Review of ‘Hot Mess’: “Earthy musical is hardly out of this world”

It’s somewhat ironic to find myself writing a review about a musical denouncing global warming while suffering the suffocating effects of the current heat wave. You would think that would have resulted in an instant click between the show and me. A genuine connection. And a desire to let the crowds know. But it hasn’t. It really hasn’t. And much like the weather this week, the piece has left a rather dry impression on me, almost as its level of creativity.

So much anticipation has followed the return of Hot Mess. Following its inaugural London run at the Southwark Playhouse last year, this unorthodox romantic comedy starring Earth and Humanity (respelled Hugh Manity) has recently set foot at The Other Palace, opening last night for a full summer stay.

The premise is intriguing: an allegorical love story exploring mankind’s interaction with the environment since its very dawn. As many in this genre, the tale involves passion, sacrifice, greed, and betrayal — no need to say who’s provided the last two on an exclusive basis. The idea of anthropomorphising the Earth as a sassy young woman falling for the wrong guy is actually compelling. It’s the execution that lacks the resources to be sustainable. And unlike its protagonist, its appearance is rather flat.

There’s no real plot. Just a few hints at it. But nothing more. The first six songs do nothing to help the recount move forward. And when a show’s repertoire consists of fifteen tunes, not allowing much to happen for almost half of it seems like an issue the authors might want to look into — perhaps with the same urgency as the climate change crisis.

They meet. They kiss. They fight. They kiss again. They fight. And they go their separate ways. One may argue that this is how every rom-com works. And that’s perfectly acceptable. The problem is that the story isn’t fleshed out any further. It’s too simplistic. Too unoriginal. Too eventless. And ultimately, too dull.

None of the characters embarks on a fulfilling emotional or narrative arc. Everything comes off overly sketchy. And exceedingly shallow. As viewers, we should be rooting for them, understanding their feelings and the journey they have been put through. But none of that ever occurs. Consequently, our attitude towards this fictional version of Earth and her concerns is the same we’ve had for the real one throughout history — we barely care.

The music is pleasant and catchy, but extremely derivative. Jack Godfrey’s score stretches the term “pastiche” by getting a little too close to his influences, some of which are easily identifiable. The oversaturation of upbeat songs and party anthems compromises the sense of variety and the material’s overall appeal. By the time we’ve got through the first half, everything starts to sound pretty much the same.

Overall, the lyrics are decent. And occasionally, they can be brilliant. They can be clunky too, however — songs like My House aren’t particularly deft with words. Yet, there’s hardly any level of introspection. For the most part, the verses seem more focused on jokes and witty remarks than delving into the characters’ souls. There is a coat of that, but it’s generally as thin as the ozone layer.

The performances are the strongest asset of the production. Both Danielle Steers (Earth) and Morgan Gregory (Humanity) demonstrate good command of their roles, which they portray with adequate chemistry and flair. Their vocals are admittedly the best aspect of their rendition, both flaunting impeccable technique and a bright, powerful colour.

In the end, Hot Mess comes across as more of an educational high-school musical than a fully formed Off West End show. Its concept is solid, but it’s heavily unexploited. Dramaturgically speaking, it doesn’t build a universe that’s worth stepping into. There’s no thought-provoking element apart from its germinal theme. And its soul is practically nonexistent. Its logline promises something innovative. Instead, there’s too much rehashing and recycling, even for this story’s standards.

All pictures credit to Pamela Raith.

Hot Mess plays at London’s The Other Palace until 6 September. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara