Why I hated HEX | National Theatre Musical Review

OHMYGOD HEY!
Sign up to my PATREON for exclusive video and photo content:
/ mickeyjotheatre
SUBSCRIBE to My Channel: @MickeyJoTheatre
•
I hope you've enjoyed this video, if you'd like to see more of the Stagey Content I'm making including exclusive musical previews, West End interviews and general theatrical madness, subscribe to my channel! ⬇️
/ mickeyjotheatre

[@sataniagidney9695]

Note, the musical plot is actually very much based on one of the oldest written versions of Sleepy Beauty. That being said, if you’re going to go for that version of the tale, then really dive headfirst into the dark horror comedic tone. This is not a story intended for a family friendly romp. It’s innately dark story but it can be enjoyed if it doesn’t undermine itself. You can’t be serious or light hearted when you’re talking about eating your own grandchildren.

[@Someoneiguess781]

If they were going for the original story then the prince would have been married already, the prince would have raped the princess, the baby would be born while she is Al sleep. The baby sucks the thorn out of the thumb and than the other woman finds out and feeds the baby and the princess to the prince.

[@sataniagidney9695]

@@Someoneiguess781 basing a musical or story or film on something doesn’t mean the new piece is directly following the original. I was just letting the creator know that this story wasn’t some weird fever dream of the creative team, it’s just inspired from very old version of this tale.

[@alexp.d3689]

It's a actually mass-up of Persiforest ( a French fairytale from 1341 ,the oldest European version of sleeping beauty ) and the second part of La Belle a Bois Dormant ( Perrault's Sleeping Beauty from 1697 )... Both of those stories are fucked up,in Perrault's tale ( has attempted cannibalism since the prince's mother is part ogre ),but the story is a mess and not in a good way ...

[@saltysecondplace7029]

"I want to be constructive here... the lyrics need to be burned in a fire." I cried laughing at this

[@billvolk4236]

This story really has the vibe of a D&D campaign. Wild tonal shifts and accidental bathos, weirdness that doesn't seem to have a theme or point, gruesome topics mostly played for laughs, and a party that refuses to stay mad at each other.

[@Merina2222]

Agreed. The tone was wild. I had no idea how I was meant to be feeling about what was happening. The characters were intriguing but underdeveloped. I did like the costumes though, lovely to see such bold choices.

[@oldvlognewtricks]

Nothing like subsidised theatre for enabling ambitious production choices

[@JennyGranville]

I have just come back from Hex take 2 (Nov 26). Booked to take my grandson who is 9 for Christmas treat - he is now desperately upset (by the cannibalism) and is scared to go to sleep. That went well then.

[@rosalindhornback750]

I’m 25 and I’m terrified to go to bed after watching it.

[@EmilyRitcheson]

When you first brought up the ogress, my thought process was like: "Where can this possibly go?" "Wait, is the ogress going to fall in love with Sleeping Beauty? No. GROOMING? What?" "WAIT. This is how they're trying to explain to lesser told second half of the fairytale?! Are you kidding me?!"

[@Eleayday]

"If you don't know what nepotism is... it's this" This was the laugh I needed today haha

[@Lutethesage]

I was so excited for this musical! I was hoping it would be very campy and ethereal. It’s a shame to hear that it has a some what identity crisis… hopefully they will rework it! I do enjoy some of the songs but I can see what you mean about the chorus fills.

[@ms.marvelous8156]

I really don’t get where family friendly comes in when baby eating is such a major plot point. Like just embrace a dark comedy tone, similar to Into the Woods.

[@kareninacarado]

Hex’s vibes is so weird. Also, there’s been issues regarding how NT commissions their shows. Hex was co-written by Tanya Ronder aka RuNo’s wife. That is quite problematic because of RuNo’s position as artistic director of the National, and the theatre is subsidised, and nepotism happened here. Also the same problem with the other recently flop play, Manor, written by Moira Buffini and directed by her sister Fiona. So I guess it’s not a good idea to employ your family…? I was excited on the idea of Manor, and it was supposed to start performances way back in April 2020, but of course the pandemic. Initially it was Ben Daniels who will play the male lead, but eventually he got The Normal Heart and it was a better choice. Shaun Evans wasn’t a bad replacement, though. The NT could have had seen the problems of the script. The one and ZERO STARS reviews were brutal! (Zero stars was from The Times) It’s understandable about 3 stars, but the one star reviews are alarming. After all, this is the National Theatre! I’ve read that NT got rid of their dramaturgy department and instead had a new works department. I guess that’s the problem they need to sort out.

