THEATRE REVIEW: Jack And The Beanstalk at the London Palladium starring Julian Clary, Dawn French and Alexandra Burke

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: **** RUNTIME: 155 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

WHEN?: Sunday 11 December (matinee), runs to 15 January 2023

We’re in the 4th row behind a group of women who are finding Julian Clary’s character The Spirit Of The Beans uproariously funny and even taking sneaky pictures of his very many costume changes.

  • Read on for reasons including how it is Clary’s saucy quips which once again steal the show
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2022 starring Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

  1. A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Rebecca Frecknall starring Paul Mescal

Frecknall directed Cabaret which still runs at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre and whose EmCees have included an Olivier-winning turn from Eddie Redmayne, Fra Fee and Callum Scott Howells. The star of the Tennessee Williams classic she has chosen to follow it up with won a Best TV/Film Actor from us in 2020 for Normal People (pictured above). Streetcar runs at the Almeida 12 December 2022 to 4 February 2023. Tickets Streetcar review Mescal currently stars in film Aftersun Review Note: now opens Saturday 17 December as leading lady Lydia Wilson withdraws for health reasons to be replaced by Olivier winner Patsy Ferran (Camp Siegfried, Old Vic)

  • Read on for reasons including Julian Clary, Sir Ian McKellen and Jack O’Connell
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TOP 6: Best read monstagigz content of 2018

  1. We weren’t very, very, very keen on new Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh features twice in this list and wrote/directed the Oscar-winning film Three Billboards in 2018. We were at the 2nd preview for this new play at the Bridge Theatre and weren’t keen: ‘Our problem with A Very, Very, Very Dark Matter is that, while McDonagh could be argued to be skewering the lazy racism of 18th Century Europe of the time, it makes for a very uncomfortable and politically incorrect watch in 2018.’

  • Read on for the rest of the top 6 including Saara Aalto, Aidan Turner, Heathers & Suranne Jones

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THEATRE REVIEW: Chicago starring Alexandra Burke at the Phoenix Theatre

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE?: Phoenix Theatre WHEN?: 13/8, Ms Burke appearing until 14/10/18

RUN TIME: 2 hours and 20 minutes (including 20-minute interval)

This production won middling reviews when it opened earlier this year starring Hollywood’s Cuba Gooding Jr but it was only until the casting of Alexandra Burke, who debuted tonight, that we were persuaded through its doors.
  • Read on for reasons including all the opening night gossip featuring Martin Kemp as Billy Flynn

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for August

  1. Alexandra Burke in Chicago

She may now no longer be playing the Palladium in September but she was the best thing about Chess at the Coliseum this year and now she stars as Roxie in Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre 13/8 through 14/10. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Busted Shop Of Horrors, Jake Shears and Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard 

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PREVIEW: Our 5 wishes for Strictly Come Dancing 2017

WHEN: starts 9/9 BBC1 7pm, runs to 16/12

  1. Jonnie Peacock wins

We saw the 24-year-old amputee win gold at the 2012 Paralympics and 2017 World Championships at the London Stadium. He’s a credit to his sport, athletes often do well in Strictly and, perhaps because of his obvious disadvantage, we’ll be rooting for him to win.

  • Read on for reasons including why a former Communard mustn’t leave us too soon

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Bodyguard starring Carole Stennett

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Dominion Theatre

WHEN: 18/7, press night 21/7 runs to 7/1/17

We first saw this Whitney Houston jukebox musical starring X Factor winner Alexandra Burke in 2014 at the Adelphi Theatre.

  • Read on for details of understudy Carole Stennett’s performance deputising for Beverley Knight

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