Musings on recently watched revivals, reviews of Broadway’s Bug, and Spanish language musicals in Madrid, and my guide to this year’s UK theatre highlights.
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.
After last week’s Off-West End musical marathon, the start of February’s theatregoing brought a little more variety, with a return visit to The Devil Wears Prada (to see the terrific new cast) ahead of shows to review: All is But Fantasy, a two part riff on Shakespeare’s roles for women from multi-hyphenate theatremaker Whitney White, and the inadvertently timely revival of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia. These, along with a Coney Island set performance of Cosi Fan Tutte from the English National Opera, had me thinking less about the celebrated geniuses behind each piece, and more about the nature of revivals, what we chose to retain, displace, illuminate or uplift when we stage work and the conversation that that brings forth (or doesn’t.)
Though I won’t be formally reviewing them as such, I should also mention my back to back Sunday evening, which began with a 5pm cabaret performance, An Evening with Danielle Steers at the Crazy Coqs, after which I power-walked through Leicester Square to make it to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and a concert production of Once on This Island. The evening’s undeniable theme, from Danielle’s sultry delivery of unexpected, jazzy arrangements to Alex Newell’s bringing-the-house-down-on-arrival rendition of Mama Will Provide, was sublime vocals. How lucky are we to coincide with these terrific artists, and to be able to enjoy uniquely sensational voices on our stages.
If, after all of this, you aren’t fatigued by the sound of me discussing my approach to theatre criticism, you can give a listen to my guest appearance on the podcast It’s Broadway B*tch, hosted by Casey Balsham (Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts). We touch on the theatregoers perspective, how quickly a piece of theatre makes an impression, and even Broadway cancel culture.
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This Week’s Videos
What to see in the WEST END in 2026: A guide to the best plays and musicals in London and the UK!
Amidst an already exciting year of theatregoing in the United Kingdom, my stagey fiancé @AeronJames and I are talking through some of our most anticipated plays and musicals in 2026.
In and beyond the West End, from return engagements of Inter Alia and Cyrano de Bergerac, to new productions of The Greatest Showman and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry as well as regional revivals of My Fair Lady, Once, and more.
Check out our respective recommendations and don’t forget to share yours in the comments!
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
CHICAGO on Broadway… was great?! How casting can return this revival to its razzle-dazzle roots…
During my most recent trip to New York City, I found myself with very limited options and time enough for an additional show in my schedule, which sent me (to my own surprise) back to Chicago.
The last thing I expected on my 3rd visit to the long-running Broadway revival was a startling glimpse at its former (and enduringly possible) glory, but thanks to the sublime principal cast that’s what happened.
Inspired by this joyous night at the theatre, I’m sharing some insights into the show’s history and what about this lineup restored its razzle dazzle.
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
This Week’s Reviews
Bug at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway, New York City
★★★ Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Los Miserables at Teatro Apolo, Madrid
Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
The Book of Mormon at Teatro Rialto, Madrid
Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
Wicked El Musical at Nuevo Teatro Alcalá, London
Review available on YouTube / Spotify / Apple Podcasts
A week of Off-West End musicals!
So, almost immediately after getting back from our snowy weekend in New York, Aeron and I embarked on a week of off-West End Musical Theatre.
Catching up on new arrivals Cable Street and Beautiful Little Fool, we also headed to Southwark Playhouse Elephant for the opening night of Ballad Lines before catching another show, Legendary at MTFest, and concluding the week with American Psycho at the Almeida.
Check out this brand new vlog to find out what a week in our lives looks like!
What’s coming up this week?
With the deadline for Olivier Awards eligibility looming, the next couple of weeks will bring this season’s final few openings, and I’m eagerly looking forward to attending performances of Dracula, Here There Are Blueberries, and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (per my better judgment, I shan’t be walking all the way from my home to the theatre) among others.
You can look forward to theatre reviews from productions around the UK as well as coverage of theatrical headlines from the US, including the recent announcement that Moulin Rouge! the Musical will close on Broadway after 7 years at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. I’m even hoping to find time to finally weigh in on the announced closure of another American theatre, one recently (and conspicuously) renamed…
Until next week, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey… week! – Mickey-Jo
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