As much as there was love for them, it seemed a tad obvious after McFly last year.

  • Read on for reasons including A Humdrum Mum catching up with stars-to-be Welly after their gig
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Real Thing starring James McArdle at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 23 August, opens 3 September and runs through 26 October 2024 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best thing about Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of this revered comedy is the ridiculous performance of McArdle (pictured left, The Tragedy Of Macbeth, Almeida Theatre) who won our 2021 Best Theatre Actor monsta.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a rather functional re-run of a dated favourite
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GIG REVIEW: Victorious Festival 2024 Day 1 starring Fatboy Slim

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Friday 23 August 2024, festival runs through Sunday 25 August 2024 (press pass)

Storm Lilian didn’t have a ticket, but she certainly queued up all night to get in.

  • Read on for reasons including Fatboy Slim, Russell Howard, Do Nothing, Razorlight, Idles and Maximo Park
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GIG REVIEW: Jak Malone in Gender, I Hardly Know Her at Crazy Coqs

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Tuesday 20 August 2024, show also runs twice on 27 August 2024. RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)

Malone won this year’s Olivier for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Operation Mincemeat and here encores with the best song from that show Dear Bill.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was a chance to get to know a rising star better as he negotiates his way from his big hit to a new challenge
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SONG OF THE WEEK: I Wanna Be Loved (Just A Little Better) by Alison Goldfrapp (week beginning Monday 19 August)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Goldfrapp is rumoured to be a writer/producer on the new Lady Gaga album and launches her own record label this summer with this Richard X collaboration.

  • Read on for reasons including how this reminds of Giorgio Moroder-produced Donna Summer
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FILM REVIEW: Alien: Romulus

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

‘In space, no one can hear you scream’ ran the tagline for the 1st Alien film and these days the all-too-obvious sound of audience screaming was more likely the response to the poor quality of the franchise’s follow ups to its 2 big hits.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best Alien film since Aliens in 1986
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