DIANA: The Musical - Review | Why I kinda liked it...

[@katiecashman922]

I'm honestly just in shock with the amount of hate this show got and I'm actually glad you were unbiased about it and pointed out its flaws, but also highlighted its good aspects too. I think as you stated it is a bit too soon for them to be turning Diana into a musical but, I don't think its as horrendous as stated by the media. Now, however there are definitely aspects I think they could have shown a bit more rather than just in lyrics, but they definitely did a somewhat interesting take on her life whilst not directly trying to make an indecent mockery either.

[@JayJasperLondon]

Not ashamed to say I watched it twice and keep listening to the cast album as well. I can see why some people have their issues with it and some lyrics and expressions still make me cringe every time I hear them but at the end of the day I enjoyed the good parts especially the music and the choreography, the settings and the performers.. and I will continue to enjoy them 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@steppbrotha]

Me too!!

[@lindakahler4799]

Love the worst job in England

[@ARoseRisen]

Still listening to it. Saw it on stage a few weeks ago!

[@brokenheartcosplay1713]

Hi! American here..personally i absolutely loved this show! And it even made me cry with the final number “if (light of the world)” multiple times! Though I also pretty much also agree with everything you said in this video at the same time! But no matter what I thought this was a fun and unique way of telling the tragic story of princess Diana! Including if it just did a Carrie the musical and just totally miss the mark by 10,000 miles! But that’s just my thought on it!

[@alexandercousins2186]

100% agree with most everything you’ve said…I enjoyed it despite the flaws. It’s just weird how universally hated it seems to be

[@bookofdust]

Yes, I wanted a duet like “I Know Him so Well” or “I Still Believe.”

[@HoloManHands]

The country song "Does he Love You" by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis would fit perfectly.

[@DDTC73]

Jeanna de Waal (Gina) is a Brit, trained at Lipa. I love that she played Chris in Carrie and Princess Diana lol

[@mikeym.2789]

I thought she was an Australian

[@ajmalaika1287]

I feel like there was so little press to tell people what tone and angle the show was going for so people saw the name and thought it would be a hamilton or a deep sincere show so when it went a little camp and poppy it was very jarring

[@cody1981]

I do completely agree that it has its flaws. But I just could not have a bad time with this show. The lyrics are questionable at times but, somehow the catchiness of the music just almost makes up for it? I don’t know if that makes sense but, I’ve been playing the cast recording.. a LOT.

[@StitchedRoses]

I honestly adored this show because I came in knowing it wouldn’t be anything like other historical shows. The Dress is so much fun, the quick changes are stunning and even the lyrics that made no sense had some campy enjoyment to them. I honestly think people are taking it too seriously, because this show isn’t meant to be taken seriously. It’s like a campy love letter to Diana.

[@Simon-fj2ul]

Yes! Yes! Yes! This show doesn’t deserve half the amount of hate it gets. It’s good camp fun. It has some brilliant songs. Yes, some lyrics are too Americanised and don’t feel “true” and it should have ended when Diana walked off into silence at the end BUT it’s nowhere near as bad as some say it is. It feels like it’s trying to be what Elisabeth was in Germany/Austria and falls a bit short but it’s still very well done for what it is and was a risk that should have paid off more.

[@mystii8134]

Yes exactly! It felt like it was trying to be Elisabeth das Musical but it just couldn't pull it off! I've made comments comparing these two shows before because they're really quite similar but Elisabeth just does the themes and pulls off the idea much better! Elisabeth is one of my favourite musicals, if not my favourite!

[@larapalma3744]

I liked the ending

[@fp30e]

Hi Mickey Jo, what an excellent review of Diana the Musical. I think you were so spot on with your review. At the end, when Diana walked to the back of the stage was very tastefully done (it made me cry), the show should have finished there, or maybe with a good bit of writing and a show topper tune do a montage of her life and finish off with Harry and William in the spotlight. Sorry being a bit theatrical there. The show has potential for a good word of mouth. With an audience I think the show will come alive. And finally I loved the 4 quick dress changes in the show, it made me jump out of my chair and I wanted to clap, then I remembered where I was. Take Care.

[@robertstevenschumann]

Spot on! I rewatched it and found more I like vs what I hated. Your review makes perfect sense, and I hope it has a chance.

