Author: mrmonstagigz

LAST NIGHT: THEATRE REVIEW: Sleepless: A Musical Romance starring Jay McGuiness and Kimberley Walsh at the Troubadour, Wembley Park Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Troubadour, Wembley Park Theatre

WHEN?: 27/9/20 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

Based on the 1993 film written and directed by Nora Ephron, Sleepless: A Musical Romance tells the story of architect Sam mourning the loss of his wife Maggie who is persuaded by his young son Jonah to tell a Christmas Eve radio show how much he misses her. 

  • Read on for reasons including how McGuiness and Walsh shine in their second big musical opposite each other

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THEATRE REVIEW: Before After starring Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser at the Southwark Playhouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE?: Southwark Playhouse

WHEN?: 26/9 (matinee) closes 26/9/20

Hadley Fraser and Rosalie Craig are a real-life husband and wife and their easy chemistry is the best thing about this story of a relationship told both before and after a life-changing event.

  • Read on for reasons including how to watch productions from this venue even while it is closed for performances

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GIG REVIEW: Sharon D.Clarke Tonight at the London Coliseum

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: London Coliseum via Stream Theatre

RUNTIME: 50 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 18/9 for one-night only

SETLIST: Live In The Light; I’ve Got To Sing My Song; I Know Where I’ve Been; Heaven Help Us All; Don’t Quit: I Will Survive; The Rose; Goldfinger: Diamonds Are Forever; Natural Woman; River Deep, Mountain High

There’s a reason one doesn’t often hear covers of songs best known by artists including Shirley Bassey and Tina Turner.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see musical theatre stars including Carrie Hope Fletcher and Cassidy Janson in this special series of shows

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5 reasons why we love Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey

1. Groovejet

I know she attributes an awful lot of her subsequent musical opportunities to this track, with Spiller, and this 2000 summer track must surely sit somewhere in your life soundtrack. Indie kids will have known her from Theaudience and dance lovers will adore what the NME called this “slip of irresistible ice-filtered summer funk”.

  • Read on for reasons including Kitchen Disco, Spinning Plates podcast and Crying At The Discotheque

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best TV/Film actress of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Glenda Jackson, Lady Gaga, Elisabeth Moss, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Charlotte Rampling are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 6 best TV/film actresses of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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THEATRE REVIEW: Talking Heads starring Monica Dolan and Lesley Manville at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 12/9 (matinee) runs to 22/9, season runs to 31/10/10

We’re inside a theatre and watching a production for the first time in 182 days and, although we’re wearing a mask, it’s exhilarating to be enjoying such a shared experience again albeit socially distanced in an audience of 250 where there would normally have been 900.

  • Read on for reasons including why a COVID-19 consolation is that we have two new Talking Heads and this season

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AWARDS: MONSTAS: Our Best TV/Film actor of 2020 so far

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Anthony Hopkins, Jonas Nay, Sacha Dhawan, Hugh Grant and Billy Porter are previous winners in this category.

  • Read on for our top 7 best TV/fim actors of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

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