★ REVIEW: Opening Night (West End) | honest thoughts on the new musical starring Sheridan Smith

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OHMYGOD HEY!

This week saw the opening night of the West End's newest musical... OPENING NIGHT.

The show, based on the 1977 film of the same name, has been directed and conceived by Ivo Van Hove with an original score by Rufus Wainwright and Sheridan Smith starting in the leading role.

Check out my thoughts on this show in today's brand new video review...

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00:00 | introduction
02:26 | synopsis
07:49 | the show
13:44 | the material
20:00 | the cameras
22:29 | the score
24:41 | performances
30:03 | positives

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#musical #theatre #review

[RachelMay]

I was so shocked that our Fair and Balanced King gave a show one star, I absolutely HAD to watch this IMMEDIATELY.

[michaeltonus]

"Big picture issues, everyone was a lunatic." - Me describing any random day in my life.

[IWillBeHers]

A one-star review from Mickey-Jo? Consider me very intrigued.

[annietvetenstrand]

babe wake up a one star Mickey jo theatre review just dropped

[hannahcostanzo]

Off topic but I like the longer hair look!

[danaslitlist]

I can appreciate how creative a camera on stage can be but also it feels like the creatives are forgetting that people going to see a play or musical don’t necessary want to watch something via a screen.

[SimplySophieLou]

I know giving such low star reviews can feel really disheartening, but as a viewer I really appreciate the honesty and the authenticity you bring to every review whether its positive or negative.
It really goes to show that you are a trustworthy source of knowledge and critique in my opinion - not just one of those people who gives glowing review after glowing review to ensure they can keep being invited to things for free. We really appreciate you Mickey! 😊

[SM-BSW]

When Mickey Jo struggles to find something good to say about your show, it's time to reevaluate your life choices.

[TheWiseGrif]

seeing one star for the review makes me so curious because i feel like you rarely go that low...time to watch the video

[dylansmith]

I don’t think I’ve ever clicked so fast to see your thoughts on this! After that first impressions video, I knew you would show no mercy!

[EllieC]

My exact reaction to this thumbnail was "ooh a show I was thinking about going to see that a reviewer is calling terrible? Colour me intrigued."

[MartynThomas]

One star is generous - saw it during previews, i'm not exaggerating that during the interval the entire first two rows of the upper circle were all discussing if they should return for the second act. The staging was terrible - if felt like we had paid to watch a rubbish student film being recorded. The actors were playing to the cameras, not the audience - including many scenes (inc. the writer's big ballad) which were performed to the side of the stage, out of sight of the audience so they can belt into the camera with the right background. Sheridan survives the show, but couldn't rescue it - it was poorly conceived from the very start.

[carriehopefletcherhopeful]

Hi I met you today at Wild about you and you were so lovely so thank you for making it such a special experience (I also met the cast which was incredible)

[gabbygrace]

I had to read the programme to find out that the Directors wife (Amy Lennox) actually had a name! -_-

[kitsworld]

To answer your question, the video effect you were referring to is called "Optical Feedback" (or "Video Feedback"). It is the visual equivalent of the feedback you get when holding a microphone in front of the speaker. Optical feedback was used extensively in music videos of the 1970s and 80s - Bohemian Rhapsody being a prime example. It was also a common visual effect in low-budget sci-fi TV shows like Doctor Who and Star Trek. 🙂

[maxdavies]

Would love a follow up where you go through some of the press reviews because I've seen everything from 1 to 5 stars, would be cool to hear your thoughts!!

[eleanormagson]

Glad to hear they have changed it so Shira Haas *walks* off after the car crash, because when we saw it in previews she crawled off, presumably she was meant to dramatically disappear - but everyone could see her, which was hilarious.

As for the rest of it - a confusing, self-indulgent, pseudo-intellectual mess. I just felt bad for the actors saddled with it.

[Hpierrenyc]

Mickey: Do you know the John Cassavette’s film, Opening Night, with Jenna Rowland? It’s one of my favorite films and when I heard Van Hove was directing this stage production, I knew it wouldn’t work. I highly recommend you watching the film because it goes into the psychological complexity of the main character and the “opening night” is hysterical!

I think your giving a review about the movie and comparing it to the current production would be interesting.

[RachelClark-txeg]

The image/mirror repetition is called mise-em-abyme!! Same as the end of the title number for Sunset Boulevard

[dankane]

It sounds like this show has large storyline and tone parallels to All About Eve, recently directed by van Hove in London. Troubled Broadway actress surrounded by unsupportive men, an obsessed young fan, scenes in the dressing room mirror, projections above. Surprising to me that Mickey never mentions this.