I would like to add that if you are an artist, this show excavates the complexity of the creative process in a way that is so raw and resonant. The struggle of writing, especially in a capitalistic society, is portrayed so accurately in this show. A Strange Loop is my favorite piece of writing ever - I cannot recommend it enough.

I was lucky to see A Strange Loop on Broadway and it’s become one of my favorite musicals.

I saw Freeman on Broadway and he was incredible. The West End is definitely lucky to have him! It’s totally worth seeing but if anyone can’t, still listen to the cast recording because it is sooo catchy. I listen to it all the time! When Usher says ‘my discontentments come in many shapes and sizes’ I felt that lmao.

I trust your reviews more than any others. I'm now utterly convinced that I need to see this show. Thanks

I saw this show off-Broadway, in Washington, DC, and on broadway. Loved it. And I can’t listen to “ Periodically” (sung by Thought 4 - Usher’s mother leaving a birthday message) without crying. So amazing.

Thank You MickeyJo!! I am seeing the show tomorrow and I am excited! 💚🥳🎭

I'm so thrilled you got to see this. I am living for the day it tours in the US. I want to see this so much. The cast recordings are incredible. Hoping for a West End cast recording!

Mickey Jo, Thank you for such an insightful and respectful review of this show! I missed seeing it in NYC and I'm planning on being in London in September. Unless the show is held over I will just miss the run at the Barbican. Your thoughtful and masterful explanation of the importance of intersectionality made me feel seen and heard! I have an even greater respect for your care and critical thinking skills! Thank you again🙏🏾❤️

Great to hear! Thanks for such an in depth review. Looking forward to seeing it in a couple of weeks.

a strange loop is one of my favorite shows. i saw it on broadway three times and only regret that i didn’t get to see it more. I think about it at least once a day and sing the songs regularly. i had no idea that the show was transferring to london and am so glad that it lives on-and that kyle ramar freeman returned as usher because his performance and voice are just so special-and i hope that it eventually makes its way back to broadway.

I have to say, from what I have heard, I think Freeman sings it the best of the three Ushers. Glad you got to see it!

The concept reminds me of [Title of Show] in terms of comedy (a show which I love), but taken to a new level of insight and sincerity

Can’t WAIT to see this now, thankyou so much for this review!

Saw it at the Barbican this evening. For me it was a “window” and very clever but as you say, extremely raw and very challenging. Glad I saw it.

I have been not-so-patiently waiting for this review since I heard A Strange Loop was coming to the West End! I saw the original production in New York in June 2022 and was BLOWN AWAY. I just loved it. I knew you would too. My only wish was that there was a warning about sexual violence prior to the start of the show in the way that some shows warn about guns, knives, suicide, etc. The scene is so incredibly important to this show, but as a sexual trauma survivor, a warning would have been nice just to mentally prepare myself for it. Maybe that has been added on the West End.

Saw this on Broadway and loved it! Glad you did too!

Thank you for such an insightful review! I scheduled a trip to Broadway in part to see this show, and it was mind blowing, but your insights helped me see how the stagecraft really supported the overall themes and meaning of the show.

Thank you for giving eloquent words to an experience that will leave many theatre goers speechless. I saw this last year on Broadway and look forward to seeing it again on a U.S. national tour in my hometown. Watching the audience watch IT could be a great show on its own.

You are incredibly well-spoken! Wonderful review

I went to see A Strange Loop at The Barbican last week. So good, but did definitely shake me up emotionally as someone white but who does intersect with some identities depicted. The style I felt was quite Brechtian in the way it 4th wall breaks & uses a lot of intentionally non-naturalistic, alienating theatrical techniques. I also think that I noticed that the music mirrored what was going on on stage (eg. The opening number where Usher is working as an usher mirrored the kind of music used in The Lion King and “Inner White Girl” really mirrored specific pop songs). I thought that was very cool. For anyone looking to engage with the piece I would also add some trigger warnings around racism, homophobia, sexual abuse, emotional abuse etc. I was very pleased to see that The Barbican had QR codes displayed with links to organisations that can help people who are going through things related to the topics of the show. Do make sure mental health is looked after during this show. I was very glad the friend I went with was up for a drink & chat about stuff at The Barbican’s martini bar after the show.

Memory song was what made me fall in love with this show. The pbs tiny desk recording closes with that, and it laid me out.

Saw it on the 28th June and the cast is INCREDIBLE, it needs a full West End run. Great review as always 🌟

Oh my word. This show sounds amazing. I wish I was in London to see it. It sounds like theatre at its best. From a theatre lover in Cape Town, South Africa

I'm seeing this tonight!! So excited!!!

I was there with my friend last week. It was really great! Glad you loved it too.

We just saw this at the Ahmanson Theatre and loved it!!

Yes, see this show! I got to experience it at the more intimate Playwrights Horizons in 2019 prior to its transfer to Broadway and am thrilled for the well deserved awards and accolades. (I still wonder why Larry Owen didn't make the transition to Broadway?) I've always had difficulty trying to distill this show into a few sentences that will convey why it's so good and that people should see it. Your review illustrates why that's not easy, there are so many layers to the writing/music/stagecraft/acting that defy easy categorization. As you perfectly articulate, we are emotionally tethered to Usher throughout because of the honesty and authenticity of the writing.

OMG I saw Kyle as Usher when I saw it on Broadway and was MESMERIZED by his voice. He is INCREDIBLE in this.

Saw the show on Broadway and was BLOWN AWAY. So happy you got to see it

Great review - I live in the US, and am curious how some of what I thought to be very US-specific aspects (e.g., Tyler Perry, and the Baptist church-style 'Aids is God's Punishment) come across ...

