THEATRE REVIEW

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

Read More

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

Screen Shot 2019-08-10 at 13.29.59

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: The End Of History starring David Morrissey, Lesley Sharp, Kate O’Flynn & Sam Swainsbury at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHERE? RUNTIME: 110 minutes (no interval)

WHEN? 27/6, opens 3/7 runs to 10/8/19

Playwright Jack Thorne won an Olivier for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child but is probably better known for his BAFTA-winning Channel 4 dramas including This Is England and National Treasure.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best new play of the year so far

Read More

THEATRE REVIEW: Waitress starring Lucie Jones, Ashley Roberts & Blake Harrison

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Adelphi Theatre RUNTIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

WHEN? 26/6/19 (matinee), booking until 7/12/19

This Tony-nominated musical opened in the West End in February, recently refreshed 2 of its 3 leads and so we decided to check whether it was to our taste.

  • Read on for reasons including how Eurovision’s Lucie Jones makes a likeable lead

Read More