Thoughts on this week’s Olivier Award nominations and WhatsOnStage Award wins as well as controversial celebrity comments and reviews of Sea Witch, Our Town, and more.
OHMYGOD HEY!
Welcome back to my weekly collation of the various reviews, opinion pieces and theatre news updates I’ve shared across multiple social media platforms.
The last week has been perhaps the most hectic of the year so far, with back to back press nights and performances across the South East, from Berkshire to Colchester and of course all around London. A through line of these has been regional theatre success stories, from Educating Rita at Reading Rep Theatre to Ava Pickett’s The Manningtree Witches at the Mercury Theatre, selling out its entire run prior to opening. Even an evening at the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames saw me enjoying a co-production of Our Town that originated in Wales.
The backdrop to this week’s busy show schedule has been talk of Awards, as the WhatsOnStage Awards returned to the London Palladium, and the Olivier Award nominations were announced. While the two varied in terms of preference for the duelling revivals of Evita and Into the Woods, all seem to agree thus far on the prevalence of hit new musical Paddington the Musical. Of course, the subjectivity of theatre extends to accolades such as these, and for every brilliant breakthrough for the likes of Georgina Onuorah and Daniele Fiamanya, there is a disappointing snub for exceptional talents such as Oh, Mary!’s Mason Alexander Park.
Finally, if anyone needs something utterly silly to laugh at in darkening days, here are my thoughts on the correct name for the musical Hadestown.
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
This Week’s Videos
Timothée Chalamet is wrong about Opera and Ballet | The problem behind his controversial comments…
The Academy Award nominated actor Timothée Chalamet is currently experiencing backlash after publicly dismissing Opera and Ballet as dying, unpopular artforms.
Chalamet, who has previously appeared on stage and worked alongside trained singers and dancers on screen, has since been criticised by major companies worldwide for his thoughtless comments.
But what does this tell us about the mainstream perception of these fields, and their future, and what does this have to do with theatre?
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
OHMYGOD HEY… Todrick Hall! | The multi-hyphenate talks MIDNIGHT, BROADWAY, and BURLESQUE drama
I finally had the chance to sit down with multi-hyphenate stage star, social media personality and musical theatre superfan Todrick Hall, ahead of a performance of his new musical, Midnight.
The show, currently concluding a sold out workshop run at Sadler’s Wells East, is the second London project which Todrick has appeared in, in addition to serving as writer, director, and choreographer.
In this overdue interview, we chat about his Broadway beginnings, the role that challenged him the most, what inspired Midnight, and the truth about the behind the scenes drama at Burlesque last year.
Check out what he had to say…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Unfortunate at The Other Palace Theatre, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Sea Witch at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End, London
★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
While They Were Waiting at Upstairs At The Gatehouse, London
★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Our Town at Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, London
★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
The Manningtree Witches at Mercury Theatre, Colchester
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Marie & Rosetta at @sohoplace Theatre, West End, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Educating Rita at Reading Rep Theatre, Reading
★★★ Review available YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
We went back to see Into The Woods and we saw the Legally Blonde tour!
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre almost every day!
This week was bookended by concerts at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, one of which was part of a 2 show day dedicated to The Little Mermaid prequels. We also caught the Legally Blonde Tour, Todrick Hall’s new musical Midnight, and returned to Into the Woods.
Check out this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
Stay tuned for my coverage of the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards at the London Palladium where I had the chance to chat to some very exciting attendees and winners. I’ll also finally be sharing my thoughts on Midnight at Sadler’s Wells East, plus more observations about this year’s Olivier Award nominations.
Aeron and I, meanwhile, have bags to pack as we head off once again on a mini theatre trip – this time to Edinburgh for the press night performance of One Day the Musical, receiving its world premiere. I can’t wait to share with you how we’re travelling back…
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
Prefer to read on email? Subscribe to free weekly Substack newsletter
Leave a Reply