Rebecca Frecknall

THEATRE REVIEW: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starring Daisy Edgar Jones at the Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

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

WHEN?: Friday 27 December 2024, runs through 1 February 2025 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 2 intervals)

There’s a ghost at the piano in Rebecca Frecknall’s (A Streetcar Named Desire, Almeida) take on Tennessee Williams’ favourite of all his acclaimed plays who may be Skipper, whose love dared speak its name to ageing football jock Brick, but was rebuffed.

  • Read on for reasons including how Frecknall’s treatment of the material emphasises Maggie’s agency and, stylistically, it’s an absolute triumph
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THEATRE REVIEW: The House Of Bernarda Alba starring Harriet Walter at the National

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By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 17 November, opens 25 November and runs through 6 January 2024 RUNTIME: 140 minutes (with a 20-minute interval)

You join us in 1945 in Andalusia, Spain in the titular home of Walter’s Bernarda Alba as she and her 5 daughters mourn the loss of her husband and their father.

  • Read on for reasons including how this retelling of a classic reminds how often and wrongly women can be viewed as secondary to men
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THEATRE REVIEW: Romeo and Juliet starring Toheeb Jimoh & Isis Hainsworth at Almeida Theatre

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN?: Friday 9 June, opens 14 June and runs through 29 July 2023 RUNTIME: 120 minutes (no interval)

Candles burn and flicker against the brick back wall of this beautiful intimate venue and we’re reminded why director Rebecca Frecknall has been shortlisted as best director in 3 of the last 5 Olivier Awards.

  • Read on for reasons including what a fine Romeo Ted Lasso‘s Toheeb Jimoh makes
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for June 2023 starring A Strange Loop

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. A Strange Loop at the Barbican

The winner of 2 2022 Tonys is written by Michael R. Jackson and is the story of Usher, a black queer man writing a musical about a black queer man writing a musical. Starring Kyle Ramar Freeman and Jason Pennycooke (Hamilton, Victoria Palace) it runs at the Barbican 17 June through 9 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo and Juliet, James Graham’s Dear England and Glastonbury Festival
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley (January 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Our sister sees a lot of West End musicals and so we take her to see this production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and she later writes on Facebook: ‘I think it was possibly the best show I have ever seen.’

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is ripe for a successful Broadway transfer
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THEATRE REVIEW: A Streetcar Named Desire starring Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Tuesday 20 December, opens 12 January, runs to 4 February 2023 RUNTIME: 180 minutes (including 20-minute interval) UPDATE: Transfers to the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End for 6 weeks from 20 March 2023

Director Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret, Playhouse Theatre) takes to the stage before curtain up to explain that its leading lady Patsy Ferran stepped into the production with 4 days’ notice to replace Lydia Wilson who had to withdraw.

  • Read on for reasons including why it is Olivier Award-winning actress Ferran that you will remember most from this illuminating revival
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for December 2022 starring Paul Mescal in A Streetcar Named Desire

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  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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THEATRE REVIEW: The Duchess of Malfi starring Lydia Wilson at the Almeida

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHERE? Almeida RUNTIME: 175 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)

WHEN? 2/12, press night 10/12, runs to 25/1/20

The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written in the 17th century by English dramatist John Webster that is unusual for having a female protagonist.

* Read on for reasons including what Olivier Award-nominated director Rebecca Frecknall brings to this

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

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Dame Maggie Smith’s 1st theatrical performance in 12 years

When we raved about film There’s Nothing Like A Dame we never thought we’d see Dame Maggie tread the boards again but she returns to London for the 1st time in 12 years in a new one-woman play called A German Life based on the actual testimony of Brunhilde Pomsel, who once worked for Joseph Goebbels. Runs 6/4 to 11/5/19. Tickets The Downton Abbey film is expected to be released in September.

  • Read on for reasons including Sally Field, Bananarama tour, Jessie Buckley film & Game Of Thrones returns

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