[@katiebuerk6913]

The first time I watched Diana: The Musical I struggle the first 40 minutes but I really enjoyed it in the end. IF is my favorite song

[@falsechinese2435]

For me the problem was that the scrip never got intense in any of the big moments of dianas life. It tried to show everything but ended up showing nothing. Everything felt supeficial...

[@emhu2594]

It felt like someone's passion project but they had no passion, knowledge or talent

[@johnnarohlman]

I just saw it on its opening preview on Broadway and I honestly really enjoyed it… I know it’s not 100% accurate and some of it is cheesy but I like that is a different and they try to make the story fun and colorful

[@Fabaret]

Never thought about the Diana and Cinderella comparisons x Good point! x And bravo on another fair critique! x

[@emilyrln]

It'd be fun if Netflix released a TV-MA cut that just restored all the f-bombs to "The Dress" 😂

[@paulholt2317]

The secret to enjoyng this show: approach it with the idea that having kings and queens in the modern world is rather silly. I think Diana thought so.

[@stylinsue535]

I loved it and the cast recording rocked. I’m obsessed. ❤️

[@ameliarose8822]

Is it bad that I actually really liked the musical? I first watched it, think that it was a utter joke. But now I keep rewatching it 🤣

[@MySUPERkate]

Completely agree - feels like a Edinburgh fringe show! Xx

[@DDTC73]

Hamilton is probably the wrong comparrison because, as you said, it's a Pulitzer Prize winner, but people of a certain age might remember the West End shows like Napoleon or Leonardo or Lautrec, all of which flopped in a matter of weeks. Diana does have some moments, and a certain campness to it, which make it better than at least Leonardo and Napoleon. One of the few saving graces of Lautrec was Hannah Waddingham who sang a gorgeous song called 'Look Into My Eyes'

[@Deancolby]

So glad i found your channel - straight forward with a sense if humor-and knowledge- thank you Sincerely Dean

[@Jenmarach]

I saw the show when it was in San Diego and I was rather baffled and surprised by it. People went to see it but they did not love it. I thought that they would change some of it but they really didn’t. But I have a different perspective because I actually wrote ‘Princess Diana the Musical’, which was the first musical about her in the country. I don’t have $9 million to work with like these guys do and I haven’t won a ‘Tony’ but my show has been played around the country and has done pretty well. I feel like this ‘Diana’ was missing some characters. My musical has Prince Philip, Fergie, her flatmates and Prince William. This ‘Diana’ is a fun show but I don’t think it is good enough show to be on Broadway. But I think the people playing the parts for the most part are very good. The difference between their musical and mine is that mine was written because I absolutely loved her, and I feel like they wrote the musical for different reasons. I wish them luck but I don’t think it’s going to last on Broadway, but what do I know? My show isn’t on Broadway!

[@alvinmedina7121]

you knew it wouldn't last . I thought either hit or miss . it was miss , bad word of mouth from beginning which is always tough

[@WiseGuy19]

I didn't hate this either. It's not exactly what I expected and the lyrics are unpolished, but I thought it was campy fun. The five act one finale dress changes are more fun to me than Frozen's one dress change. Elsa eat your heart out.

[@N_Garamond]

i agree it had some fun moments, fun staging, and very nice vocal performances all around, but like you and others have been saying the tonal shifts are so weird. most of the time i didn't know what i was supposed to take seriously and what i wasn't. a couple of songs were obviously light in tone and that was fun, and a couple of moments I felt really leaned into the heaviness of the moment, but the rest was so muddled and shallow. the lyrics to the songs were just...not good on the whole. we really didn't sink into any moment or event before we were whisked away to the next thing. every scene and song were so quick there was no time to process or get deep into any emotion, including the end. I will say that Camilla was my favorite character and I felt like her presence added some much needed depth and flavor to the story.

