Observations from the Spring Broadway season, chat with the cast of John Proctor is the Villain and reviews of A Doll’s House and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
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.
I’m going to blame the time difference, and not my overpacked schedule (to say nothing of my already overpacked suitcase) here in New York for the delay of this usually regular Monday dispatch. Three days into a Broadway trip I’d already caught 6 shows, and the emerging theme was that of nostalgia. Not only had I seen two different takes on golden age musical theatre, with giddy parody in Schmigadoon and absurd satire in No Singing in the Navy, but a timely regional production of 1776 – a show I was deeply curious to experience for the first time in the current sociopolitical climate.
Of course, hours before I crossed the Atlantic I had been celebrating the West End return of Avenue Q, a piece of nostalgic producing itself alongside a handful of returning audience favourites and remounts in the coming years (Billy Elliot and Miss Saigon, to name a couple). This time of year in the theatrical calendar is dominated by conversations of awards, and both the current and forthcoming seasons at the Olivier and Tony Awards are already well represented by revivals, perhaps even outweighing the enthusiasm for newly written shows. Is there a trend towards the nostalgic, the safe, and the familiar in uncertain financial times, or are we ever finding ourselves with more and more great material to revisit from an increasing supply of shows.
Outside of considering these ideas, I’ve been eating my body weight in Mexican food, cookies, and cheesecake, perfecting pre-show Playbill photos, and falling far too quickly in love with new merchandise items. In one of my less serious contributions to the internet, here is a showcase of some Broadway merch I got back in November.
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This Week’s Videos
Everything I’m seeing on Broadway: The shows I’m watching on my Spring 2026 Theatre Trip!
Right now I’m back in New York to see as many of the new Spring Broadway openings as possible.
Among my most anticipated shows are Cats the Jellicle Ball, The Lost Boys, Proof, Schmigadoon, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Titaníque, and more!
Find out which shows I will definitely be seeing (and reviewing) as well as what I’m still considering and avoiding…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Stop going to see the Harry Potter play – buying tickets to the Broadway / West End play is harmful!
For a while now, I’ve felt that holding my tongue in regards to my feelings about Tom Felton’s Broadway appearance in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has become pointless.
In no uncertain terms, and in response to seeing influencer created content around Harry Potter, I’m letting you know why continuing to support, promote, and even see the show is harmful to the already marginalised trans community.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Dónal Finn and Molly McFadden on whether John Proctor is the Villain at the Royal Court Theatre
After thrilling Broadway audiences at the Booth theatre last year, John Proctor is the Villain has arrived at the Royal Court Theatre in London, 70 years after The Crucible was produced at the venue, for its professional UK premiere.
The play, written by Kimberly Belflower, follows a group of students in 2018 Georgia responding to personal and academic questions as they study Arthur Miller’s allegorical work at the height of the MeToo movement.
It has been announced that the play would transfer to the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End from February 2027.
I recently had the chance to sit down with two of the London production’s cast members, Dónal Finn and Molly McFadden, to discuss their approach to their roles, performing at the Royal Court Theatre, educators who inspired them, and their own verdicts on whether or not John Proctor is the Villain.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
A Doll’s House at Almeida Theatre, London
★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at The Old Vic Theatre, London
★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre, West End, London
★★★★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
All the shows we saw before Broadway!
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre almost every day!
This week, before getting on a flight to New York, we saw the opening night performances of Avenue Q, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Inter Alia, and more as well as attending the rehearsals of the Karate Kid, an event celebrating the release of the Paddington the Musical cast recording, and the UK Musical Theatre Conference.
Check out this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
Right after I finish typing this, I’ll be getting ready to head to a Tuesday matinee performance of one of my most anticipated shows here in Manhattan – a return of the hugely acclaimed off-Broadway musical Mexodus. Before this time next week I’ll have seen close to a dozen more shows, many of them final press performances before opening including The Rocky Horror Show, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and The Lost Boys.
Stay tuned for my imminent carpet coverage of Schmigadoon’s opening night, as well as my reviews of Avenue Q and Beaches – just as long as I can find a moment to sit down and tell you about them!
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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