A & O Review the Show

This week, we're back in London and heading to the Young Vic for Thelma & Louise: A New Musical, the stage adaptation of the iconic 1991 film.

With cowboy boots, country-rock music and plenty of line dancing, we follow two women whose innocent road trip takes a rather dramatic wrong turn. We discuss the fantastic performances from Rachel Tucker and Amy Lennox, how the musical brings new depth to these much-loved characters, and whether the production manages to do justice to one of cinema's most famous endings. Let's just say we have a few thoughts about the car.

Plus, in Adrian's Corner, we're hitting the road with some of history's most extraordinary female outlaws. From surprisingly polite highwaywomen to pregnant pirates, can Olivia separate the real-life criminals from Adrian's entirely fictional creations?

This week, we're 3,000 miles from home and taking A & O Review the Show to Broadway!

Recorded in New York City, our Broadway special takes in two very different musicals. First, we head to Schmigadoon!, the stage adaptation of the Apple TV series we already love, to find out whether its gloriously old-fashioned world of Golden Age musicals works even better when it's on a stage. With big dance numbers, musical theatre Easter eggs and a scene-stealing Betsy, this might just be the musical for people who love musicals.

Then we swap picture-perfect musical theatre for vampires, rock music and an apparently unlimited special-effects budget with The Lost Boys. Neither of us knew the cult 1987 film particularly well going in, but even if the story doesn't entirely win us over, flying vampires, jump scares, disappearing floors and an army of Michaels throwing themselves through the stage certainly give us plenty to talk about.

Two musicals at opposite ends of the Broadway spectrum, two increasingly empty wallets and one slightly noisy city to record in.

Join us in the Big Apple for our Broadway 2026 Special!

This week, we head to The Other Palace for Hot Mess, a new British musical about love, relationships and serious implications for the human race if it goes wrong.

Earth has been single for a few billion years when Humanity comes along. He's exciting, ambitious and full of potential but as their whirlwind romance develops, he starts taking a little too much. We discuss whether this unlikely rom-com metaphor works, the chemistry and performances that carry an entire two-person musical, and how Hot Mess turns climate change and humanity's relationship with the planet into the ultimate toxic love story.

We also ponder some of the bigger questions: is going to the Moon technically cheating? If Humanity can survive on Mars, couldn't he survive a slightly ruined Earth? And just who does Earth date after Humanity?

Then, in Adrian's Corner, we browse the Solar System's singles to discover which heavenly body is looking for love. Expect enormous peaks, very deep canyons, extremely long-distance relationships and one former planet who's trying not to get hung up on labels.

Join us to find out why Hot Mess thankfully wasn't a hot mess at all.

This week, we're back in London and heading to the Bridge Theatre for The Oresteia, an epic modern reworking of one of Ancient Greece's bloodiest family dramas.

We dive into a spectacularly dysfunctional family plagued by murder, revenge, betrayal and an apparently irresistible urge to kill absolutely everyone. We discuss the powerhouse cast, including Mary-Louise Parker and David Morrissey, the extraordinary full-size house built on stage, and how a Greek tragedy lasting more than three hours somehow managed to keep even Adrian engrossed.

Plus, after discovering that murder, adultery and family revenge aren't exclusive to Ancient Greece, Adrian's Corner asks the question nobody knew needed answering: Albert Square or Ancient Greece?

Greek tragedy or EastEnders plotline? Sometimes, it's surprisingly difficult to tell.

Join us to find out... and maybe bring an ice cream. There are two intervals, after all.

This week, we escape London and take A & O Review the Show on the road for our first Edinburgh Fringe special!Recorded in Edinburgh itself, we dive into three very different shows from the world’s biggest arts festival. First, Legendary takes us on a deeply personal journey through identity, family, Chinese mythology and Mandopop. Then Police Cops sends us hurtling into a gloriously ridiculous American buddy-cop parody involving tragic backstories, invisible guns, an evil drug lord and a suspiciously important cat. Finally, Bliss turns the traditional fairy tale musical on its head with four princesses, a fairy godfather, a magical pink lagoon and a rather different idea of happily ever after.We discuss what worked, what didn't, what made us laugh far more than expected, and which shows we think have a life beyond Edinburgh.

