THEATRE REVIEW

BROADWAY: THEATRE REVIEW: Dear Evan Hansen at the Music Box Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

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

WHERE? Music Box Theatre RUN TIME: 2 hours 40 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 2/11, booking to 13/7/19

STOP PRESS: Dear Evan Hansen opens at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End in October 2019. Tickets

Last year songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul won the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Original Song for City Of Stars from La La Land.

  • Read on for reasons including why this will be a smash West End hit when it bursts into London

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BROADWAY: THEATRE REVIEW: Torch Song starring Michael Urie at the Hayes Theater

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WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? Hayes Theater RUN TIME: 3 hours (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 3/11 (matinee), runs to 24/2/19

Harvey Fierstein is probably best known now for writing the book for Cyndi Lauper’s hit musical Kinky Boots but in the 70s he penned something truly groundbreaking and ahead of its time which is revisited brilliantly here.

  • Read on for reasons including how brilliantly #TheTorchIsLit and how it deserves to burn brightly in London

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OFF BROADWAY: THEATRE REVIEW: Mother of the Maid starring Glenn Close at the Public Theater

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WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Anspacher Theater, Public Theater, off Broadway RUN TIME: 2 hours 10 minutes (with 15-minute interval)

WHEN?: 2/11, runs to 23/12/18

The screenplay of Glenn Close’s current film The Wife was written by Jane Anderson, author of Mother Of The Maid, and the picture stars the actress’s real-life daughter Annie Starke.

  • Read on for reasons including how we found our 1st (Off) Broadway experience

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THEATRE REVIEW: Macbeth starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack at the Barbican

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Barbican RUN TIME: 2 hours and 33 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: 27/10, runs to 17/11/18

The most striking thing about this modern-day re-imagining of 1 of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays is how the 3 witches become 3 identically-dressed schoolgirls.

  • Read on for reasons including how Doctor Who fans should relish Eccleston’s performance

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Wild Duck at the Almeida

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

WHERE? Almeida Theatre RUN TIME: 2 hours and 35 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)

WHEN?: 25/10, runs to 17/11/18

Andrew Scott won our Best Theatre Actor monsta last year for his titular role in Robert Icke’s re-imagining of Hamlet which transferred into the West End from the Almeida.

  • Read on for reasons including how Icke consistently brings fresh eyes to classic work and re-imagines it memorably

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FILM REVIEW: Bohemian Rhapsody starring Rami Malek

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

RUN TIME: 2 hours and 14 minutes

WHEN?: released 24/10/18 (UK)

A great deal has been written about the torturous history of this Freddie Mercury biopic but none of the stories are in any way as interesting as what has majestically made its way to the cinema screen.

  • Read on for reasons including how Mike Myers has the perfect cameo as a Bo Rhap-hating record exec

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THEATRE REVIEW: I And You starring Maisie Williams and Zach Wyatt at Hampstead Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

UPDATE: This production is available to watch for free on Instagram until 30/3/20. Details

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE?: Hampstead Theatre RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 22/10, press night 25/10, runs until 24/11/18

There are 2 areas of the programme that include the words: ‘This sealed section contains a spoiler: Please ask a member of staff to open it for you after the play’ and we wouldn’t dream of divulging the twist at the end that throws everything the audience has just seen on its head.

  • Read on for reasons including more about the author, the most produced playwright in America in 2017

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Distance You Have Come starring Dean-John Wilson at the Cockpit Theatre

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WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Cockpit Theatre RUN TIME: 1 hour and 45 minutes (including 15 minute interval)

WHEN?: 21/10 (matinee) runs to 28/10/18

We last saw Dean John-Wilson (pictured above far right) as the lead in Aladdin in the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End.

  • Read on for reasons including how this outstanding cast perform the socks off this material

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THEATRE REVIEW: Eugenius at the Other Palace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Other Palace RUN TIME: 2 hours and 20 minutes (including interval)

WHEN?: 20/10 (matinee) runs to 21/10 and doesn’t, now, transfer to the Ambassadors from 27/10

One of the themes of this new musical co-written by A1’s Ben Adams is striving for the best and it’s a message those involved with the show would do well to bear in mind.

  • Read on for reasons including what we think should happen next for Eugenius

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THEATRE REVIEW: A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter starring Jim Broadbent at the Bridge Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Bridge Theatre RUNTIME: 90 minutes (no interval)

WHEN?: 13/10, press night 24/10, runs to 6/1/19

To say Martin McDonagh’s new work is eagerly awaited would be to seriously underplay how hot he is is right now.

  • Read on for reasons including what to expect from its stars Jim Broadbent and Phil Daniels

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