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REVIEW | Hot Mess: A New Musical, The Other Palace Theatre, London
- Harry Brogan
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review. All views are our own
TW/CW: The production contains flickering, flashing and strobe lights, smoke and haze throughout, references to the climate emergency, occasional swearing and scenes of intimacy.
“I've been gradually losing faith that a partner would materialise”, cries Earth after a million failed dates, from microbial organisms to the mighty T-Rex, before Humanity finally arrives. Yes, Earth as in the planet and Humanity as in us, the species. Hot Mess is a funny and thought-provoking romcom musical about the most iconic yet toxic love story of all, our relationship with the planet.
After its debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2025, Hot Mess: A New Musical is now playing at The Other Palace. 42 Balloons creators Jack Godfrey (Music, Lyrics and Co-orchestrations) and Ellie Coote (Book and Direction) cleverly draw a parallel between the fiery beginning of a romantic relationship, with all its highs and lows before it burns up in flames, and humanity’s exploitation of the Earth’s natural resources culminating in the climate crisis we live in today and our responsibility for creating it.
Danielle Steers plays a self-assured, independent and sexy Earth, who is slowly getting to know Humanity. Hu, for short, played by Morgan Gregory, evolves from an insecure agriculturist (“Can you please stop building farms? And what’s with all that wheat, is that really all you eat?”) into a confident modern human, driven by ambition yet full of flaws and a massive sense of entitlement.
Like any relationship, the two begin as individuals before gradually becoming intertwined, until the balance shifts and the breakup becomes inevitable. Earth's fierce and powerful personality is slowly overshadowed and dismantled by Humanity's relentless need to understand everything, conquer nature and push beyond its limits. Each new discovery and every exploitation of Earth's resources strains their relationship, even as Earth sacrifices more and more to keep Humanity happy. Yet Hu continues to promise that he'll make everything right, singing, "I'm gonna figure it all out tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow," while continuing to abuse Earth, and assuring her that he'll restore her to what she once was, erasing millennia of damage and allowing her to see "their star" again, now obscured by pollution.
The songs (by Jack Godfrey) that shape the musical are undeniably catchy, even if they can occasionally feel wordy and repetitive. They are definitely millennial pop with strong choruses and interesting melodies, although they rarely break new grounds. Both Steers and Gregory have mighty voices that suit perfectly the varied score, from snappy and pun-ridden numbers to heartfelt ballads. “My House” is a splendid highlight where Steers' powerful vocals can shine, enhanced by Ryan Joseph Stafford’s majestic lighting design. Gregory delivers a fantastic performance throughout, showcasing impeccable comedic timing in “Tomorrow” before revealing Humanity’s darker, almost violent side in “What Did You Expect?”, a frightening culmination of a layered character.
Shankho Chaudhuri’s staging is relatively simple at first before becoming progressively cluttered as Humanity makes new discoveries and accumulates more and more possessions. If you’re close enough to the stage, keep an eye out for all the book covers that appear, as the titles are a fun detail to spot throughout the show. The costume design by Sarah Mercadé helps shape the characters’ evolution, dressing up Earth in glamorous gowns during her most powerful moments but helping Humanity morph into the man of today with a gradually changing wardrobe.
For the most environmentally conscious audience members, Hot Mess: A New Musical may feel like it's only scratching the surface of the climate crisis. However, it succeeds in what it sets out to do; using humour, heart and a catchy score to remind us of what we stand to lose. Like any lasting relationship, our bond with Earth requires care, compromise and self-reflection if we want it to last. We have yet to find another planet to call home, so the time is now to make the right choices and protect the one we have.
★★★★
Hot Mess: A New Musical plays at The Other Palace until Sunday 6th of September: https://theotherpalace.co.uk/hot-mess/
