The Fringe thrives on bold ideas, and Hot Mess, the new pop rom-com musical from Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote, delivers one of the festival’s cleverest conceits. Earth and Humanity meet, date, fight, fall in and out of love, and in the process chart the fate of the planet itself. It’s a relationship comedy where the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The show is anchored by two knockout performances. Danielle Steers (best known for SIX: The Musical and Bat Out of Hell), as Earth, has the kind of vocal power that can fill a West End house, let alone a Pleasance studio. She moves effortlessly from the low, smoky tones of conversational numbers to full-on belt, with songs like The Next Big Thing and Better With Time (appearing early and reprised later with even greater punch) setting the bar high. Tobias Turley (recently in MAMMA MIA! and winner of the 2023 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Award)**, as Humanity, matches her with an appealing blend of wide-eyed charm and vocal clarity, his naivety shading into swagger as the story unfolds.
What makes Hot Mess really work is the script’s clever wit. This isn’t just a metaphor stretched thin; it’s packed with sharp one-liners about dating, love, and co-dependency. Earth, ‘naturally selective’ about who she lets into her life, wonders if Humanity is here for the long term or will vanish in the morning. “Don’t worry about that,” he reassures her, “I’m planning to stick around.” Later, Humanity declares, “Of course I see you; you’re my world.” When the couple curl up with Fifty Shades of Clay, the pun lands perfectly.
The narrative arc is both comic and surprisingly sensual. Early on, Humanity is portrayed as naive, even petulant, accusing Earth of “flooding his crops” when things go wrong. But when she tempts him with the prospect of mining her coal and oil, the tone shifts: “Show me what’s inside, burn it up. The future’s bright, baby, get used to it.” The innuendo is cheeky, the staging knowingly playful, and the audience laps it up. The middle act smoulders with energy as Humanity and Earth explore this darker intimacy.
Of course, no love story is complete without betrayal. Humanity, restless, heads off in a rocket to court the Moon, sparking Earth’s fury. “You’ve not even cleaned up that nuclear waste leak yet,” she spits. “I need space,” he replies. The audience groans and chuckles in equal measure, it’s that kind of show. Humanity pleads, “I’m only human, tell me what you want me to do,” before the pair circle back for a reprise of Better With Time, cheekily acknowledging that “it’s even better the second time.”
Visually, the production makes strong use of a slick, pop-infused design, and the movement direction ensures that the metaphor never grows too heavy. It looks polished, feels fresh, and carries real West End potential. The only downside to that, is that this short two-hander feels perfectly sized at the moment.
In the end, Hot Mess is exactly what a festival musical should be: tuneful, funny, a little bit naughty, and just smart enough to say something bigger about who we are and how we treat the world we live on. With powerhouse vocals, clever writing, and irresistible chemistry, it’s an easy top mark for this one.
15:10 Daily (except 18th) Till 25th August
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2025HOTMESS
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 16th August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 1hr 5mins
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