Month: February 2025

THEATRE REVIEW: Richard II starring Jonathan Bailey at Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 10 February, opens 18 February and runs through 10 May 2025 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

Bailey is perhaps best known as Fiyero in film Wicked, nominated for 10 Oscars on 2 March, although we have previously reviewed him in Shakespeare (King Lear, Chichester Festival Theatre) but never as the leading man.

  • Read on for reasons including the parallels between Fiyero and Richard II and how this accessible production could be your gateway to Shakespeare
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THEATRE REVIEW: Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet and Yew starring Omari Douglas at Bush Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 8 February, opens 13 February and runs through 22 March 2025 RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Bush Emerging Writers’ Group alumni Coral Wylie (pictured above right) writes and stars as 19-year-old Pip who identifies as non-binary, has dropped out of education and feels misunderstood by their parents.

  • Read on for reasons including how there’s a big heart at the root of the show that deserves nourishing
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THEATRE REVIEW: Unicorn starring Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan & Erin Doherty at the Garrick Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 8 February (matinee), opens 13 February and runs through 26 April 2025 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

We’re at dinner with friends the night before we see this and they mention they caught it on its 1st preview.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is hugely funny and the best new play of the year so far
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FILM REVIEW: A Real Pain starring Kieran Culkin & Jesse Eisenberg

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2 RUNTIME: 90 minutes

Culkin won a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe and is nominated for an Oscar in the same category while his co-star Jesse Eisenberg who wrote and directed this quiet gem of a movie receives a similar Best Original Screenplay nod.

  • Read on for reasons including how this elegant film is both brief and hard-hitting
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2025 Heat 2 starring Klara Hammarström, Kaliffa & Eric Segerstedt

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 8 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg

Melodifestivalen showed its strength in depth last week with a 1st heat strong on musical diversity and there is much that is different to again appreciate here in this 2nd outing.

  • Read on for reasons including Kaliffa, Eric Segerstedt & Schlagerz
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THEATRE REVIEW: Second Best starring Asa Butterfield at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 90 minutes (without interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 1 February (matinee), runs through 22 February 2025 Update: now extended through 1 March 2025

It’s not difficult to imagine what might have attracted former child star Asa Butterfield, now best known for Netflix’s Sex Education, to make his stage debut in this tale of the actor who was second choice to Daniel Radcliffe (Endgame, Old Vic) to play Harry Potter (Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, Palace Theatre).

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a story that is both hugely relatable and dramatically satisfying
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