Friday 22 November 2013

All the world's a stage, What to see this month : LOCAL LOVES

MORROW'S MONTHLY MUSINGS.....

As you all know, I'm a bit of a theatre junkie and not only do I spend my entire working day doing theatre-y things but most of my evenings too. And because of this I am forever getting messages from pals asking what is good to see at the moment so shall I start doing monthly updates of what I think is brill?

I've got two corkers to get you started - Mojo and Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.




Mojo, written by Jez Butterworth, is completely and utterly brilliant. It's got the killer combo of a cracking script and a stonkingly good cast - Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame, Ben Wishaw who is the current Q in the Bond movies, Brendan Coyle aka Mr Bates from Downton, Colin Morgan from Merlin and Daniel Mays from Mrs Biggs.

Yep, read that list again - what an amazing cast! I'd been excited about this one for months and it didn't disappoint. Set in 50s Soho, slap bang in the rock n' roll era, the play takes place in a dingy club after hours. But the completely male cast aren't giving you a glimpse of lads in their heyday, instead we see lost boys in the big city battling to survive. Drugs, booze, murder and music. Oh, and truly great hair.



The funny thing about this one is that not a lot actually happens - the main action of the show occurs off stage and right at the start of the play. So instead what we see is the guys waiting for the fall out and it's Jez Butterworth's fantastic way with words that makes this show so exciting, funny, sexy and ultimately haunting. It really does stick with you for days, especially Colin Morgan's last scene. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about it - their performances, the brooding violence and the gymnastic articulation. Really just bloody good theatre.

If you're looking for something with star quality but don't want all-singing, all-dancing jazz hands and hollywood smiles then this is exactly what you need. My favourite review quote comes from the Time Out critic, "If you've ever fantasised about TV's Merlin, Ron Weasley and Q from James Bond going mental with knives, guns and amphetamines then this it the show for you." True dat.

Previews sold out extremely quickly and the rest of the tickets are heading that way fast...so get a wriggle on!

WHAT: Mojo 
WHERE: Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street
WHO: This if definitely not one for kids and even comes with a 'explicit language and adult themes' warning on it. Maybe not one for Granny either..
TUBE: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus
TICKETS: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/mojo/harold-pinter-theatre/ A limited number of day seats are available for £10 on the day of each performance - people tend to queue from very early in the morning to grab them though! 
DATES: Now until Saturday 25th January




Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense! is absolutely hilarious! Definitely one to watch with the parentals, it is about a very posh young man called Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves. Together they tell the audience the story of a ridiculous predicament that Wooster previously found himself in along with the help of another butler, Seppings. Jeeves and Seppings run around the stage creating all the scenes and playing every character under the sun....just as every other dutiful butler would do!

Chaos ensues and you find yourself laughing non-stop for the next two hours and twenty minutes. Stephen Mangan, who plays Wooster, was born with funny bones, he's just fantastic. His comic timing is spot on and, in the nicest way possible, you just can't look at that face without laughing! To you and me he's probably most well known for his turn as Dr Guy Secretan on Green Wing but you can see everything else he's been in here to jog your memory.



Jeeves is played by Matthew Macfadyen who is probably most well known as Mr Darcy in the Keira Knightly version of Pride & Prejudice. Take a look here to see what else you'll know him from. He's just perfect for the role - his straight laced, stiff upper lip-ness just makes you want to giggle even more. Like getting told off by the headmaster when his flies are undone. Or when the tube driver says 'Cockfosters' over the tannoy.

WHAT: Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense!
WHERE: Duke of York's Theatre, St Martin's Lane
WHO: The whole family, the oldies will know the original tv show starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and the youngsters will love the silliness!
TUBE: Leicester Square
TICKETS: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jeeves-and-wooster/duke-of-yorks/  Day seats are available to this show too so pop along early for a bargain!
DATES: Now until Saturday 8th March



Let me know what you think of this little 'theatre you should totes see' blog - I'll keep doing them if you like them. But hey guys, what a perk of being a Londoner, these shows are on your doorstep!


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