[@crisfranco4717]

Once again, MickeyJo -- a well executed critique! Your rapid-fire style provides a great deal of info. I really like your work. Cris

[@HufflepuffsPanda]

I'm so RELIEVED I'm not the only one who hated it hahaha 😂 I was so excited to see it pop up on NT at Home but I never expected it to be maybe the worst musical I've ever seen lololol. It's just a janky Walmart generic brand Into the Woods that gave me emotional whiplash. I feel so bad for the INCREDIBLE actors they did the best they could with this absolutely awful material. 😵🙏

[@richardseaman4947]

I agree with alot of what you're saying... especially about the crummy lyrics and I'm so glad you have the guts to criticise these things when they deserve it. The table within a table within a table sequence was a highlight for me... the baby eating scene in general was so bizarre I could feel the audience getting genuinely uncomfortable and although it was horrific it was at least a moment that made me feel something. One thing you didn't really touch on is the music; surely the fact none of the songs really lifted off is also an issue here. Despite all of this I did leave feeling like there is potential as they did at least create a truly original world.

[@wwozanewmusical]

it's telling the original unedited story of The Sleeping Beauty, after the prince wakes her up and they are wed, he doesn't take her back to his kingdom due to his mother is an ogres, so all of that is from the original unwatered down fairy tale.

[@luvmenow33]

Isn't it interesting how many of the fairy tales and stories of that nature there are that the masses are only aware of a edited watered down version of?

[@MB-io2lk]

"The lyrics need to be burned in a fire." 🔥🔥🔥 🔥 Damn Mickey tell us how you really feel. 😂 Were they really that infuriating?! Anyway sorry that you had to suffer this show. It really sounds messy and chaotic in the worst way

[@MrMakeDo]

I’ve just come out of Hex and the first thing I did was look up a Mickey Jo review and you’ve nailed it. I enjoyed some of the songs but tonally it shifted really weirdly. These powerful, heartfelt songs around really silly and cartoonish circumstances. The story wandered randomly and then it just ended. Odddd.

[@johnwatson1029]

I don't know who you are or what your background is, but I'm really impressed with your review. It is spot-on. Obviously you have considerable knowledge of musical theatre and have put your finger on what is wrong with this production, though in truth, that's about as difficult as finding a raisin in a bar of Fruit and Nut. What is really worrying for those of us who love the National is some of the choices that have been made since the return of theatre on the Southbank after Covid. Kicking off with an insipid and ineptly adapted production of Under Milk Wood which seemed to get grudgingly positive reviews as, after all, it was probably rehearsed on Skype or something and had a star lead actor. But a radio show as the first theatre production for over a year? And a ridiculous and depressing framing device that whacked you over the head with the 'topicality' of a nursing home? This point was so much more eloquently made in the last scene of the filmed version of Ian Rickson's Uncle Vanya. It took 15 seconds to convey the devastation wrought on theatre by the pandemic. The National's heavy handed bolt-on to Milkwood took 30 minutes. And at the time, this was really theatre for double-vaccinated oldies. Did anyone else dare to go out or, in any case, would anyone under 50 be seriously attracted to do so by this kind of programming? Then the disaster of Manor which I thankfully avoided. My theory is that they just can't take a beating twice in two months and so it was extremely wise to cancel the press night for Hex and it would be even wiser to quietly let this one fade away rather than embarrass all the wonderful actors further by bringing it back in November, unless, as you say, they rip up the lyrics, write some new songs, and decide what on earth this smorgasbord of horror is actually about. I actually thought the set was pretty good. And the actors were doing their best with some really ropy material. But there is NO WAY ON EARTH that I would take an 8 year old to see this due to the aforementioned bizarre baby barbecue scenes. Maybe I'm just too sensitive, but even the Brothers Grimm were not as grim as this. And on the other hand there is nothing adult enough to seriously entertain anyone with more than a passing acquaintance with current West End theatre, or indeed, the National's own wonderful productions of Follies, Paradise, England, Ocean, War Horse, Curious Incident.... I have no idea if nepotism has put paid to the prospects of this particular production. But the evidence, as your review suggests, is that none of this creative trio has done a particularly good job, and that's being very English about it. Of course one expects that things won't live up to expectations occasionally, or won't fit one's tastes, but it does seem that this has deliberately been put together too quickly and with too little sense of what the artistic whole might be. It does feel that, in the midst of all the marketing hype, the glossy (but also bizarre) posters and so on, we have been taken for a ride with this one. I really wouldn't want anyone to get seriously upset about it - especially the talented and hard-working cast - but come on National, you can do better than this!

