Podcast Summary: Mickey Jo Theatre – Thoughts on Recent West End Casting (Carrie Hope Fletcher in Waitress & Amber Davies in Legally Blonde)

Host: MickeyJoTheatre
Date: September 28, 2025
Main Theme:
Mickey Jo delivers an in-depth, passionate critique of the industry and social media reaction to the casting of Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna in Waitress and Amber Davies as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Rather than focusing on whether these women “deserve” their roles, he spotlights the toxic nature of online commentary, the pressures for performers to be social media personalities, and the ongoing debate over casting “names” versus newcomers in major UK tours.

1. Introduction: Casting News and Social Media Outrage

Timestamp: [01:23]–[04:07]

• Mickey Jo humorously sets up the episode:

  “I would like you to share your most honest opinions… Just kidding. I don’t want that at all.” – Mickey Jo ([01:23])

• Main focus today: not the standard “hot take” about casting, but the wave of negativity and personal criticism that erupts around social media announcements for major West End and touring roles.
• Context:
  • Waitress and Legally Blonde tours announced, with high-profile musical theatre performers cast (Carrie Hope Fletcher and Amber Davies).
  • Both actresses are also prominent social media personalities, sparking online debate over their right to the roles and implications for the industry.

2. Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna in Waitress: History, Critique & Misconceptions

Casting Context & Precedent

[04:08]–[11:52]

• Carrie is just the latest in a line of Jennas, not “monopolizing” the role:
  • “She is only the latest in a line of actresses to play the role of Jenna in Waitress. And more to the point, it must be impossibly frustrating... when they’ve been on however many auditions that they didn’t get.” – Mickey Jo ([08:16])
• Broadway/West End producers (the Weisslers) have a history of “star” or “stunt” casting, which is seen as both a positive and negative force.
• Carrie’s involvement isn’t surprising given her credentials and history with the role, and she won’t be performing every show on the tour.

Criticism of Repetitive Casting

• Responds to complaints that the “same people” keep getting roles:
  • “It’s not like she’s been appearing in consecutive new musicals every year in the West End. That’s just not the case.” ([09:45])
• Points out many shows recently where Carrie was not cast, dispelling the myth of her career domination.

Social Media as a Factor in Casting

• Knockdowns the idea that Carrie was cast “just for her social media presence”:
  • “Carrie Hope Fletcher has only been cast for her social media presence and she is inappropriate to play the role of Jenna, which I think is demonstrably ridiculous.” ([10:30])

The Maternal Angle

• Carrie’s recent experience as a new mother brings unique dimension to Waitress:
  • “Carrie Hope Fletcher is a recent new mum…that’s going to bring a really profound and moving insight into it, because that’s a lot of what the musical is about.” ([12:34])

3. Amber Davies as Elle in Legally Blonde: Talent vs. Celebrity

[13:49]–[19:24]

Training and Talent

• Amber Davies is a skilled, trained performer – not just a reality TV product:
  • “She trained legitimately…her sister is also a musical theater performer...” ([14:36])

Reality TV Backlash

• Public first met her via Love Island, and she fought prejudices about casting reality stars in musicals:
  • “There was a little bit of pushback about the idea of someone from Love island being cast in a musical because it sounds a little bit preposterous. But also, I think a, we shouldn’t be indifferent to the possibility that someone from Love island could be talented enough…” ([15:59])

The Benefits of Mainstream Recognition

• Having television and social media popularity is good for the industry when it coincides with talent:
  • “This is actually a fantastic thing. It’s really great when a musical theatre performer gets mainstream recognition and can then attract audiences…” ([17:48])

Commentary on the New Tour’s Direction

• Amber’s casting represents a “more traditional” approach compared to more recent, diverse versions of Legally Blonde, but Mickey Jo is enthusiastic and highlights the sales/visibility benefits for the tour.

4. The Bigger Picture: Social Media, Misogyny, and Performer Criticism

[21:30]–[30:21]

The Harmful Nature of “Hot Take” Culture

• The proliferation of posts asking for “honest opinions” encourages negativity:
  • “If you are opening with like what are your honest opinions, then you’re hoping somebody says something mean or you are giving them permission to.” ([21:56])

Double Standards and Misogyny

• Women performers (especially with social media followings) are targeted more harshly; male actors who leverage online profiles do not face the same scrutiny:
  • “I never see that criticism made about...performers who are also men.” ([25:08])
  • “Particularly when it’s women. Let me tell you how this is also misogynistic…” ([23:30])

Social Media as a Professional Tool

• Building a brand has always helped actors, social media is the contemporary method.
• UK theatre is financially tough; social media hustle is a necessity for many:
  • “British musical theatre performers are factually not paid as well as us musical theatre performers…” ([28:20])
  • “She has a child to feed and she has things to pay for. She has a life to lead. This is a job.” ([29:49])

Notable Rant

• Mickey Jo’s fiery defense about work ethic and parental choices for female actors:
  • “It is in fact legal for them to do so. I told you I was mad…” ([30:12])

5. Discussion: “Fetishizing” Newcomers & The Realities of Theatre Casting

[31:23]–[37:05]

Unrealistic Expectations Around New Talent

• The constant suggestion that every starring role should go to an unknown is unrealistic and comes at the expense of talented working actors:
  • “I see a lot of people saying it’s a shame it couldn’t have gone to a newcomer…But it’s not about any specific individual, it’s not like you really care about that person. Because they are a nameless, faceless concept…” ([33:01], [35:16])

Star Power Matters For Theatre Survival

• Star casting (even within “theatre names”) is necessary for ticket sales and industry health.
• Leading a UK tour is different than the West End – requires stamina and experience newcomers may not possess.
• “People care about stars in those roles…I think we need to be realistic about the fact that that is something that matters to audiences.” ([34:18])

6. Conclusion & Call for Civility

[37:06]–[37:13]

• Mickey Jo urges kindness and perspective:

  “We are going to be fair, we are going to be considerate, and we are not going to be rude on the Internet about actors who could very easily end up reading what you have to say.” ([36:41])

• Encourages listeners to share thoughts respectfully, keeping in mind actors are real people with real lives.

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• On Encouraging Negativity in Comments
  “If you are opening with like what are your honest opinions, then you’re hoping somebody says something mean or you are giving them permission to.” – [21:56]

• On Misogyny in Social Media Commentary
  “Every single time I try and say that we treat women worse than we treat men, somebody in the comments will tell me, no, we don’t. Women deserve to be treated exactly that poorly, apparently.” – [23:44]

• On Social Media and Livelihood
  “She has a child to feed and she has things to pay for…This is a job, this is a career.” – [29:49]

• On Newcomers vs. Experience
  “But because it’s not about any specific individual, it’s not like you really care about that person. Because they are a nameless, faceless concept.” – [35:16]

Final Takeaways

• Online criticism of casting—especially involving women with social media profiles—is often tinged with misogyny and classlessness.
• Being visible online is now a reality for theatre careers, and it shouldn’t be held against actors.
• Star casting serves important business and artistic purposes; always demanding new faces is often unrealistic.
• Above all, theatre fans should keep discourse kind, respectful, and grounded in reality.

For more, subscribe to Mickey Jo Theatre and look out for reviews of both tours soon!