'Hot Mess: A New Musical' review — this climate change romantic comedy is an absolute scorcher

Read our review of Hot Mess: A New Musical, starring Danielle Steers and Morgan Gregory, now in performances at The Other Palace to 6 September.

Summary

• Musical Hot Mess comes to The Other Palace
• The clever show tells the story of humanity and the Earth via a romantic relationship
• Danielle Steers and Morgan Gregory are fantastic as the toxic pair
• The catchy pop songs are reminiscent of SIX

Does “a climate change romantic comedy with musical theatre songs” roll off the tongue? Maybe not. But Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote’s unlikely show Hot Mess deftly explores the toxic relationship between humanity and the Earth in all its ice-cap-melting glory. Half cautionary tale, half love story gone wrong, we meet a personified version of Earth, single and ready to mingle 66 million years after a relationship breakdown (yes, dinosaurs – we’re looking at you). Then along comes Humanity, aka Hugh, who falls head over heels for her charms. And so, after a little convincing on Humanity’s part, begins a romance for the ages – until everything starts to go quite wrong.

It’s a pretty bizarre premise, to say the least. But if anyone needs any more convincing of humanity’s self-serving greed and tendency to destroy things, I’d send them here. Earth and Humanity’s relationship starts off strong. They discover new apple flavours, build windmills and forge a connection unlike anything that’s come before. But Humanity’s deep-rooted self-doubt and relentless desire to keep progressing soon take hold. He starts to wonder what life would be like if Earth decided not to stick around.

Before long come the skyscrapers, the planes, and the rockets. Humanity takes a trip to the moon – apparently for purely exploratory purposes – while Earth gives up more and more of her precious resources. Abuse, neglect, infidelity and workaholism soon turn their romance into a properly dysfunctional relationship.

Of course, we know where their story is heading. But that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Godfrey’s songs are absolute bangers, and you’ll leave the theatre still humming along. “Tomorrow” sees Humanity promising to be a better boyfriend – in other words, to be greener – but “tomorrow”. Meanwhile, Earth’s show-stopping “My House” is a defiant climactic roar that finally expels Humanity for good. The bouncy hope shown in the early number “Better With Time” all too quickly fades away.

In the hands of actors Danielle Steers and Morgan Gregory, the whole thing passes by at an exhilarating breakneck speed. Decades, centuries and millennia slip through our fingers, and by the end Earth even comes face to face with an AI. Directed by Coote, scenes between Earth and Humanity are steamy, and the pair’s connection is electric. Packed full of witty one-liners like “You’re my world” (courtesy of Coote’s excellent book), it keeps the laughs coming even as the stakes steadily escalate.

Very much a sibling of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX, the musical style blends rap, pop, big ballads and synth beats. It still has a scrappy feel – it premiered in Birmingham before transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe last year – but this is one you can expect to be hearing more from. Anything but a hot mess, this show will soon be on everyone’s lips.

Hot Mess: A New Musical is at The Other Palace to 6 September. Book Hot Mess: A New Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Hot Mess: A New Musical (Photos by Pamela Raith)