Notes from a tour of Scotland, plus my reviews of Death Note the Musical and A History of Paper
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.
August once again brought me back to the theatrical haven that is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – that world leading convergence of artistry, chaos and impossibility that fuels my soul and ruins my sleep schedule. Having previously arrived by plane and train, this year I opted for a slightly different approach.
Owing to a slightly unusual schedule, I dipped my toe into the world of the Fringe for one glorious afternoon (the reviews from which are already published) before fleeing to head further North for a few days of mostly non-theatrical relaxation – a concept I struggle to make time for. From the beachy vibes of Aberdeen to the disappointingly fruitless monster-searching on Loch Ness, and a brief but joyous encounter with the much merchandised Highland Cows, Scotland beyond Edinburgh proved a gorgeous treat all of its own and one that I ought to have seen much sooner.
Pursuant to the chaos of Fringe, I wrote the above paragraphs on a ScotRail train pulling into Edinburgh, and then subsequently found not a single minute to conclude them so that this could be dispatched last week when it ought to have been. With apologies for the delay, here’s everything I’ve been seeing, doing and discussing this month that isn’t about the Edinburgh Fringe!
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The road to the Edinburgh Fringe! Scotland trip vlog ft Pitlochry, Inverness, Aberdeen & more
Join Aeron James and I for a 4 day journey around Scotland! As well as a brief taste of Edinburgh and the Fringe, we visited Aberdeen, Inverness, Pitlochry, and Dundee.
Could WICKED close on Broadway? Thoughts on the musical’s recent box office downturn and future…
When a Broadway show becomes a long-runner, its lifetime spanning multiple decades, it’s hard to imagine that it could ever close.
However, recent grosses for the musical Wicked seem to suggest that the show, which was recently adapted for screen, has been slowing down at the box office, with some of its lowest weekly earnings in years.
I’m posing the question “what would it take for Wicked to actually close on Broadway?” and what steps might we see the show taking over the next few years in response?
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
My favourite HADESTOWN performances: thoughts on the West End, Broadway and international casts
With the proshot recording of Hadestown having recently been released in cinemas to tremendous success, theatre fans are once again talking about the Tony Award winning musical.
I’m sharing my thoughts on the most impactful performances I’ve seen in the show, between the West End, Broadway and international productions.
Hear what I have to say about alumni including Jack Wolfe, Jordan Fisher, Melanie La Barrie, Edwin Jonker, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Kurt Elling, and more, and share your own thoughts about your favourite performances in the show!
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
I met the cast of THE COMEDY ABOUT SPIES: Mischief Theatre stars on spy skills and onstage laughs
The Comedy About Spies, the hilarious show from Mischief Theatre is back in the West End for a limited run at the Adelphi Theatre.
Mischief Theatre are the maniacal, award-winning minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong as well as The Comedy about a Bank Robbery, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and many more.
Find out which of their co-stars makes them laugh the most onstage, what we can expect from their zany spy characters, and which member of Mischief they think would make the best (and worst) real life spy…
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Death Note: The Musical at Barbican Theatre, London
★★ Review available YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
A History of Paper at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, Scotland
★★★★★ Review available YouTube / Instagram / TikTok
We travelled the UK to see theatre! Theatre Vlog ft Fame, Game of Thrones, Cats, Death Note, and more
Check out another week in our life of seeing theatre in the UK!
This week was spent travelling the country for a couple of high profile openings, including a reworked revival of Fame the Musical at Theatre Royal, Plymouth, and Game of Thrones: the Mad King at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Back in London, we also saw Arcadia, press night performances of Cats at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Death Note the Musical at the Barbican.
Join us vicariously in this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
AD | we were so grateful to be hosted by the Drake Hotel in Plymouth: https://www.drakehotelplymouth.co.uk/
What’s coming up this week?
With this instalment having arrived late, there will be another update from me coming soon to recap my coverage from this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, beyond which you can look forward to my thoughts on Ivo Van Hove’s single-show-staging of Angels in America as well as Jinkx Monsoon’s performance in Oh, Mary!.
Plus, freshly back in my own home, there’s every possibility I just checked into a flight and started packing for one last summer theatre trip…
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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