By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Monday 20 October, opens 22 October and runs through 8 November 2025 RUNTIME: 65 minutes (no interval)

This scorching, thought-provoking 2-handed musical imagines a love story between Earth and humanity against a backdrop of worsening climate change.

• Read on for reasons including how we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Hot Mess scorches its way to the West End next

Best song is the late Lady Gaga-esque Get Out Of My House as E(arth) played by a ferocious Danielle Steers tires of the duplicitous Hu(manity) given life by a nerdy Tobias Turley unafraid to strip down to a vest when seduction’s called for

Co-writer Jack Godfrey was behind Babies (The Other Palace), shortlisted for a 2024 Best New Musical monsta, and the uplifting 42 Balloons and here co-writes with Ellie Coote who he worked on the latter with.

You join us as Earth is having a crisis following the dinosaur extinction and contemplating what to do next with the classic line: ‘I could literally pull anyone I like, it’s called gravity.’

Initially she’s unimpressed by the romantic overtures of geeky Hu and disappointed by his claims on her assets but later enjoys being seen by him and appreciated for everything she has to offer.

Godfrey and Coote are extremely talented songwriters and we felt touchstones here included the best of Katy Perry, SIX – the musical and even unexpected genres including reggae (Hu’s infuriating I’m Going To Figure It All Out Tomorrow) and histrionic 70s adult orientated rock.

Steers and Turley make for an unlikely couple but by the time her E is seducing his Hu and offering to show him her hidden treasures including coal and oil we were rooting for them to get together even though we weren’t sure quite how right for each other they were.

Hu cuts down her trees, ploughs her soil to create farms, exploits her fuel to fly planes and even a rocket at 1 point to some inter-planetary competition.

At 65 minutes Hot Mess never outstays its welcome but probably mines just enough material from its interesting premise.

We loved Babies and enjoyed the 42 Balloons score although have yet to see it onstage but feel Godfrey and Coote are names to watch out for in the future as potential next big things.

Hot Mess is well worth your time and we’d definitely recommend catching it on this short run and wouldn’t be at all surprised if it scorches its way to the West End next.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Southwark Playhouse (Elephant) Tickets
• Have you seen a Southwark Playhouse show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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