Menier Chocolate Factory

THEATRE REVIEW: Power Of Sail starring Julian Ovenden & Giles Terera at the Menier

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

WHEN?: Wednesday 27 March 2024, runs through 12 May 2024 RUNTIME: 105 minutes (no interval)

The artwork (main picture) transforming the titular white sail with 2 eye holes into an image to strike fear into hearts isn’t the only subtlety in this play about an American university lecturer and boating enthusiast who invites a white nationalist to speak there.

  • Read on for reasons including how Power Of Sail is unafraid to question the motives of those on both left and right
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THEATRE REVIEW: Pacific Overtures at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Sunday 28 January (matinee), runs through 25 February 2024 RUNTIME: 105 minutes without interval

We promised ourselves we’d seek out more Sondheim after catching the glorious Old Friends starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga in London’s West End late last year.

  • Read on for reasons including why this is a strong production of a rarely performed work
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THEATRE REVIEW: Marjorie Prime starring Anne Reid, Nancy Carroll, Tony Jayawardena & Richard Fleeshman at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: Saturday 1 April, running to 6 May 2023 RUNTIME: 85 minutes (no interval)

In the week when we are mourning the loss of 67-year-old Paul O’Grady this new play about memory, loss and grieving starring Anne Reid (pictured right) feels like appropriate viewing.

  • Read on for reasons including how director Dominic Dromgoole brings the best out of Reid
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THEATRE REVIEW: The Boy Friend starring Amara Okereke, Janie Dee, Adrian Edmondson and Issy Van Randwyck at the Menier

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Menier Chocolate Factory RUNTIME: 150 minutes (including two intervals)

WHEN? 22/11, press night 3/12, runs to 7/3/20

Julie Andrews made her American stage debut in this 1954 British musical in a role played here by Amara Okereke who won a Stage Debut award for Best Actress in a Musical

  • Read on for reasons including how this impressive cast includes comedian Adrian Edmondson

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PREVIEW: 9 reasons why we can’t wait for May 2019

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Death Of A Salesman starring Sharon D.Clarke and Arinze Kene

D. Clarke (pictured 2nd from right, top) won our Best Actress monsta last year as well as the Olivier for Best Actress In A Musical for her star turn in Caroline, Or Change and is here directed by Marianne Elliott (pictured left in video, hot from Company) and appears alongside Arinze Kene (winner of our Best Actor monsta for Misty and far left in the picture). Their revival of the Arthur Miller classic runs 1/5 through 29/6 at the Young Vic. Review. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Madonna, Eurovision, Anne-Marie Duff, Faye Tozer and Oti Mabuse

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THEATRE REVIEW: The Grönholm Method starring Laura Pitt-Pulford and John Gordon Sinclair

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Menier Chocolate Factory

WHEN: 14/5/18, press night 22/5, runs to 7/7/18

Four job applicants arrive for an interview for a top management position in a big company and find the selection procedure will be an unconventional series of mind games.

  • Read on for reasons including where you might recognise Gordon Sinclair from

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THEATRE REVIEW: Kiss Of the Spiderwoman starring Samuel Barnett and Declan Bennett

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE: Menier Chocolate Factory

WHEN: 18/3, press night 21/3 runs to 5/5/18

William Hurt won an Oscar in 1986 for his memorable performance in the film version of this play as Molina, a transgender convict who entertains her political prisoner cellmate with reminiscences from escapist films.

  • Read on for reasons including how projections are used to great effect here

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Caroline, or Change at the Hampstead Theatre

Two highlights for us of last year were the National Theatre’s production of Angels In America by Tony Kushner and Sharon D. Clarke in musical The Life at Southwark Playhouse. This year D. Clarke is in Kushner’s musical Caroline, Or Change set in Louisiana in 1963 which runs 12/3 to 21/4 at Hampstead Theatre. Transferred from Chichester’s Festival Theatre. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Will Young, Strictly Ballroom, Sigrid and Vanessa Redgrave

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FILM REVIEW: The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman (or why you should see Barnum at the Menier instead)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: **

OUT: now

This film is shortlisted for three Golden Globes tonight (7/1) and, of those, its most likely victory is in the Best Song category.

  • Read on for reasons including why you’d be better off seeing the stage version

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THEATRE REVIEW: Barnum starring Marcus Brigstocke

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE: Menier Chocolate Factory

WHEN: 25/11, press night 5/12, runs to 3/3/18

We’re leafing through the programme, the morning after the first preview of this revival, and brightly-coloured ticker tape thrown by the cast keeps falling out.

  • Read on for reasons including how Marcus Brigstocke performs as the leading man

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