THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Closer to Heaven starring Adele Anderson, Blake Patrick Anderson, Maddy Banks & Ian Hallard at Above The Stag

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Above The Stag RUNTIME: 130 minutes (with 20 minute interval)

WHEN? 7/7, opens 10/7 runs to 31/8/19

We saw the original production of this musical in 2001 and authors Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys have written a follow up of sorts featuring lead character Billie Trix which premieres at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe.

  • Read on for reasons including ticket details for MUSIK at the Edinburgh Fringe in August

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Night Of the Iguana starring Clive Owen, Lia Williams & Anna Gunn

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

66581933_332753144329528_2423407581344038912_oWORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Noel Coward Theatre RUNTIME: 180 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 6/7, opens 16/7 runs to 28/9/19

Two years ago the West End revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat On A Hot Tin Roof was so scorching it very much needed its onstage shower and so we approached this 1st preview with high hopes on the day that up to 1.5 million people were on the streets of London for this year’s Pride celebrations.

  • Read on for reasons including how Breaking Bad‘s Anna Gunn is most memorable here

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THEATRE REVIEW: Dark Sublime starring Marina Sirtis at Trafalgar Studios 2

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including 20-minute interval) (press ticket)

WHEN? 4/7 (matinee) runs to 3/8/19

Sirtis is best known for appearing as Counselor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation until 2002 and so her starring role here, as a former sci-fi actress tracked down by a fan, is a casting triumph as well as being a brave role for her to play.

  • Read on for reasons including how Mark Gatiss appears during this original play

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THEATRE REVIEW: Peter Gynt starring James McCardle at the National Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? National Theatre  RUNTIME: 215 minutes (including 2 intervals)

WHEN? 3/7, opens 9/7 and runs to 8/10/19

Peter Gynt is David Hare’s Scottish update of Henrik Ibsen’s 1867 play Peer Gynt which draws on a Norwegian fairy tale to examine the value of his hero’s life as we join him on his journey through it.

  • Read on for reasons including why this marathon musical version of Peer Gynt fails to grip

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THEATRE REVIEW: On Your Feet at the London Coliseum

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? London Coliseum RUNTIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 27/6/19 (matinee), opened 27/6, booking to 31/8/2019

Summer is most definitely with us and this musical of the lives of Gloria and Emilio Estefan featuring their Miami Sound Machine hits might struggle in any other climate.

  • Read on for reasons including how the audience were less on their feet than on their seats

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THEATRE REVIEW: The End Of History starring David Morrissey, Lesley Sharp, Kate O’Flynn & Sam Swainsbury at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? RUNTIME: 110 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 27/6, opens 3/7 runs to 10/8/19

Playwright Jack Thorne won an Olivier for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child but is probably better known for his BAFTA-winning Channel 4 dramas including This Is England and National Treasure.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best new play of the year so far

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THEATRE REVIEW: Waitress starring Lucie Jones, Ashley Roberts & Blake Harrison

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Adelphi Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 26/6/19 (matinee), booking until 7/12/19

This Tony-nominated musical opened in the West End in February, recently refreshed 2 of its 3 leads and so we decided to check whether it was to our taste.

  • Read on for reasons including how Eurovision’s Lucie Jones makes a likeable lead

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THEATRE REVIEW: Present Laughter starring Andrew Scott, Indira Varma, Sophie Thompson & Luke Thallon at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Old Vic RUNTIME: 2 hours 20 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 22/6, opens 25/6, runs to 10/8/2019

Noel Coward died in 1973 and would surely have approved of this queering of his play to emphasise the bisexuality of its lead.

  • Read on for reasons including how Scott chews the scenery as overacting protagonist Garry Essendine 

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THEATRE REVIEW: Afterglow starring Jesse Fox, Sean Hart & Danny Mahoney at the Southwark Playhouse

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Southwark Playhouse RUNTIME: 90 minutes

WHEN? 8/6 (matinee), opened 11/6, runs to 20/7/2019

Married couple Josh and Alex have invited Darius into the bed at their present-day New York apartment and we join them during their noisy naked threesome as the play opens.

  • Read on for reasons including how this play with an onstage shower found its US audience

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Gwendoline Christie at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 40 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 7/6, opens 11/6 and runs to 31/8/19 (To be broadcast by National Theatre Live 17/10/19)

The last time we saw an immersive Midsummer it was called The Donkey Show, it was set in a 70s New York nightclub and boasted a soundtrack of disco classics.

  • Read on for reasons including how Gwendoline Christie from Game Of Thrones fares here

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