THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Cyrano de Bergerac starring James McAvoy at the Playhouse Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE? Playhouse Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 30/11, press night 6/12, runs to 29/2/20

‘This’ll work – I’ve seen it in a movie with Steve Martin.’ So says McAvoy to much audience laughter as Cyrano de Bergerac before impersonating friend Christian who is struggling to woo the challenging Roxane.

  • Read on for reasons including why this isn’t quite the crown on top of a remarkable year for director Jamie Lloyd

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PANTOMIME REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty starring Andrew Pollard and Anthony Spargo at the Greenwich Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Greenwich Theatre RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 29/11 (press night), runs to 12/1/20

Welcome to a show worthy of the West End but at a fraction of the ticket price that speaks to what it is like to live in this beautiful nook of south-east London.

  • Read on for reasons including what writer/dame/director Andrew Pollard thinks of this show stopping panto

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Boy Friend starring Amara Okereke, Janie Dee, Adrian Edmondson and Issy Van Randwyck at the Menier

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Menier Chocolate Factory RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including two intervals)

WHEN? 22/11, press night 3/12, runs to 7/3/20

Julie Andrews made her American stage debut in this 1954 British musical in a role played here by Amara Okereke who won a Stage Debut award for Best Actress in a Musical

  • Read on for reasons including how this impressive cast includes comedian Adrian Edmondson

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THEATRE REVIEW: Sydney And The Old Girl starring Miriam Margolyes at the Park Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Park Theatre RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 2/11, press night 5/11, runs to 30/11/19

Star Miriam Margolyes may be playing a woman who is housebound and sits predominantly in a wheelchair  here but she has a hugely expressive face which leaves us in no doubt about what she is thinking.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see this world premiere

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Antipodes starring Arthur Darvill, Conleth Hill & Fisayo Akinade

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: **1/2

WHERE? Dorfman Theatre, National  RUNTIME: 110 minutes without interval

WHEN? 26/10 (matinee), press night 30/10, runs to 23/11/19

We’re at this preview of Annie Baker’s new play set in what appears to be a present-day US writers’ room because it has a mouthwatering ensemble cast.

  • Read on for reasons including how we’d find this a difficult play to recommend

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THEATRE REVIEW: On Bear Ridge starring Rhys Ifans, Rakie Ayola, Jason Hughes & Sion Daniel Young at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Royal Court Theatre RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 26/10, press night 28/10, runs to 23/11/19

Owners John Daniel and Noni  are not leaving their isolated shop on Bear Ridge despite the lack of custom and instead are reminiscing about the times when people were not divided and used the old language.

  • Read on for reasons including why monstagigz favourite Sion Daniel Young shines here

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THEATRE REVIEW: Mary Poppins starring Zizi Strallen & Charlie Stemp

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHERE? Prince Edward Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 23/10, press night 13/11, runs to 29/3/20

This production is a revival of the show which ran at this very venue for more than three years and closed in January 2008 after winning a Tony and two Oliviers including Best Actress for then-titular star Laura Michelle Kelly.

  • Read on for reasons including how Zizi Strallen fares as Mary Poppins

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THEATRE REVIEW: Lungs starring Claire Foy & Matt Smith at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Old Vic RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 14/10, opens 19/10, runs to 9/11/19

STOP PRESS: The Old Vic is staging socially distanced performances of Lungs from 26/6/20 tickets

Lungs is a two-hander with barely any scenery by People, Places and Things author Duncan Macmillan about a couple considering starting a family and asking themselves questions including whether it would be an environmentally-friendly decision.

  • Read on for reasons including how Foy & Smith shape up on stage after years opposite each other in TV’s The Crown

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THEATRE REVIEW: Tokyo Rose at the New Diorama Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? New Diorama Theatre RUNTIME: 75 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 12/10 (matinee), closes 12/10/19

Word reached us from this summer’s Edinburgh Festival  that this new musical by Burnt Lemon Theatre was the show to catch.

  • Read on for reasons including how this has a fascinating World War Two-based true story at its heart

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THEATRE REVIEW: Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp. starring Toby Jones, Deborah Findlay & Louisa Harland at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Royal Court RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 4/10, closes 12/10/19

This venue thrives on its reputation as ‘the writers’ theatre’ and the author of these four short plays with single-word titles is 81-year-old Caryl Churchill.

  • Read on for reasons including both appearances from Louisa Harland who plays Orla in Derry Girls

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