[@act.of.whimsy]

Thank you so much for this review!! I do think the tone shifts were very jarring...serious serious serious and then a joke? that’s not a good enough joke to know if it’s supposed to be a joke, and then I’m just sitting there wondering if it were supposed to be a joke and then thinking about if an audience would have laughed at it or not. (Also not the show’s fault that my mind wanders 😂) I liked I Miss You Most on Sunday as a song and it was performed beautifully, but it seemed really out of place in the show. That we stopped dead to get a beautiful ballad from the villain. I agree about the missed opportunity for the woman/woman duet!! Also the death scene was freaking incredible. And then I felt like it really weakened the show to have it not end there, or at least to have other characters end it (like you said). Ahhhh so many thoughts! 😂

[@sammyadams5061]

I just saw the musical a few days ago and I loved it, and I do think it's had to much of a negative response. I absolutely would love to watch it live, but unfortunately it's closed. Also, have you thought that maybe they didn't have alot of characters because it was done during covid-19?

[@kidwell.michele4770]

I'm so glad to have found this video so I could admit that I actually enjoyed Diana the Musical😆

[@angelawhitehouse8066]

Jeanna was brilliant. My sister and I both really enjoyed it. Loved the comedy. It's the demented Diana fans who hate it, even though they havnt watched it !

[@frugalwitch]

The thing in the song about wanting William to be king is based on her real interview with Martin Bashirs on Panorama

[@jamessimon3433]

So right off the bat i should say that i just watched the show and i think its a terrible insulting mess. BUT im really taking in what you have to say and a couple of your points have me hating it less. Thanks for being bold in your review.

[@jamessimon3433]

Well said

[@deanr3417]

Just watched it on Netflix. Omg so cheesy. Some clever lyrics but some just god awful rhymes too. Though I like the vilified prince and his married mistress. Oh wait, future queen?

[@ninab9969]

This show really needed a nuanced review, and this is it. Completely agree on all points.

[@jamiefarrar5662]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for not hating it! So many people do!!!!! I too have thoughts. Would you like read them? You are fabulous!

[@jamiefarrar5662]

The musical ended abruptly because Diana's life ended as such. She didn't see it coming .So as she singing "If" about her dreams, her hopes and dreams for the future, that's what she invisions: a future with a love and more children . She still wants to in a way be a part of the Royal family-- for her boy's sakes, but no, she doesn't want Charles to reign because if he had caused her so much pain, what in her eyes would he do to the people? So if he steps aside and lets her William reign, that might make her turmoil worth it. When she sings "flashbobs feel the air" that is the moment I feel she's dying and all these dreams are fading away with every breath so to speak. She invisions life moving on without her (Camilla meeting the Queen) and as fights for her life, somehow accepts this and walks slowly, sadly off stage, in a flash.

[@SusanRahmsdorff]

I have watched it far too many times and enjoy it immensely. Sadly friends said it didn’t translate to stage as well

[@bookofdust]

I kept thinking at the end she was signing “Alight the World” not “I’ll Light the World” and I like my understanding better as it seems more like something we could all do instead of specific to her.

[@stacierice3873]

The show isn't the train wreck I was expecting it to be. I actually liked it. It has a few good songs. It's a good time.

[@Stephenb033]

Watched this review then watched the Netflix recording. I rather enjoyed it. The actor playing Diana is superb. Just the right amount of restraint and so many beautiful outfits made me forgive the shows flaws.

[@fredericbernard4309]

100% agree. As for me - I'd have never thought I can love/hate a musical at the very same time. It's just amazing at some points...but very cringy a few moments later. Still music-wise the major part is strong, and especially the main song is extremely catchy.

[@aschmarkl]

I liked the cast and the costumes are stellar. Sadly the score is pedestrian and that’s being generous. I’d give it two stars

[@act.of.whimsy]

You’re going to review the DEH movie, right??

[@Upndouin]

I started watching it, my partner went to bed and in the end I could not stop watching it and actually enjoyed it and did not know how I felt about it lol… it made me think if Six was made a few years after Henry VIII had died - imagine the criticism?

[@sadienbelle]

could you talk about your opinion of cinderella? i thought it was cool but pretty average yknow? i've seen some people saying it's really bad and others saying it's amazing so idk what to think lmao

[@ajmalaika1287]

He does have a review for the ALW one on his channel (you've probably found it by now)

[@sadienbelle]

@@ajmalaika1287 i hadn't, thank you for letting me know! i quickly watched this vid yesterday but didn't scroll through the channel :D

[@bethgarden4537]

Hey Mickey Jo, recent subscriber here - really love your take on theatre and completely agree with your analysis of Diana. I wanted to know if you'd seen or are aware of Pride and Prejudice: The Musical on Amazon Prime? I absolutely adore it and would love to hear your thoughts.

