Author: mrmonstagigz

THEATRE REVIEW: Marjorie Prime starring Anne Reid, Nancy Carroll, Tony Jayawardena & Richard Fleeshman at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 1 April, running to 6 May 2023 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

In the week when we are mourning the loss of 67-year-old Paul O’Grady this new play about memory, loss and grieving starring Anne Reid (pictured right) feels like appropriate viewing.

  • Read on for reasons including how director Dominic Dromgoole brings the best out of Reid
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Part Of Me by Cian Ducrot (week beginning Tuesday 4 April 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

We saw rising star Ducrot live last month at Camden’s KOKO and the predominantly young 20-something female audience gasped when he explained the inspiration behind this song about a close friend who took his own life.

  • Read on for reasons including Ducrot’s thoughts on his latest single about friend Phily
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 2 starring Joker Out, Voyager, Alika & Reiley

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 8pm Thursday 11 May 2023

WHERE?: Liverpool Arena

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC

The big favourites are in Semi 1 which makes Semi 2 far tougher to call with many live performances of these songs still to be seen.

  • Read on for reasons including our favourites Joker Out, Voyager, Alika and Reiley
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THEATRE REVIEW: Cabaret starring Aimee Lou Wood & Jon McCrea at The Kit Kat Club

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***** RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Saturday 25 March, booking to 16 December 2023

It’s a sign of the quality of this production that despite 3 major cast changes it continues to punch at the very top of its weight.

  • Read on for reasons including how Sex Education’s Aimee Lee Wood’s hilarious turn as Sally Bowles is the best reason to catch this Cabaret
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2023 starring Derry Girls Dancing At Lughnasa

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Derry Girls cast Dancing at Lughnasa at the National

Siobhan McSweeney (The Alchemist, Barbican Theatre) and Louisa Harland (Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp, Royal Court) may be best known as Sister Michael and Orla McCool from Channel 4’s Derry Girls but here they reunite onstage with fellow cast member Ardal O’Hanlon in Brian Friel’s (Translations, National Theatre) 1936-set County Donegal tale of the Mundy sisters battling poverty to raise seven-year-old Michael and care for their uncle Jack. Runs 6 April through 27 May 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including The Motive And The Cue, A Little Life and A Play For The Living In A Time Of Extinction
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Way Old Friends Do at Park Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 18 March (matinee), runs through 15 April 2023, then tours at venues until 10 June 2023 Update: Transfers to the West End and the Criterion Theatre 17 August through 9 September 2023 Tickets

The best bit in this new comedy written by its star Ian Hallard (Closer To Heaven, Above The Stag) is the reaction of his character’s Nan to his news that he is bisexual at the close of Act 1.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is the best time of year to see this show about the world’s 1st ABBA drag tribute act
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GIG REVIEW: Cian Ducrot at KOKO

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Monday 20 March, tour runs until 28 April 2023

SETLIST: Make Believe; Victory; Not Usually Like This; Aftertaste; Him; Crocodiles; Endless Nights; How Do You Know?; Hello Gorgeous; Part Of Me; All For You; I’ll Be Waiting

Last night Ducrot played a sold out show at the 2,400-capacity KOKO in Camden and has re-arranged his tour schedule so he can support Ed Sheeran at gigs including The 02 in London on Friday and Saturday this week.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can’t wait for Ducrot’s debut album
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Live In A Village Hall by Welly (March 2023)

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By Neil Durham

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

TRACKLIST: Me And Your Mates; Home For The Weekend; Deere John; Take 5; Michelangelo; Locally Made Jam; Flowers; 501

‘The sweet smell of Lynx and regret.’ Remembering. Misremembering. Nostalgia. Youth. Cities by the sea. Welcome to Welly, your new favourite singer/band.

  • Read on for reasons including why you should see Welly in a village hall because they’ll be playing larger gigs next
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SONG OF THE WEEK: Breaking The Circle by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (week beginning Saturday 18 March 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

This single marks Ellis-Bextor’s return to working with Ed Harcourt who co-wrote her Wanderlust and Familia albums before her greatest hits and Kitchen Disco eras.

  • Read on for reasons including everything we know about Ellis-Bextor’s new album Hana
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THEATRE REVIEW: La Jaula De Las Locas (The cage of the crazy) at Teatre Tivoli, Barcelona

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 11 March (matinee), runs through 23 April 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

We take our 4th row seats and notice steps leading down from the stage into the centre aisle and a terrifying fear about being invited onstage and interrogated in a language that is not native to us grips us.

  • Read on for reasons including how this Zaza – director Àngel Llàcer – compares with others we have seen including Graham Norton, John Barrowman and John Partridge
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