THEATRE REVIEW: Black Matter starring Giles Terera

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Le Crazy Coqs, Soho, London

WHEN? Friday 26 March 2021, available to 31 March 2021

HOW TO WATCH?: via Fane Productions, tickets RUNTIME: 60 minutes

Terera won an Olivier Award in 2018 for Hamilton and we know all about his West End pedigree thanks to seeing him in shows as diverse as Rosmersholm (Duke Of York’s), Pure Imagination (Other Palace) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (National Theatre).

  • Read on for reasons including how Terera stepped aside to enable 1 of the theatrical performances of last year
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THEATRE REVIEW: BKLYN – The Musical starring Marisha Wallace

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

HOW TO WATCH: Digitally until 4/4/21 at Stream Theatre, tickets

RUNTIME: 85 minutes (without interval)

One of the joys of lockdown has been watching Marisha Wallace’s star rise with her home gig, debut album and now this plum role in a little-known musical we were already familiar with.

  • Read on for reasons including what to expect if you stream this version of BKLYN – The Musical
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for April 2021 starring the return of the Blow Monkeys

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Blow Monkeys release More Than A Miracle

It’s not easy being a band with a 40-year history that wants to write new material when the fans are familiar with hits as glorious as Digging Your Scene, It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way and Wait. The trick is to write material as memorable as the songs that broke you and the Blow Monkeys played a blinder with Time Storm, a song of the week for us last year. The follow-up More Than A Miracle out 16/4/21 is in a similar vein, doesn’t disappoint and sits well with the best of the band’s back catalogue. Album Journey To You follows in September. Tickets are on sale for UK dates in October including a London gig at 229. Read our interview with Dr Robert on this site in April.

  • Read on for reasons including Romeo And Juliet starring Josh O’Connor and Jessie Buckley
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Picture Of Dorian Grey starring Fionn Whitehead, Alfred Enoch, Joanna Lumley, Russell Tovey & Stephen Fry

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHERE?: Digital production 20 March 2021

HOW TO WATCH: Screening online 16-31 March 2021. UPDATE: Now available to 17 April 2021

You probably recognise Fionn Whitehead from Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning World War Two film Dunkirk but we last saw him onstage at the Old Vic in Queers.

  • Read on for reasons including how it is Enoch’s larger-than-life portrayal that you will remember most from this staged film
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SONG OF THE WEEK: 10 Years by Daði Freyr & Gagnamagnið (week beginning 19/3/21)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

OUT: 13 March 2021

The question of how the unofficial winner of the 2020 Eurovision-that-never-was would follow up his beloved entry was on the lips of all ESC fans immediately after it was announced by Icelandic broadcaster RUV that Daði Freyr and his band Gagnamagnið would return to represent the country in 2021.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Freyr live in the UK in 2021
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THEATRE REVIEW: Treason – The Musical starring Bradley Jaden, Lucie Jones, Oliver Tompsett and Daniel Boys

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Cadogan Hall, central London

WHEN?: 13 March 2021 (matinee), final show 14 March 2021

Fireworks? Or bonfire bound? Treason – The Musical is still in development and this concert version is performed brilliantly and shows many sparks of potential.

  • Read on for reasons including how this starry West End cast contributed to the staged concert’s success
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Color Purple starring T’Shan Williams, Carly Mercedes Dyer & Ako Mitchell

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Curve Leicester RUNTIME: 150 minutes (10-minute interval)

WHEN?: 2/3/21 runs to 7/3/21 available digitally

Update: now extended to 16/3/21

You won’t find a review of this musical on this site until now but 1 of Team monstagigz did see Cynthia Erivo’s Tony Award-winning role as Celie on Broadway in a production that had originated at south London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.

  • Read on for reasons including how this Curve Leicester theatre production came to be availably digitally

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