[@soundgal_sine_qua_non]

I've just left the final performance. I'm so glad I am not the only one who found the plot a bit nuts, the tone way too varied, and the lyrics way too simple. I needed this review.

[@HufflepuffsPanda]

Me too!! I thought I was going crazy I was looking at all these reviews online that were raving about it 😂

[@AGGY143]

Because the press night was cancelled the filming of the show was also cancelled and theatre I work at that was going to show that and I was actually looking forward to seeing it I'm kinda happy it never came to us 😂 but I also want to see it for the sheer ridiculousness of it

[@radioactivedinosaur42]

I think this show had a lot of potential since the idea of telling Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the Bad Fairy could’ve been really interestingly if told from the right kind of direction, especially since this is retelling the 2nd half of the fairy tale which hasn't been adapted that much (the only other adaptations I can think that have adpated it is the Britannica's Tales From Around the World and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil)

[@alexp.d3689]

It's a mass-up of Persiforest and the second part of La Belle a Bois Dormant ( Perrault's Sleeping Beauty )... Both of those stories are fucked up but the way in which they arranged the story is even worse written than the second part of Perrault's the Sleeping Beauty of the Woods ( which has attempted cannibalism since the prince's mother is part ogre ),but the story is a mess and not in a good way ...

[@EstherBuckton]

Would love to see a review of the one that came back. I believe quite a bit was changed and while I haven't seen the first version, the second version is on NT at home. I loved it but then I love the chaos and disjointed nature of it.

[@stevielove4778]

Honestly, I have disliked nearly every show I’ve seen from the Nat’l Theater.. it’s a lotta pretension and a lotta-less substance.

[@fishhusbando3093]

Good news! A significant amount of the show has changed for this season! Bad news, almost none of these concerns were improved upon 😬

[@HufflepuffsPanda]

Exactly 😭😭 I just watched the nt at home recording and I was not expecting to be so awful lololol

[@bonnietriplett5329]

I liked it. I do argee that it could have some adjustments through. Like the orge queen really shouldn't have been just forgiven. she" ate "her sons kids. I didn't realize this was marketed as family show. Not surprised though. I think theres way to much villains can be redeemed/ should be forgiven in kids media. Like no either lock her up or..

[@MadameCorgi]

The plot is actually similar to early versions of Sleeping Beauty regarding the ogre

[@annedowell5060]

Oh my God I so love you so much! I am in quarantine recovering from Covid feeling a little sorry for myself and what should show up in my feed but your review of Hex. I’m always a fan of your reviews but especially love it when you don’t like something. I almost fell out of bed laughing so hard. Thank you so much for your insightful perspective as well as your amazing humor. You made my day!

[@julylyly]

I laughed out loud when Vin Diesel's head pop up!!

[@laurawebster7255]

It was interesting to hear your thoughts, thank you! I was umming and ahhing about going to see it, but maybe not!! It is disappointing that the National (my personal fave for many years) should be developing works without, from the sound of it, very much rigour in the process, when they really do have a responsibility to be better. (It sort of reminds me of when they did The Light Princess a few years ago - Rosalie Craig was in that and was delightful, as was the design, but the book and music were so pedestrian. Can they not tell when something is good or not?!)

[@TheTradge]

I only saw it because a mate of mine was in the cast, the whole thing felt like a fever dream, insanely bizarre and confusing, the music wasn't memorable at all, plus there was a 20 minute show stop near the end after both the stage revolve and fly systems stopped working, resulting in the Fairy getting stuck in the ceiling, and having to (ironically) be rescued by a member of the fly crew. It looked pretty cool, but honestly that's about all it had going for it.

[@jamiejomorgan967]

I do know that the musical is based on the very very weird odd oldest version of the sleeping beauty ever recorded… which was insane and NOT family friendly. Those original fairy tales were like… horrific,

[@jamiejomorgan967]

Oh but I haven’t seen the show. I wanted to see it so much, but your review make me feel a bit better about the fact that I guess I never will LOL…..

