WORTH A LOOK: ****1/2
WHERE: National Theatre
WHEN: 15/9 runs to 17/10
It was the involvement of former Catatonia frontwoman Cerys Matthews that encouraged monstagigz through the door for this and we were far from disappointed.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Palace Theatre
WHEN: 13/9, runs to 1/11, then tours nationwide
‘The Commitments are a good times band, perhaps even important, catch them before it’s too late’. Not the monstagigz review, we’d be even more enthusiastic than that, but one the band that shares its name with the musical receives during it.
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: Old Vic
WHEN: 5/9, previews to 10/9, runs to 3/10
The story at the heart of Future Conditional has similarities to the life of Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.
monstagigz last saw Stephen Wight in the West End in The Ladykillers in 2011 but we love him more for his turn in BBC3’s Bluestone 42. Tonight he couldn’t be further from either performances and is the spitting image of Alexander McQueen. Don’t buy tickets for McQueen to see Wight unless you’re prepared to have him transform in front of your eyes, as the best actors do. It’s a mesmeric performance, brave to be there from the moment the audience enters the auditorium but ultimately the best reason to see this. Astonishing.
WORTH A LOOK: ****/*****
WHEN: 21/8 and 22/8
WHERE: Adelphi Theatre and Old Vic
We had the pleasure of being in the front row for the closing night of High Society at the end of Kevin Spacey’s 11-year-run as artistic director of the Old Vic on Saturday night.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE: Donmar Warehouse
WHEN: 17/8 runs to 26/9
Four women in one room: waiting for the return of a dictator in the opulence of a presidential palace. A photojournalist, a translator, the dictator’s wife and her best friend are all wondering why he is so late.
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE: Almeida Theatre
WHEN: 15/8 runs to 19/9
‘Another night at the Almeida – and still no set,’ observes a neighbouring theatregoer to a friend as the (metaphorical) curtain is about to rise.
WORTH A LOOK: ***
WHERE: National Theatre
WHEN: 6/8 runs to 20/9
Beaux Aimwell (Samuel Barnett) and Archer (Geoffrey Streatfield), down on their luck and planning to fleece heiresses, are the best reasons to see this adaptation of George Farquhar’s 1707 comedy.
WORTH A LOOK? ****
WHERE: Barbican
WHEN: 5/8 runs to 31/10
‘F**k!’ A stage manager has just told an exasperated Cumberbatch that tonight’s production must be halted an hour or so in because of a faulty trap door. Hamlet’s just been visited by the ghost of his father and his out-of-character expletive says it all.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE: Lytellton Theatre, National Theatre
WHEN: 9/7 and 1/8, runs to 20/8
There are only a dozen or so performances of this unexpected gem left and, as we’ve seen it twice already, we’d urge you not to miss out.
