Month: September 2024

THEATRE REVIEW: Giant starring John Lithgow & Romola Garai at the Royal Court Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 28 September, runs through 16 November 2024 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval) Update: Transfers to Harold Pinter Theatre 26 April through 2 August 2025

Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony award winner John Lithgow plays author Roald Dahl here under fire for an antisemetic article he had written on the eve of the launch of his 1983 book The Witches.

  • Read on for reasons including how it’s the central performance of Lithgow’s which will both shock and enthral you
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Other Place after Antigone starring Emma D’Arcy at National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Friday 27 September, opens Tuesday 8 October and runs through 9 November 2024 RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

You may be most familiar with actor Emma D’Arcy from their role as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s impressive House Of The Dragon but with this modern day re-imagining of a Greek tragedy they have made 2 of the most interesting theatrical choices of 2024 so far.

  • Read on for reasons including how this was flawed but features an intelligent performance from 1 of this country’s brightest up-and-coming stars
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THEATRE REVIEW: Look Back In Anger starring Billy Howle, Ellora Torchia & Morfydd Clark at Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 25 September 2024, runs through 23 November 2024 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Middle class Alison irons while her educated husband Jimmy and their Welsh working class lodger Cliff read the Sunday papers as the weekend in their Midlands flat draws to a close.

  • Read on for reasons including how this remains a fascinating if difficult watch that is occasionally funny but will make you think about class and masculinity
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for October 2024 featuring Oedipus starring Mark Strong

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Oedipus starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville

Director Robert Icke gave us Oresteia (Almeida Theatre) and reimagines another Ancient Greek tragedy starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville (Talking Heads, Bridge Theatre and film Back To Black) at the Wyndham’s Theatre 4 October through 4 January 2024. Tickets Our review

  • Read on for reasons including Steve Coogan in Dr Strangelove, Mark Rylance & Lady Gaga
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AWARDS: LONGLIST: MONSTAS: Best Theatre, Music, TV & Film of 2024 (part 2 of 2)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

You, dear reader, are given the chance to vote in 17 categories from October this year to tell us your favourite theatre, music, TV, film and podcast of 2024.

  • Read on for reasons including 8 of 17 categories of our Best Theatre, Music, TV, Film and Podcasts of 2024 so far
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GIG REVIEW: Welly at The Joiner’s Arms, Southampton

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

Welly’s National Service Tour Part 1 (the South) travels this month from Gloucester to Northampton, with stops including Exeter, Reading and, of course, a homecoming kind of gig in Southampton.

  • Read on for reasons including how the spring album release’s name is one of the tracks they played this night
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan (September 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

TRACKLIST: Femininomenen; Red Wine Supernova; After Midnight; Coffee; Casual; Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl; Hot To Go!; My Kink Is Karma; Picture You; Kaleidoscope; Pink Pony Club; Naked In Manhattan; California; Guilty Pleasure

Good things come to those who wait – and this album was released almost a year ago but it wasn’t until Roan supported Olivia Rodrigo that things really started to take off for her.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t wait to see her on tour and where you can
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (week beginning Friday 13 September 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

Next month is a big 1 for Lady Gaga with the release of the film in which she stars with Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix – Joker: Folie à Deux – and the launch of the 1st single from her upcoming album currently known as LG7 and due February 2025.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about LG7
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THEATRE REVIEW: Mean Girls at the Savoy Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 31 August (matinee), runs through 23 February 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

Is brat summer over?

  • Read on for reasons including how this doesn’t have the catchy musical numbers so necessary for this to take flight
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SONG OF THE MONTH: Cul De Sac by Welly (September 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

Singer Elliot Hall (pictured below left) may be nicknamed Welly but this new single feels very much that it is showcasing the strengths of the 5-strong band.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Welly on their National Service Tour
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