THEATRE REVIEW: Fly More Than You Fall starring Keala Settle at Southwark Playhouse (Elephant)

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 November (matinee), runs through 23 November 2024 RUNTIME: 130 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Settle (& Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre) plays Miss Coddle, a new character created for the film Wicked released later this month and she’s by some distance the best reason to catch this new musical at this 300-seater venue.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is worth seeing for Settle but manages to be both big-hearted and yet heavy-handed
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THEATRE REVIEW: Brace Brace starring Phil Dunster & Anjana Vasan at the Royal Court

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 2 November and runs through 9 November 2024 RUNTIME: 70 minutes (without interval)

Dunster (pictured right above) is arguably best known for playing Mancunian striker with a heart Jamie Tartt in Apple’s brilliant comedy Ted Lasso and here shows his versatility as an unsympathetic newlywed who freezes during a plane hijack.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is worth a look for its strong cast bringing more to an implausible script than it merits
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best New Play of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 2 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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GIG REVIEW: Warmduscher at Papillon, Southampton

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By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: 31 October and tour runs through 29 November 2024

Warmduscher appears to have reached the ranks of one of the bands we’ve seen the most, alongside Welly, Adam Ant, Duran Duran, Shed Seven and Peter Hook!

  • Read on for reasons including why A Humdrum Mum was viewing from the balcony not the moshpit
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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for November 2024 starring Ncuti Gatwa

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  1. Ncuti Gatwa stars in The Importance Of Being Earnest

‘A handbag …?’ New Doctor Who Gatwa stars alongside Best Theatre Actress monsta winner Sharon D Clarke (Caroline, Or Change?, Hampstead Theatre and TV’s Lost Boys and Fairies) and Hugh Skinner (The Trial, Young Vic and film Wicked Little Letters) in Max Webster’s (Minority Report, Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith) production of the Oscar Wilde classic comedy at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre 20 November through 25 January 2025. Tickets Vote for Doctor Who to win Best TV of 2024. Our Earnest review

  • Read on for reasons including the Greenwich pantomime, The Producers and the Steps musical
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Face In The Crowd starring Ramin Karimloo & Anoushka Lucas at the Young Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 26 October 2024 (matinee), runs through 9 November 2024 RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

The best bit in this Elvis Costello musical based on a 1957 US film is when leading man Ramin Karimloo (Murder Ballad, Arts Theatre) leaps into the audience in a political rally as charismatic man of the people Lonesome Rhodes during song Blood and Hot Sauce.

  • Read on for reasons including how it was baffling this could promise so much and yet deliver so little
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Buddha Of Suburbia starring Dee Ahluwalia at the Barbican

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By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Saturday 26 October 2024, running through 16 November 2024 RUNTIME: 170 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

Ahluwalia gives a truly rock star performance as 17-year-old Karim growing up in south London’s suburbs in 1976 and lusting after a male classmate.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a a brilliantly fun night out with a compelling story of injustice at its heart
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AWARDS SHORTLIST: MONSTAS: Best TV of 2024

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

It’s been quite the year, it’s almost Christmas and what would the festive season be without some recognition of the best of 2024? Over the next 3 months we’ll shortlist five nominees in each of 17 categories for our Oscars, or monstas if you will, of 2024.

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SONG OF THE MONTH: Cupid’s Bow by Olly Alexander (October 2024)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

Cupid’s Bow is the 2nd single from Alexander’s debut solo album Polari out early next year and it has a thumpingly muscular bassline courtesy of Dua Lipa producer Danny L. Harle that takes aim and hits its dancefloor bullseye.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Alexander on his 2025 European tour including at London’s Palladium
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GIG REVIEW: The Age Of Consent 40 at Southbank Centre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Saturday 19 October 2024

‘Contempt in your eyes when I turn to kiss his lips …’ sang Bronski Beat lead singer Jimmy Somerville on Why, the gay trio’s 2nd hit and a top 10 single in Germany, Italy, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland and Australia in 1984.

  • Read on for reasons including how queer artists reimagined an 80s album opposing the Thatcher government as AIDS fears grew
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