[@taizy1982]

I did enjoy it, mainly because Lisa Lambe was Fairy when I saw it and she blew my socks off. It was too dark for kids so I rankled a bit at it being billed as a family show (also the swearing wasn't needed) but as a grown up who enjoys being transported to a make believe world I had a good time

[@esteestimler4589]

🤣 ‘probly’ and ‘hi, hello’ ‘yes’! Why oh why don’t they hire professional lyricists? 🤔

[@blodlina]

We're only early days, but we'd love for you to review our demo album if you have time Mickey :) We've just had our first venue approved for the Edinburgh fringe this year, so hopefully we'll be there this summer!

[@cedgson91]

Love the shrek pictures hilarious 😆 and that plot sounds so confusing 😵‍💫 It sounds so bad I’m just laughing 😂 (sorry)

[@antiqueinsider]

Great review, clear and well-reasoned. Would be nice to see NT acknowledge these points (even, god forbid, who knows...) by making some changes. Surely the NT cares about pleasing their audiences, or is it just self-indulgent subsidy slurping?

[@christopheryoung4563]

so... its the UK's Diana???

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Diana does not deserve that comparison 😅

[@crohnierunner]

Sorry to say I disagree, I saw it yesterday and loved it brilliant show and cast were amazing

[@David-pt8ge]

Hi production of Small Island is extraordinary, but it feels like there is no consistency. The NT is where I started going to the theatre and I used to always look there first to see a show. But there is so much stuff that has been, sorry to say it, but absolutely terrible. A couple of years ago, they did a play with Cate Blanchett and Stephen Dillane. I can't even name it, because it had this really long stupid title. It was one of the most strange and inept shows I have ever seen. I understand that every theatre can create duds, but this seems particularly bemusing because people who know what they are doing, were not given a chance over Ruffie and his missus. And these missteps have caused lots of people to lose their jobs and as audiences, we have been asked to absorb huge ticket price hikes, in a way that has never been done through the theatre's entire history. The place feels soulless with so many staff being booted out the door. It is a real tragedy what is going on. The recent play in the Lytellton that pinned its hopes on it being 'with that chap from Eneavour' was such a turkey. It was so poorly executed and so ridiculous. What made it so strange is that the story seem similar to one that they used in a recent episode of Endeavour. Sorry, I think I have been more negative than I intended to be, but this is the National Theatre, somewhere I care deeply about.

[@freddie4376]

This seems very much like it is Wonder.Land all over again.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Wonder . land had better production values 😉

[@izzyrichardson5867]

DUDE NO WAY DID YOU SLEEPING BEAUTY AT CFT - I played Beauty lol - love ur videos xx

[@EspaALSC]

I will say, In The Middle has been stuck on my head for months and it is a beautiful song, however it is the only song ive listened from this musical XD

[@transportandtheatrekid2298]

If it’s a family thing Why the hell would they show an ogre eating children

[@rosymango]

My biggest annoyance, especially as I am huge DIsney fan, is why on earth they pretty much made Sleeping Beauty look like a carbon copy of Merida from Brave, even down to the Scottish accent!! It just made it even more confusing. I do think Rosalie was great, and to do what she did whilst almost 9 months pregnant is amazing! But yeah, really odd show which could have been fab but just didn't quite get there. Oh, and one more thing, WTF was that wig on Mother Ogre's head at the end!!!!!

[@MadameCorgi]

The actress is Scottish no?

[@rosymango]

@@MadameCorgi Yes I think she is. I don't think they made her do a Scottish accent. It is just weird to me that they made her look so like Merida, especially on a scottish actress

[@ladybatwing]

@@rosymango You must realise that Merida is based on....a stereotypical Gaelic woman? I could say 'oh I'm annoyed that they based Merida on Boudicca', so that point doesn't hold a lot of weight. There are many things outside of Disney.

[@Waggers789]

I completely agree but when I saw it the audience was really enjoying it. They better change a lot of it or get someone new in to rewrite it.

[@stephhughes362]

Wait, the whole ogress narrative is based on the fairytale from Andrew Lang’s Blue Fairy Book!!

[@mugs112]

Man, I was really hoping this was a musical based on the mid 2004 British TV series. Can someone please turn that into a musical 😁

[@rorolilred]

Ha I was completely in love with Thelma!

