THEATRE REVIEW: Future Conditional
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 5/9, previews to 10/9, runs to 3/10
The story at the heart of Future Conditional has similarities to the life of Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
Author: mrmonstagigz
ALBUM REVIEW: Cast in Steel by a-ha
TRACKLIST: Cast in Steel; Under the Makeup; The Wake; Forest Fire; Objects in the Mirror; Door Ajar; Living at the End of the World; Mythomania, She’s Humming a Tune; Shadow Endeavours; She’s Giving up the Ghost.
WORTH A LISTEN: ****
OUT: 4/9.
Five years after splitting up following a comprehensive world tour, a-ha are back with their 10th studio album and another chance to see them live.
5 things we know about next John Grant album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
- Lead track Disappointing is more pop than anything on Pale Green Ghosts
Does anyone have a better taste in female duet partners? We saw Grant three times last year: Glastonbury, Royal Festival Hall and duetting with Alison Goldfrapp at the Albert Hall. Sinead O’Connor appeared on last proper album Pale Green Ghosts and here former Everything But The Girl star Thorn is duetting (see YouTube clip above) on gorgeous lines like: ‘Francis Bacon, the Dolomites, ballet dancers with or without tights, Central Park on an autumn day, always stunning and never cliche.’ And if that sounds too Vogue Madonna, the chorus reverts to type (‘All these things, they’re just Disappointing …’) until the O’Connor-esque payoff (‘… compared to you.’) Musically, it’s a return to the jauntier elements of breakthrough Queen of Denmark album.
Why the 3rd Hurts album will be their best
Do you like Hurts? Their 3rd album Surrender is out 9/10. monstagigz was in the audience for the 1st show for this album 16/6 Scala.
5 reasons to see McQueen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket
- Stephen Wight
monstagigz last saw Stephen Wight in the West End in The Ladykillers in 2011 but we love him more for his turn in BBC3’s Bluestone 42. Tonight he couldn’t be further from either performances and is the spitting image of Alexander McQueen. Don’t buy tickets for McQueen to see Wight unless you’re prepared to have him transform in front of your eyes, as the best actors do. It’s a mesmeric performance, brave to be there from the moment the audience enters the auditorium but ultimately the best reason to see this. Astonishing.
7 reasons to be excited about September
- Rocky Horror Show returns to West End
Antici ….. pation’s running high for the return of Richard O’Brien as The Narrator in the musical he wrote, The Rocky Horror Show. It runs 11-26/9 at the Playhouse Theatre with a show broadcast to cinemas 17/9 in aid of Amnesty International starring Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton and Anthony Head. The regular cast includes the brilliant David Bedella (Jerry Springer – The Opera) and tours nationwide after this run.
FILM REVIEW: 45 Years and Q&A with Charlotte Rampling, Andrew Haigh and Tom Courtenay
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: BFI
WHEN: 20/8 opens 28/8
Writer/director Andrew Haigh (Greek Pete, Weekend, Looking) tells us the BFI is his favourite cinema and that he used to work here as an usher.
First Kinky Boots preview and last High Society night
WORTH A LOOK: ****/*****
WHEN: 21/8 and 22/8
WHERE: Adelphi Theatre and Old Vic
We had the pleasure of being in the front row for the closing night of High Society at the end of Kevin Spacey’s 11-year-run as artistic director of the Old Vic on Saturday night.
5 reasons to be excited about Rewind 2015
5. Kim Wilde
The 30,000 tickets for 80s festival Rewind South at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, 21-23/8 sold out this month. We’ve picked our favourites from the 27 acts performing and in at number 5 is the turn no train journey would be complete without. This YouTube clip of Kim Wilde returning home from a party performing Kids In America and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree went viral. Performing on Saturday we hope she also plays You Came and You Keep Me Hangin’ On. Train optional.
THEATRE REVIEW: Splendour
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 17/8 runs to 26/9
Four women in one room: waiting for the return of a dictator in the opulence of a presidential palace. A photojournalist, a translator, the dictator’s wife and her best friend are all wondering why he is so late.
