THEATRE REVIEW

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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THEATRE REVIEW: Manhunt at the Royal Court Theatre by Robert Icke

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 29 March, opens 8 April and runs through 3 May 2025 RUNTIME: 110 minutes (without interval)

What would former England football star Gazza have said to Raoul Moat, the subject of the UK’s largest manhunt, had police let him access the 2010 stand-off?

  • Read on for reasons including how blackout is used well to explain the complicated aftermath of a shooting
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THEATRE REVIEW: Dracula, A Comedy Of Terrors starring Charlie Stemp at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN?: Saturday 22 March (matinee), runs through 3 May 2025 RUNTIME: 90 minutes without interval

We were last at this venue for a fantastic revival of Mel Brooks’ The Producers which transfers to the West End this year and the good news about Dracula, A Comedy Of Terrors is that it shares a similarly anarchic comedic quality.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is love at 1st bite if you want a bunch of belly laughs
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THEATRE REVIEW: Otherland starring Jade Anouka & Fizz Sinclair at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN? Saturday 21 February, runs through 15 March 2025 RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best bit of this unusual story is trans character Harry finding solace on the hill in Greenwich Park straddling the meridian and appreciating a line that only exists because someone says it does.

  • Read on for reasons including how Otherland feels overthought rather than fresh out of the box
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