THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: The Bolds by Julian Clary at Unicorn Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK? ****1/2

WHEN?: Sunday 14 November 2021 (matinee), opens 25 November runs to 31 December 2021 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

2 of the older male characters are duetting at the tail end of this show: ‘Perhaps we could be friends,’ sings 1, as they alternate the next 3 lines. ‘That suits me very well.’ ‘I love your furry snout.’ ‘I love your musky smell.’

  • Read on for reasons including how you hear Clary’s voice in this production without ever seeing him
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THEATRE REVIEW: Boy Out The City by and starring Declan Bennett at Turbine Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 13 November 2021 (matinee), runs to 13 November RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)

Time spent alone in the country writing during lockdown has been well spent by West End musical theatre and TV star Bennett who has written this 60-minute monologue.

  • Read on for reasons including how we spotted actors Fra Fee and Simon Callow
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Drifters Girl starring Beverley Knight, Adam J Bernard & Matt Henry at the Garrick Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHEN?: Saturday 6 November 2021 (matinee), opening 25 November and booking to 26 March 2022

RUNTIME: 135 minutes (includes a 20-minute interval)

There are 2 Beverley Knight solos just before the interval of this jukebox musical when she sings I Don’t Want To Go On Without You into Stand By Me at a particularly emotional moment when you remember that she may just be theatre’s greatest current vocalist.

  • Read on for reasons including how Knight is surrounded by 4 top-notch male performers who make this show come alive
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Dresser starring Matthew Kelly & Julian Clary at Richmond Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 30 October (matinee), back on tour from 18 January 2022 until 12 February 2022

The couple behind us are singing ‘Hitler, has only got 1 ball’ to the music evoking World War Two setting the scene for this 1942-set piece about the relationship of a lead Shakespearean actor and his camp dresser.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Clary and a production of his children’s book series The Bolds before the end of the year
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THEATRE REVIEW: 2:22 A Ghost Story starring Lily Allen & Hadley Fraser at the Noel Coward Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Wednesday 6 October (matinee), production opens with new cast 4 December running to 12 February 2022 RUNTIME: 125 minutes with a 20-minute interval

This is a review we never expected to write but this production of an outstanding and truly spine-tingling new play is re-opening in London’s West End this winter.

  • Read on for reasons including how good pop star Lily Allen was in her debut West End role
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THEATRE REVIEW: What If If Only starring John Heffernan & Linda Bassett at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Wednesday 6 October (matinee), runs to 23 October 2021 RUNTIME: 20 minutes

Bassett is 1 of our favourite actresses and we last saw her onstage in author Caryl Churchill’s considerably longer Escaped Alone at this very venue 5 years ago.

  • Read on for reasons including how we combined this play with another new piece of supernatural writing to make more of a day of our theatre experience
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THEATRE REVIEW: Foxes starring Michael Fatogun, Anyebe Godwin and Doreene Blackstock at Theatre503

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Tuesday 5 October, runs to 23 October 2021 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

We are at the home of new writers and author Dexter Flanders gives us Daniel played by Michael Fatogun (pictured below) whose girlfriend is pregnant with their child while he is confused by his relationship with friend Leon.

  • Read on for reasons including which actor from Netflix’s Sex Education appears here
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Tragedy Of Macbeth starring James McArdle & Saoirse Ronan at Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Monday 4 October, runs to 20 November 2021 extended to 27 November 2021 with livestream option

RUNTIME: 190 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Prolonged handwashing is forthright in our consciousness post-Covid and perhaps, like Chekhov’s gun, it should have come as little surprise that the onstage tap in this dreamlike, almost modern-day production should play such a pivotal role.

  • Read on for reasons including how good Ronan is in her UK stage debut but how it will be McArdle’s brutish Macbeth that will be remembered
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THEATRE REVIEW: Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical starring Arinze Kene at the Lyric Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHEN?: Sunday 3 October 2021, opens 20 October, booking to 3 April 2022 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval) UPDATE: now booking to 18 September 2022

The biggest compliment we can pay this jukebox musical is that it worked its audience up at only this 3rd preview into such a frenzy that 2 songs before the finish everyone was up on their feet, dancing and singing along.

  • Read on for reasons including how Kene is 1 of this country’s finest performers but here the whole ensemble shines
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THEATRE REVIEW: & Juliet starring Miriam Teak-Lee, Cassidy Janson, David Bedella, Oliver Tompsett & Alex Thomas-Smith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 1 October 2021 at Shaftesbury Theatre RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval) Booking to 25 June 2022

We 1st caught this musical in previews at this West End venue almost 2 years ago and we’re back because it has re-opened after multiple lockdowns with a new cast member as May, Alex Thomas-Smith (pictured above).

  • Read on for reasons including how the audience’s loudest screams were for the reformed boy band in this jukebox musical
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