THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Appropriate starring Monica Dolan, Steven Mackintosh & Edward Hogg at the Donmar

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Donmar Warehouse RUNTIME: 165 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 16/8, opens 22/8 and runs to 5/10/19

The stage is so cluttered that at a suitably dramatic moment lead Monica Dolan turns on her heels, loses her balance, falls off the stage and ends up in an unsuspecting audience member’s lap.

  • Read on for reasons including what Dolan did after winning the Best Supporting Actress Olivier

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Doctor starring Juliet Stevenson at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Almeida Theatre RUNTIME: 170 minutes (with 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 12/8, opens 20/8 and runs to 28/9/19

STOP PRESS: The Doctor transfers to the Duke Of Yorks in the West End from April 2020 Tickets

Welcome to writer/director Robert Icke’s final production as Associate Director at this venue in a remarkable run which has seen 3 West End transfers at 5 attempts.

  • Read on for reasons including how Stevenson sits on the end of the stage with her legs hanging immediately in front of us

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THEATRE REVIEW: Blues In The Night starring Sharon D. Clarke at the Kiln Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Kiln Theatre RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 3/8, runs to 7/9/19

It’s our 1st visit to north London’s refurbished Kiln Theatre and we’re in the centre of the front row to see Olivier Award-winning Sharon D. Clarke’s (pictured above) turn in this musical set in a rundown Chicago hotel in 1938 and concentrating on the lives of 3 women.

  • Read on for reasons including why it is the live music and impressive singing you’ll remember here

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THEATRE REVIEW: Evita starring Samantha Pauly at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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STOP PRESS: This production of Evita is now booking at the Barbican 27/6 to 22/8/20 Tickets

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre RUNTIME: 130 minutes (plus 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 2/8, opens 8/8,  runs to 21/9/19

It’s apt that in the week where UK girl group musical Six announces its Broadway transfer, that the latest actress to play Evita should have the voice of Anna Kendrick and the moves of Cheryl Cole.

  • Read on for reasons including how this 1st preview earned its standing ovation

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THEATRE REVIEW: The View UpStairs starring Tyrone Huntley & John Partridge at Soho Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Soho Theatre RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 18/7, press night 23/7, runs to 24/8/19

It’s the 1st preview and this European premiere of a recent Off Broadway success is starting 15 minutes later than advertised and running 15 minutes longer than expected – but receives a standing ovation at its climax.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is a show worthy of repeat viewing

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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

STOP PRESS: Tickets for MUSIK’s London run in September go on sale at 10am 29/7/19 here.

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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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