Three shows, two podcasters, one slightly frantic dash for the train home. Join us for Edinburgh Fringe 2026!Chapters:00:00 Introduction

01:14 Olivia in Edinburgh

03:35 Show 1 - Legendary

05:37 Initial Thoughts Post Show Chat

06:34 Chinese Myths

07:44 Further Thoughts on Legendary

14:12: Show 2 - Police Cops

16:20 Initial Thoughts Post Show Chat

18:44 One Liners

19:55 Stereotypes

23:23 Police Cops in Space

25:23 Show 3 - Bliss

28:40: Initial Thoughts Post Show Chat

30:27 Power to the Princesses!

31:18 Family Friendly

34:53 Final Thoughts

We’re running a little later than usual this week — but for a very good reason.

We’re currently at the Edinburgh Fringe, putting together a special episode from the festival itself. So bear with us for just a few more days while we squeeze in a few more shows, questionable decisions and probably far too much theatre.

Our Edinburgh Fringe 2026 special is coming very soon!

This week, we head to London’s Soho Theatre for The Hit Machine, a new play starring Josh Radnor and Noah Galvin, set in the world of music production but driven by something far messier: family.

We discuss the chemistry between its two estranged brothers, the humour threaded through their shared trauma, and why this intimate three-person drama turned out to be much more entertaining than we expected. We also get into the live music-making, Noah Galvin’s remarkable voice, and whether the story earns its rather rapid final resolution.

Along the way, Adrian tries to separate genuine chart hits from Eurovision entries, involving disco ducks, purple people eaters and at least one song about baking a cake.

Can these brothers rediscover their rhythm and become a hit machine together? Join us to find out.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:11 Synopsis

01:50 Initial Impressions

09:10 Story & Characterisation

19:19 Set Design, Costume & Choreography

24:42 Final Thoughts

25:55 Adrian’s Corner: Chart Hit or Eurovision Entry?

This week, we head to London's West End for Oh, Mary!, the award-winning comedy that imagines the final weeks of Mary Todd Lincoln as you've definitely never seen them before.

We discuss whether this wildly irreverent American hit translates across the Atlantic and the standout performances (including a brilliant understudy stepping into Catherine Tate's role).

Along the way, we compare British and American comedy, debate whether slapstick can go too far, and in Adrian's Corner separate Presidential history from complete historical nonsense.

Did Abraham Lincoln really wrestle for fun? Did Mary Lincoln really hold séances in the White House? And did she actually shoot the President herself?

Join us to find out.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Synopsis

02:13 Historical Context

04:39 Where’s Catherine Tate?

06:19 Initial Impressions & Personal Connections

07:56 Humour vs. Humor

09:10 Story & Characterisation

20:31 Set Design, Costume & Choreography

23:39 Final Thoughts

27:45 Adrian’s Corner: Presidential History or Drunk History? [Lincoln Edition]

This week, we head to London’s Old Vic Theatre for Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama of ruthless salespeople, corporate ambition, and enough fast-talking to make your estate agent blush.

We discuss the standout performances, the decision to cast the production entirely with women, and why we left feeling it was a fascinating revival that never quite fulfilled its potential.Along the way, Adrian discovers the baffling world of American real estate, Olivia revisits a play she first encountered at university, and Adrian’s Corner puts some legendary business slogans to the test.

Sell the sizzle, not the steak… separate the sheep from the goats… and when the customer gets prickly, get pricklier.

Join us to find out why the hedgehog might just be the next great business guru.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Synopsis

02:21 Initial Impressions & Personal Connections

07:24 Story & Characterisation

15:01 Let’s Talk about the all-female cast

23:30 Set Design, Costume & Staging

32:37 Final Thoughts

33:53 Adrian’s Corner: Business Mantra or Drunken LinkedIn post?

This episode, Adrian & Olivia saddle up for War Horse at London’s National Theatre.

In this theatre review, they discuss the breathtaking puppetry, the emotional journey of Joey and Albert, and why this First World War epic remains one of the most celebrated productions in modern theatre. Along the way, Adrian revisits the original novel, questions just how far one should go for a horse, and discovers that some of the book’s most moving moments never made it to the stage.

Also featuring: military pigeons, a beer-drinking army bear, and a goose that may have stolen the entire show.

War Horse… or War Goose? Tune in to find out.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Synopsis

01:50 Initial Impressions & Personal Connections

09:01 Story & Characterisation

15:18 Let's talk about Albert

21:01 Let's talk about the Novel

29:53 Set Design, Staging & Choreography

32:50 Puppetry, War Goose, Lighting & Costumes

38:27 Final Thoughts

39:33 Adrian's Corner: Real or Fake War Animal