THEATRE REVIEW

THEATRE REVIEW: Shucked at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre starring Sophie McShera, Georgina Onuorah & Ben Joyce

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 10 May, opens 19 May and runs through 14 June 2025 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Fans of the country-inspired hits by acts including Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter will find a great deal to enjoy here in this Tony-winning musical about a woman trying to save her community when the corn that protects it starts dying.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the best new musical of the year so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Marie and Rosetta starring Beverley Knight at Rose Theatre, Kingston

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 3 May 2025, opens 9 May and runs through 24 May 2025 before transferring RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval) Update: Transfers to @SohoPlace 28 February through 11 April 2026 Tickets

Sometimes in our search for the new we forget the power of stories from the past and so it is that despite being hugely influential Sister Rosetta Tharpe became forgotten even in her own lifetime.

  • Read on for reasons including where else to see this unusual story of an unsung hero
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THEATRE REVIEW: Here We Are at the National Theatre starring Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Jane Krakowski

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Friday 25 April, opens 8 May and runs through 28 June 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

Sondheim, musical theatre’s Shakespeare, died in 2021 and when news emerged of this final new musical hopes were high that he might have saved his best for last.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a reminder of Sondheim’s clever wordplay that this electric cast give a 5* performance of
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THEATRE REVIEW: Self Esteem at Duke Of York’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Saturday 19 April (matinee), runs through 20 April 2025 Tickets for autumn gigs

Setlist: I Do And I Don’t Care; Mother; Lies; 69; You Forever; Logic Bitch; Prioritise Pleasure; Fucking Wizardry; The Curse; In Plain Sight; What Now; Cheers To Me; If Not Now, It’s Soon; Focus Is Power; I Do This All The Time; The Deep Blue Okay

Self Esteem urges us to keep our cameraphones on, ignore the ‘dusty old pervert vibes’ of this esteemed West End theatre and to get up out of our seats and dance if we want to.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is our favourite gig of the year so far and A Complicated Woman deserves to be number 1
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THEATRE REVIEW: My Master Builder starring Ewan McGregor, Elizabeth Debicki & Kate Fleetwood at Wyndham’s Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 17 April, opens 29 April and runs through 12 July 2025

McGregor (T2 Trainspotting) returns to the West End stage after a 17-year absence playing ‘starchitect’ Henry Solness as his British publishing magnate wife Elena prepares to throw a party for him on the eve of July 4th in the Hamptons.

  • Read on for reasons including how My Master Builder is an elegant construction well worth inhabiting
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THEATRE REVIEW: Cry-Baby the musical starring Adam Davidson at the Arcola Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Saturday 12 April 2025 (matinee, last night)

Based on the 1990 John Waters film (BFI Q&A), this new musical with book by the writer of Hairspray which ran on Broadway in 2008 is brought spectacularly to life in the best production we’ve yet seen at this east London studio venue.

  • Read on for reasons including why this production should transfer into the West End
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ghosts starring Callum Scott Howells & Victoria Smurfit at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN? Saturday 12 April, opens 16 April runs through 10 May 2025 RUNTIME 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Playwright Gary Owen explains his modern take on this beloved Ibsen in the programme: ‘There is a point to messing with a classic – if you get it right, you might preserve what was truly startling about the original. You might reproduce the impact this dusty old classic had when it was a snarling, swaggering young play.’

  • Read on for reasons including how you couldn’t ask for a more intense performance than star Scott Howells serves up
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Brightening Air at the Old Vic starring Chris O’Dowd

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Friday 11 April, opens 24 April runs through 14 June 2025 RUNTIME 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Could unknowingly drinking water from a local well make the recipient fall in love with the 1st person they see afterwards?

  • Read on for reasons including how this gives Punch a run for its money as best new play of the year so far
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THEATRE REVIEW: Thanks For Having Me starring Kedar Williams-Stirling, Keelan Kember & Nell Tiger Free at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham (Review ticket)

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Opened Wednesday 9 April 2025, runs through 26 April 2025 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

‘All time spent not being in love is time spent queuing,’ observes writer/star Kember as neurotic overthinker Cashel in this laugh-out-loud funny romantic comedy.

  • Read on for reasons including if you’re looking for a comedy with lots of heart and even more laughs this could be just the ticket for you
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THEATRE REVIEW: Midnight Cowboy starring Max Bowden at the Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 5 April, opens 10 April and runs through 17 May 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

The triple Oscar-winning 1969 film about the unlikely friendship between a male prostitute and his business partner played by Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman is perhaps not the 1st candidate to spring to mind to become a stage musical.

  • Read on for reasons including how you should see this if you’re a fan of Bowden’s because he displayed some serious musical theatre muscle
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