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why actors can't always be perfect | Mickey-Jo's honest thoughts on the expectations of stage performances
Inspired by some recent social media discourse, Mickey-Jo has been thinking about whether audience members have the right to expect perfection from stage performers.
Recent performances have come under intense scrutiny due to the propagation of bootleg recordings, but the truth is that onstage mishaps and mistakes are nothing new.
From Angela Lansbury in Sweeney Todd to Billy Porter in Cabaret, Mickey-Jo is taking a look at some documented imperfect performances in order to ascertain which we critique more heavily, and under what circumstances it's truly fair to do so...
check out Mickey-Jo's brand new substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com
00:00 | introduction 02:50 | what is this about? 09:38 | who makes mistakes? 16:57 | what's the problem? 24:16 | conclusion
About Mickey-Jo:
As one of the leading voices in theatre criticism on a social platform, Mickey-Jo is pioneering a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel: MickeyJoTheatre is the largest worldwide in terms of dedicated theatre criticism, where he also share features, news and interviews as well as lifestyle content for over 95,000 subscribers. With a viewership that is largely split between the US and the UK he has been fortunate enough to be able to work with PR, Marketing, and Social Media representatives for shows in New York, London, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Toronto, Sao Pãolo, and Paris. His reviews and features have also been published by WhatsOnStage, for whom he was a panelist to help curate nominees for their 2023 and 2024 Awards as well as BroadwayWorldUK, Musicals Magazine and LondonTheatre.co.uk. Instagram/TikTok/X: @MickeyJoTheatre
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INTO THE WOODS cast on opening night | interviews with the stars of the West End Revival
20:55|After INTO THE WOODS opened at the Noel Coward Theatre, Mickey-Jo had the chance to visit the show's opening night party and interview the revival's company. Find out what Kate Fleetwood, Laura Pitt-Pulford, John Dagleish, and more had to say about their time in the production so far.sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.comRENT (Tom Stoppard Theatre, West End) - ★★★★★ REVIEW
34:20|A new production of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical RENT has just opened at the Tom Stoppard Theatre in the West End. The musical stars Gaten Matarazzo alongside Travis Ross, Alexa Lopez, Jeevan Braich, Danielle Fiamanya, Billy Nevers, Lazy Violet, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, and more. 30 years on from the landmark original production in New York, find out why Mickey-Jo thinks this could be the revival we've been waiting for... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction01:55 | the musical07:39 | this production19:17 | performances31:54 | conclusionAs You Like It starring Jonathan Groff (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon) - ★★★★ REVIEW
21:25|Earlier this week, the hotly anticipated new production of William Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT opened at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon. The comedy stars Tony Award winning Broadway actor Jonathan Groff as Rosalind in an all-male production directed by Daniel Evans. Check out the full review to find out what Mickey-Jo thought of this production's concept, performances, and creative choices. sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction02:07 | overview / synopsis08:29 | creative choices15:09 | performances19:57 | conclusionis it gonna be a good year for Broadway? | early thoughts on the forthcoming season of new shows
45:32|The 2026-2027 Broadway season has officially commenced and is set to bring numerous exciting productions of plays and musicals. The new and revived shows include the likes of Paddington the Musical, Evita, Inter Alia, Paranormal Activity, Dolly, Damn Yankees, Other Desert Cities, A Few Good Men, The Sound of Music, Much Ado about Nothing, and more. Before Mickey-Jo has seen any of this season's shows on Broadway, check out his initial thoughts on all of these upcoming productions and some premature speculation as to which might win the Tony Awards... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction02:01 | new musicals11:19 | new plays19:14 | musical revivals28:14 | play revivals44:24 | conclusion •Are London's latest plays worth seeing? REVIEWS of The Standard of Living and Hay Fever
22:02|Among the plays Mickey-Jo saw this week were the latest from James Graham: "The Standard of Living" at Theatre Royal Haymarket and a new revival of Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" at the Wyndham's Theatre. Find out what Mickey-Jo thought of each of these productions, including their creative choices, material, and performances... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction 01:27 | The Standard of Living 11:02 | Hay Fever 20:59 | conclusionWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? starring Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup (@sohoplace, West End) - ★★★★★ REVIEW
25:12|Last night, Mickey-Jo saw a new production of one of his favourite plays: Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? This new London production at @SohoPlace stars Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup aa feuding spouses Martha and George and has already sold out the duration of its limited run. Find out whether this production lived up to Mickey-Jo's expectations and what these central performances were like... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction03:11 | synopsis / overview07:48 | creative choices15:52 | the performances23:50 | conclusionMickey-Jo saw the first preview of RENT... | everything you need to know about the West End musical revival
29:25|The hugely anticipated West End revival of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT opened last weekend at the Tom Stoppard Theatre in London. The production stands to be the biggest major revival of the show since it was originally staged. The cast includes Gaten Matarazzo as Mark, Travis Ross as Roger, Alexa Lopez as Mimi, Billy Nevers as Collins, Lazy Violet as Maureen, Olivier Award nominee Danielle Fiamanya as Joanne, Jeevan Braich as Angel and Joaquin Pedro Valdes as Benny. Find out everything you might need to know about this production including how it differs creatively from its original Manchester staging, the extent to which audience members sat onstage are involved in the show, and whether any changes have been made to the material... sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com00:00 | introduction03:17 | what is it like?09:43 | onstage seating / merch19:03 | other creative details27:33 | conclusionMickey-Jo met the original West End GLINDA! | a chat with Helen Dallimore for WICKED's London Anniversary INTERVIEW
11:43|Ahead of WICKED's 20th anniversary celebrations this weekend in London, Mickey-Jo met the West End production's very first Glinda - Helen Dallimore. Having seen Helen and Idina lead the show, which was the first West End musical Mickey-Jo ever saw, it was hugely special to ask her about her memories of the audition process, rehearsals and opening night performance. Mickey-Jo also spoke with the Australian leading lady about commercial musical theatre on the other side of the world, her recent performance in Grey Gardens, and her role in the revival that changed my life...sign up to Mickey-Jo's weekly substack newsletter: www.mickeyjotheatre.substack.com