[@warrioryoga68]

I personally loved the musical just enough interest created by it to make people interested in it to do the research. Parts were campy but it was a insite into both sides though already known very rarely addressed in most media on the topic usually its a pick a side free for all. I found at the end of the first watch threw I was left wanting and needing more so watched it again and obsessed with the musical. I found it made Charles and Cammila seem like people stuffy people but people none the less and the humanity on the topic is rarely seen. Yes some angles could have been better and I love the unedited F you dress I mean how many times can you swear in a sentence and its allot apparently. I think the musical could have been longer and is worth a watch it will be a cult classic.

[@johnnynotty]

I love your channel MickeyJo. I cringed when I saw this musical pop up on my NETFLIX a couple of weeks ago. But I will give it 10 minute chance due to your kind review x

[@stevielove4778]

Woah. With due respect, I can’t give your opinion much credence here. This show is a travesty. It is categorically bad. The characters manage to be less than one-dimensional, without the nuance of real humans or the charm or wit of cartoons. It has no idea who’s side it’s on, seems terrified of it’s real-life counterparts, thus whitewashing each into soulless beige wig-heads. Perhaps the best way to say it is that the entire show lacks Identity : it has no Perspective, absolutely no theme (tho it tries to tell you it does in the literal last moment - which has bafflingly little to do with anything that preceded it -) and it manages to shoe-horn a bunch of what I KNOW are meant to be jokes due to context clues and line deliveries, while having absolutely no sense of humor . It didn’t even have the balls to be camp, (which it comes really really close to - it looks like camp it smells like camp… is it camp?) Nope. It IS unironically bad, but doesn’t take itself serious ENOUGH to be naive camp. And it’s too nervous to commit to staged Camp, (would require making a real choice, something Diana The Musical refuses to do). Am I being too harsh?! I love musical theatre, and this show contains everything that people Hate about it. There are sooo many talented, passionate artists creating stories from their point of view, and they will never see the lights of a theatre - whilst DIANA perpetuates everything people who “hate musical theatre” are right about.

[@scoooter]

I’m going to watch it on Netflix tonight. I love hearing your reviews. I think your amazing, smart and very fair with your reviews. I live in Orlando Florida but I love all things London even though I have only visited once. I just booked a cruise out of London one year from this month. Can’t wait to see some more West End Theatre. On my last visit Everybody Loves Jamie was the favorite show I saw while in London. Thanks for keeping me entertained and excited about the UK 🧐

[@ZennoreC]

Thank you for reviewing this fairly

[@andrewstorm8240]

Cats is terrible but this musical not too bad - maybe they could have called it The Crown the musical

[@delaneyewert5399]

I loved “I miss you most on Sunday” lowkey so good

[@JustMe-ho2bi]

Thank you for your review! I also enjoyed watching it and going understand why it gets so much hate. There are sooooo many worse productions out there, but some media just wanted to hate it, so they didn't give it any fair chance at all. I hope it will the success and ticket sales it deserves.

[@01denese]

I liked it as well. The only embarrassing thing to me was the introduction of James Hewitt.

[@wwozanewmusical]

I couldn't finish it, it was to one line and not enough ups and downs for me, plus it just felt sloppy with the writing and the lyrics. I turned it off and didn't look back. it just wasn't for me.

[@Showtunediva]

I am cautiously optimistic to watch this musical. I was 12 when Princess Diana died so I remember seeing her funeral on TV.

[@JuliuszCovers]

A very balanced review! I agree with pretty much everything you said. It’s no great work of art, and the lyrics hurt sometimes, but still, there are things to like there. If I went to see it in theatre, I would definitely have a good time. But seeing a story like this in a time when The Crown is a hit, the (largely inevitable!) difference in style makes for a pretty jarring contrast. So in a way, The Crown makes a huge disservice to Diana. But then again, without The Crown, this would never have been made. Which kind of means that the creators would have had to create something EXQUISITE to make it work. Otherwise, this was destined to fail.

