Review: Hot Mess, Southwark Playhouse

It’s a story as old as time (quite literally in this case). Planet meets species; planet plays hard to get after a nasty breakup with the dinosaurs. Planet eventually falls for the very charming species. They form a life together. And then the cracks start to show (earthquake pun fully intended).

This fun, fast-paced and charming mini-musical has it all, centred around a unique love story that goes from awkward to good to bad, and then almost disaster. It has terrific songs, powerhouse singing, and the incredibly talented team of Danielle Steers and Tobias Turley at the helm, making the whole thing a hot success.

Right from the outset in the opening comedic number, which is worthy of any West End big budget musical, Earth (Steers) wows us with her vocal range, great comic timing and physicality. Beautifully crafted and very of the moment, the number talks us through the perils of the dating scene as a planet, and the myriad species you have to kiss until you find your prince. This really sets the scene for the entire, perfectly timed, 65-minute performance. An exquisite start. 

We’re soon joined by Humanity, or ‘Hu’ (Turley), in search of a new relationship, finding his feet and looking for a new home. Again, some great vocals and powerful, well-crafted songs take the audience along for the ride. Though we only have two characters on stage throughout, the chemistry between them is palpable and engaging. Having staged the performance previously at the Edinburgh Fringe, our two stars have shone brightly together for a while, and it shows. The simple, multi-tiered staging works to great effect, and clever lighting throughout helps to accentuate the spaces and adds to the drama, especially near the end as things deteriorate between our two characters. Elements of live music too are a highlight and add to the building drama.

The underlying message here, of course, is the beautiful yet twisted relationship between our planet and we humans, from the start of humanity itself to the current state of the Earth. This is not lost for a second throughout the performance thanks to the skilful writing, clever referencing and beautiful delivery from Steers and Turley. With so much to write about though and so much more to come with the state of the planet and our environment, it must have been a struggle to decide which impacts to include. By building on what’s already there and referencing some recent, and possibly future outcomes, there could be a very bright future ahead for the show. 

A couple of moments in the songs could do with some refinement, with break-outs into rap and rock making some front-row audience members squirm in their seats a little, however with finessing, this gem could go on to have great big, dinosaur-sized legs on any West End stage. Maybe the hushed presence of Lord Lloyd Webber in the audience for this performance is a sign of great things to come…

Written by Ellie Coote and Jack Godfrey
Music by Joe Beighton & Issie Osborne
Movement by Alexzandra Sarmiento
Set & Costumes by Shanko Chaudhuri & Caroline Murfin
Lighting by Ryan Joseph Stafford
Sound by Paul Gatehouse, Charlie Smith & Maria Jose Ibarbo
Intimacy Director: Lex Kaby
Dramaturg by Deirdre O’Halloran
Produced by Vicky Graham, James Ashfield, Finlay Carroll, Callie Barter, Christopher Ball & Emily Obasohan

Hot Mess plays at Southwark Playhouse until Saturday 8 November.