MickeyJoTheatre: Hot Mess (Southwark Playhouse Elephant) - ★★★★ REVIEW

Host: MickeyJoTheatre
Date: October 30, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Mickey Jo reviews Hot Mess, a new musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, following its award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show is an inventive, romcom-inspired allegory about climate change, personifying "Earth" and "Humanity" as a couple navigating a tumultuous relationship. With music by Jack Godfrey and book/direction by Ellie Coote, Hot Mess balances wit, musicality, and deeper conversations about our relationship with the planet—without ever preaching or becoming despairing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Show’s Origins & Premise

• Hot Mess has travelled from Birmingham Hippodrome to the Edinburgh Fringe, earning accolades, and now to London.
• Written by Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote ("42 Balloons", "Babies"), the show literalizes Earth (Danielle Steers) and Humanity (Tobias Turley) as lovers.
• "It stars Tobias Turley and Danielle Steers as humanity and the earth in an increasingly toxic relationship that allegorically represents our own relationship with the planet, and talks in a playful and funny and and ultimately more serious way about climate change, all with a score of absolute bangers." (01:46)

Structure and Tone

• A one-act musical covering the entire "relationship" timeline, from Earth’s early days through humanity’s rise and eventual fallout.
• Plays with rom-com tropes: meet-cute, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and iconic moments like kissing in the rain.
  • "There is one moment when they're having something of an argument and then it's raining because the earth is getting frustrated and emotional, so it's raining and then they suddenly kiss in the rain. And it hadn't occurred to me foolishly when I first saw the show, what an obvious rom com moment that is. Like when you're thinking of romantic comedy tropes … That kind of dramatic kiss in the rain. Very the Notebook. Very Hot Mess." (03:11)
• The show intentionally avoids despair or didacticism about climate change; it aims to spark conversation through humor:
  • "…to write something that was accessible, that could be enjoyable, but that could foster conversations about our relationship to the planet… without hitting people over the head with a hammer or… making everyone feel so depressed and disempowered…" (05:46)

The Metaphor in Action

• Earth literally personified, flirting with single-celled organisms and dinosaurs in the opening number before settling on Humanity.
• Humanity is introduced as "Hugh Manatee" (a groan-worthy, but endearing pun).
• The relationship tracks through the "honeymoon" period to exploitation and eventual breakup, paralleling humanity’s environmental impact.

Notable Moments & Quotes

Memorable Lines and Humorous Bits

• "I'm not picky, I'm just naturally selective." – Earth, opening number (08:18)
• Earth rebuffs Humanity’s flirting:
  • Humanity: "I think I saw you earlier. Were you outside?"
  • Earth: "I am the outside." (16:58)
• On the show’s premise:
  • "What if we just decide that it's easy and decide that it works, and because they enter that decision with such confidence, then the audience agrees..." (17:27)

Applause for Climate Extinction

• "I do find it very funny that the notion of our potential extinction as a species is so enthusiastically applauded by this audience. That's very sweet and it speaks to the material and the performances." (11:12)

The Show’s “Banging” Score

• Jack Godfrey’s pop-inspired score is called "the greatest asset":
  • "If I had to pick out a strongest song in the score, It Might be Tomorrow. That is also the most infectious melody… that will stay in your head for at least a calendar week. Do not say I didn't warn you..." (13:37)
• "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow" features a hidden Easter egg:
  • An actual clip of Sir John Gielgud reciting Macbeth’s "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…", cleverly remixed into the orchestration.
    • "They took John Gielgud delivering that actual line from Macbeth… and they remixed it and they put it in the song… What an exceptional theatrical Easter egg…" (15:27)

Reflection: Expectations vs. Reality

• Mickey Jo expected more darkness and toxicity in the Earth/Humanity relationship, but instead found:
  • Earth remains empowered throughout, never fully relinquishing agency even as Humanity exploits her resources.
  • "…Earth just gets angry and then eventually stands up for themselves, but. But never really relinquishes power in the relationship, which is exciting to see and it's great to see strong roles written for female performers." (19:55)

Cast and Creative Team

Performers

• Danielle Steers ("Earth"):
  • A vocal powerhouse with "depth and resonance to her lower alto range"—described as both vulnerable and formidable.
  • "She has an undeniable power when she is admonishing him at the end and singing get out of my house. This is my house." (24:46)
• Tobias Turley ("Humanity"):
  • Cast as the "everyman," bringing both charm and complexity.
  • "Tobias Turley…does a really great job of characterizing humanity as this happy go lucky guy in his late 20s who maybe becomes more and more obsessed with his passions… It's giving like tech bro, finance bro a little bit towards the end…" (25:53)

Direction and Design

• Ellie Coote’s dual role as director and book writer ensures clarity and charm in staging the otherwise abstract Earth/Humanity premise.
• Alexandra Sarmiento (Choreography), Shanko Chowdhury (Set/Costume), Ryan Joseph Stafford (Lighting) all contribute to a visually inventive, "studio apartment" cosmos with sci-fi touches.
• The show is ingeniously crafted to allow for cast diversity/gender-neutral casting in future iterations:
  • "There is no gender specificity written into the script… you could explore different kinds of relationship dynamics in the story of humanity and the Earth." (21:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:31 — Introduction, show context and cast overview
• 03:11 — Rom-com structure and tropes
• 05:46 — Balancing humor and climate change messaging
• 08:18 — How metaphor is used (Earth looking for a soulmate)
• 11:12 — Audience reaction to Earth’s "breakup" with Humanity
• 13:37 — The score and standout song ("It Might be Tomorrow")
• 15:27 — The John Gielgud/Macbeth Easter Egg
• 16:58 — Script highlights; illustrative jokes
• 19:55 — Power dynamics and expectations about show’s depth
• 21:56 — Gender-neutrality and future production possibilities
• 24:46 — Danielle Steers’ performance
• 25:53 — Tobias Turley’s performance

Notable Quotes

• "I'm not picky, I'm just naturally selective." – Earth, (08:18)
• "There is one moment…when they're having something of an argument and then it's raining because the Earth is getting frustrated and emotional…That kind of dramatic kiss in the rain. Very The Notebook. Very Hot Mess." – MickeyJo, (03:11)
• "…to write something…enjoyable, but that could foster conversations…about climate change, without…making everyone feel so depressed and disempowered…" – MickeyJo, (05:46)
• "Go to this show to hear these songs, to hear them singing these songs, if for no other reason. Off-West End musicals like this pop up occasionally where audience members get to be in real proximity to fantastic performances and exciting new material." – MickeyJo, (28:27)

Summary and Recommendation

Mickey Jo delivers a passionate, insightful, and often witty review of Hot Mess, highlighting its unique romcom take on climate change, sharp writing, and outstanding musical score. The chemistry and vocal brilliance of Danielle Steers and Tobias Turley are especially praised, with Steers described as "Mother Earth herself." The show's humor, creative staging, and accessible—but not simplistic—take on big issues make it "the perfect date night show" and a model for future climate conversations in theatre. Mickey Jo champions Hot Mess as a must-see, not just for its current Southwark run, but as a production with an exciting global future: "Big recommendation from Mickey Jo Theatre." (28:51)

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