[@jenniferwisdom-hagler6263]

I just listened to the cast recording. It was pretty good, not great but good and decent. They probably just should have stuck to the love triangle between her, Charles and Camilla, that would have been better, I think. It’s the seventh musical I have on my phone

[@TheGirlInGeekGlasses]

I wouldn't say The Crown is completely historically accurate, it paints the royal family in a far better light than they actually are. If anyone wants to watch The Crown, please do take it all with a pinch of salt!

[@jenniehale6523]

I appreciated your watching the Netflix before a final verdict. As for 2 parts you did not like or understand, like Hamilton, the odd lyrics go to the source material. The song at the end- LightThe World- these were Diana's aspirations, as expressed to Andrew Morton in the last chapter of Diana:Her Own Words- which to me makes the song even sadder, and more poignant and emphasizes what still could have been done by such a lovely and energetic humanitarian. And, as someone who lived through the devastation of the first wave of the AIDS Crisis, again I refer you to the source material. I am so greatful that your generation does not have to go through the stunning bigotry of those times. But, sadly, this is how it was, and it is what made her visit to AIDS clinics ahead of her time. I remember when this made the news here in the States- it was inspiring, and it was without artifice. The Queen's line about Camila having patience, and Diana wanting to be able to wish them well is in the book, too.

[@sgtdroxie]

I loved it! It's a garish cmpy musical...and it was a lot of fun...great campfest 💎 👑👠👜📿

[@The.Lilomay]

Now that a lot of video talking about Queen E, the character Queen E gave to people Was not who we get in the musical

[@Wrrhrckd]

How did they do the wedding dress scene

[@dulcimerrafi]

I, too, compared this musical to Evita.

[@witchywoman2008]

I agree with a lot of what you said but honestly, I just hated it. There are maybe 3-ish songs I enjoyed and the rest just sounded awful to me. The script was poor and I just didn’t enjoy it 🤷🏻‍♀️ Edit: the cast was great though. They did the best they could with this mess

[@RFountainJr]

The camp trivializes the story and seems very wrong. I could see there being an amazing musical from this same story where they’re not hitting you over the head the these broad story elements and portraying the complicated relationships far better than what we see here. Evita is light years better with a similar story but has the advantage of the Che character commenting on the events as we see them play out. (I’m American, I predict a very short Broadway run.)

[@RedMoonSolitary]

I think the show had a lot of good things about it, but overall, it just seemed like a fanfiction of Diana's life. All the characters were kind of just huge stereotypes. I also feel like they didn't go into Diana's mental health issues enough . I liked a few of the songs, but they work better for me out of context. It was ok, but it could have been better.

[@The.Lilomay]

I think they start the show wrong And that set the tones of the whole thing I don’t like the perspective I don’t like the music style I don’t like the character building It feels very high school project to me And when u have terrible opening It’s hard to win the audience back

[@michellemahar9030]

I didn't hate it or love it. It felt like it was trying to be, Evita, and it just wasn't. The opening of act 2 was terrible. The biggest problem is it doesn't seem like the creator of this show knew what he was trying to say. I bet it could be edited into something a lot better.

[@larapalma3744]

I liked it Not fantastic but ok

[@kallen868]

It will be a camp musical like Carrie.😂

[@angelahorton5745]

I thought the costumes were excellent copies of clothes worn by Diana.

[@bigjedimullet]

Apparently costume designer William Ivey Long felt really passionately about this show and wanted it to work. I don’t blame him, he did *stunning* work with quick changes and the recreation of iconic outfits. (The only place I fault him is the outfit in “This Is How Your People Dance”-it’s supposed to be a dream sequence; why not put her in the outfit she was wearing in the famous photo where she’s asleep at a royal event?)

[@Lighting_Desk]

Yeah it wasn't terrible, wasn't great but it was a mood.

[@clevm002]

I didn't hate it. I just thought 'this is interesting... And some of the songs are good'. Just was a little... Mummy dearest ?

[@laustpeternielsen-norman9569]

Did not hate, I was fun😂

[@nataliejakacic2272]

I thought they really missed the opportunity of creating a score similar to The Light in the Piazza, I feel like it has that right combination of seriousness and light-heartedness that captures her classiness.