THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Talking Heads starring Imelda Staunton and Lucian Msamati at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Bridge Theatre

WHEN?: 1/10/20 (matinee), season runs to 31/10/20 (Imelda Staunton transfers with Maxine Peake to Sheffield Theatres 9-11/11 and Leeds Playhouse 12-14)

The indomitable Patricia Routledge played Irene Ruddock in the original A Lady Of Letters and Staunton’s is quieter but no less successful. 

  • Read on for reasons including how this role underlines Staunton’s versatility

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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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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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OPENING NIGHT THEATRE REVIEW/Q&A: Three Kings starring Andrew Scott at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE? Old Vic RUNTIME: 60 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 3/9, closes 5/9

This monologue was written for Scott by author Stephen Beresford and marks a return to working with director Matthew Warchus for the first time we think since the trio combined to devastating effect on quite possibly our favourite ever film, 2014’s comedy and emotional masterpiece Pride (watch clip below)

  • Read on for reasons including gems friend Dermot O’Leary teased out of Scott in the Q&A

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THEATRE REVIEW: Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 16/8/20 (matinee), until 27/9/20

The simple fact that this concert version of this venue’s award-winning production has made it back to the stage at all when most theatres have been closed since March is reason enough to celebrate.

  • Read on for reasons including how we saw Pepe Nufrio (pictured) and Ricardo Afonso in the lead roles

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THEATRE REVIEW: Blindness at the Donmar featuring the voice of Juliet Stevenson

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 8/8, matinee booking to 22/8/20, now extended to 5/9/20

Juliet Stevenson was supposed to be playing the lead in The Doctor in the West End this summer but here she stars as a character known only as the doctor’s wife.

  • Read on for reasons including how social distancing works during our first theatre visit for 21 weeks

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Understudy starring Russell Tovey, Sheila Atim, Sarah Hadland, Mina Anwar, Layton Williams and Stephen Fry

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

OUT: now

Covid-19 may have closed theatres in March but technology means social distancing can still be observed if audiobooks are recorded.

  • Read on for reasons including how to buy a ticket to listen to this online play

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GIG REVIEW: Aimie Atkinson at the Other Palace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Other Palace RUNTIME: 93 minutes

WHEN? shown 31/5/20

Atkinson was starring as the titular Pretty Woman (pictured above) in what was arguably her first West End leading lady role when Covid-19 forced curtain down at the Piccadilly Theatre.

  • Read on for reasons including which stars from Atkinson’s past contributed to this greatest hits show

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THEATRE REVIEW: City Of Angels starring Vanessa Williams, Theo James, Hadley Fraser, Rosalie Craig, Rebecca Trehearn and Nicola Roberts at the Garrick Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHERE? Garrick Theatre RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 14/3, press night 24/3 booking to 5/9/20

The Donmar revival of this musical homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures that rose to prominence in the 1940s was one of the reasons the authors of this blog started writing monstagigz.

  • Read on for reasons including details of the West End debuts of Williams, Jones and Roberts

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