[@ItisEssence]

I love the soundtrack so much

[@Showtunediva]

Where can I find it?

[@avisnubia]

"Of you're not sure what nepotism is, its THIS"! LOVE IT!!

[@shanstergoodheart5177]

I watched this on NT Home and it is ... not good.

[@jayden.gazelle.theatre9060]

damn I was gonna go see it for my bday

[@rachelk2432]

Well… I loved it 😂 to be honest!!!

[@kickthespike]

Thank goodness I missed it!

[@amandawilson6471]

I didn't see it first time round but I'm sure they made a few changes as they dealt with the consent issue , at least briefly. However we left at the interval as it wasn't going anywhere for us - I mainly felt puzzled about why I was there and how I was meant to feel about this whole situation. For us, the songs weren't good enough and hence we wanted out.

[@hunhunhaha]

The whole show is a mockery of what you as a very simple English person/audience would expect and not giving it to you, and also a test if one see anything which seems normal but actually f-up in the society. If one can't see it they became very sad joke.

[@deanr3417]

Lol, loved this review

[@aosbo6096]

Baby and GOOSE 😂

[@Showtunediva]

I laughed at that part.

[@amy1608]

The plot sounds WILD 😂

[@ajmalaika1287]

OMG Thank you just listened to the soundtrack, it was interesting so I'm glad to have a deep dive. Hope the new years been nice to you

[@Vertigotheatre1]

We will never see this show return.

[@keikekaze]

Exactly. The people who concocted the mess that MickeyJo describes can not possibly be smart enough to fix it.

[@thom8303]

This is the best. We just need an adjective!!!

[@mariesagearing]

Great review! My friend said it was like it was trying to be Into the Woods but didn't quite work... It's interesting that they leaned into the original fairytale, but a shame that it's not quite worked!

[@HufflepuffsPanda]

I had the same thought! It could've been interesting but the writing just destroyed it 😅

[@natashakingston8302]

Wierd

[@freeform2962]

I am sorry...but it is NOT nepotism, when in 7!!!!!! years at the National you employ your wife -WHO IS AN ACCLAIMED PLAYWRIGHT -4 times. 4 times in 7 years.And may I also say that it is a bit much to say that "Rufus Norris knows bugger all about the profession".

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

The score to this show very much speaks for itself

[@mjjago]

Love this.

[@Lalallalu]

Sounds like a satanic play altogether

[@lrm223]

Wow, you really lost me there while running through the synopsis. This sounds very confusing.

[@Showtunediva]

I would be interested to see if the script gets revised & what improvements are made.

[@paullyPIAA]

Excellent vid!

[@Rossismagic]

It sounds awful...not for me baby 😧

[@louises2278]

Wtf!!!

[@april4998]

Gives very "Shrek" vibes🤣

[@april4998]

Dark Shrek vibes

[@zoethomas-webb386]

Really thought you were going to say the fairies flock to somewhere like . . . Birmingham. That would probs be a better show.

[@Showtunediva]

3:17 How does the fairy groom the ogre baby to be a prince? 4:19 I personally think this points back to the Shrek fan theory that Fiona is a cannibal…. This ogress in The Hex may not be Princess Fiona specifically but I think this points back to this ogress craving human flesh.

[@freemangriffin4953]

It is so interesting that you are in black for this video! It's a bit of funeral attire! (; Mickey's energy is entirely different in this video too! (:

[@alexrobinson515]

I really liked Hex. It wasn't perfect but it was fun and energetic. If anything the songs did not last long enough. I believe it is going to go through a change before it comes back. Hopefully with the same cast??

[@dominicdebartolo3687]

You need to go back 😂

[@ringocomedynews5825]

Hex was great I worked on it as a follow spot operator.

[@chlosocp]

Completely disagree with all your comments, Hex was the most uplifting musical I've ever seen with lots of messages of friendship, love and self esteem. The lyrics might have been simplistic but totally relatable and emotional. The cast was super talented and I really hope that it will stay the same when it reopens later on in the year. Maybe you need to stick to Andrew Lloyd Webber very expensive and complicated musicals....degustibus if you like.

[@HufflepuffsPanda]

I don't understand, I didn't get any of that from the show. I felt like they began to touch on some interesting themes but then the entire tone would shift and they would never come back to them. Maybe I'm missing something but I thought it really gave us nothing?? I do agree though, the cast did an INCREDIBLE job!!!