Really hope I can see this show at some point. It sounds absolutely amazing

I was so moved when I saw this on broadway 3 times SO GOOOOOD 😊

As a queer, Detroit native, seeing someone who’s similar in sexuality, region, and as an inspiring queer musical writer myself, this gives me so much hope and inspiration that someone from Detroit can make a name for himself, (who isn’t just Eminem), can make it big, it gives me so much motivation to continue on my own passion project. 😊 This is totally gonna go on my bucket list of next musical to go see on tour. Which I really hope that there’s gonna be a US tour, if not already! 😆😆😍

When we saw this on Broadway in 2022, Kyle went on for Jaquel Spivey about 20 minutes into the show. Jaquel took ill offstage and there was a 15-20 minute tech break before they announced Kyle would be replacing. I agree with you - he was tremendous in the role and had far better vocals than what we heard from Jaquel while he was onstage.

I saw it on Broadway. A fantastic show!

“Tongue-in-cheekly” - love it!

Ticket sales have been abysmal sadly, most of the seats are unsold for this evening and weekend. Looks like it's heading for an early close.

I saw Freeman on Broadway and was so happy to see him transfer to London-he is great!

Your incredibly positive review and enthusiasm of this show is awesome. I saw it back in October in NY , and I loved it, it moved me in so many ways that you mention here. However I left the theatre feeling ripped off, actually I felt the cast got ripped off. Why did I think that? Well as you also mentioned the audience was predominately Caucasian ( I too am white) and I truly believe 90% of them did not get the content or material. I even stopped a couple (male African American) on the way out and asked them if they felt the same way and they completely agreed w/ me. So I was not surprised when it closed in NY, as the general theatre going audience in NY is not the demographic this show speaks too. Amazing show, very sad outcome.

I was lucky to see the show last August. Kyle was one of the understudies performing. Great show, and challenging in many respects. Without spoiling, two moments were memorable gut-punches: The subway/train scene. Wow. Heartbreaking. Secondly, the question Usher's father asks before the set reveal. To be asked that particular question... i couldn't imagine. I look forward to seeing it again if we're lucky enough to get a US tour. There were parts I wasn't able to relate to, but that was my baggage, not the show's. (Mostly the religious struggles). I want a second crack at this show to understand it better.

Thank you MickeyJo. I love your reviews. I'm thrilled to hear that A Strange Loop lives up to the hype. I enjoy the music, but can tell from the cast recordings that you really have to see it to get the full value of the piece. On another note, I would love to hear you review venues. To me, The Barbican seems like such an odd choice of venue for this show. This show is so fresh and full of life. When I picture The Barbican, I just see an industrial wasteland. Am I being unfair? It's been a long time since I was in London. Do you find the choice of venue impacts your experience greatly?

Saw it on Broadway when it first opened. Amazing show!

After watching your vlog where you were able to interview some of the cast, it gave me a thought (which i commented there, and will repeat here), i'm surprised (not in a bad way, just in a "huh, interesting) way) they cast a cis/het woman as Thought 1, when they had L Morgan Lee on Broadway, and the show's championing of black queer representation

I was really looking forward to you review if this based on your soundtrack review. I saw it on Broadway and got a lot out of the show.

I absolutely loved some parts of this show, others I personally didn't really connect with, that may well be because I wasn't necessarily among the target audience, that said I certainly resonated with the writer's background as a theatre worker, as a community who are often under-represented and under-appreciated. The biggest takeaway I gained from the show was an insight into the struggle of someone who fits into multiple minority communities, the familial and societal pressures that come with it, and I do think there is something for everyone as I don't think anyone in their right mind can say they've never had serious doubt, depression or spells of self-loathing, because these are all very human traits. As a straight white male who isn't plus sized, the majority of this show for me is a window rather than a mirror, however that certainly doesn't mean that it didn't have a lasting impact, and give me a great deal of insight. For me personally it was a three, maybe four star production, but as I said that is largely because I'm not necessarily able to relate to a lot of the material, or perhaps I just didn't understand it.

Will you do a video reacting to the Broadway recording the same way you did to ride, with that extra commentary having seen the show, or is that too similar to the video you did before? I’m so intrigued by this show and want to know more about it

I'm hoping to see it on 31st August

♥️ ♥️

I don't care if it may be overkill, but i NEED a London Cast Recording, since it's an entirely new cast compared to the Broadway and Off-Broadway recordings

I loved the cast recotding with larry owens but was skeptical about it winning the tony over six. I saw it in ny and was blown away bc the revording doeen't convey the intensity. I'm not in lgbtq community but am a bw in America. There's definitely a demographic for this show. I'm glad you got to see it.

Mickey Jo - here in the US, , ,it's July 4th [ I had a party, and my son says] "hey dad I saw Mickey Jo, he's so cool, better than cool Mickey is on it!" needless to say he's on his way to a 3 week THEATER CAMP -- one day they will wheel me in to his B-way debut -- hugs my boy speaks the truth, thanx

This show closes the DAY before I move to London and I and soo sad I wish they’d extend the run 😭😭😭

Thanks for the review. I'm Gay, sort of closeted. I thought this show would be too black/too nelly/too public and painful, for my tastes. It did sound like an interesting concept. I will try it, if it's available, now.

A note that this musical is not autobiographical.

I saw Kyle as Usher on Broadway last summer, and he was brilliant. Also, just curious -- how well-known are Tyler Perry movies in the UK? (I saw another UK vlogger say that he only knew him as an actor, and had no idea about all the other stuff he's done, and didn't know the Madea character at all.)

As a straight white man, loved this when I saw it on Broadway, the specificities of the writing made it feel even more universal. Question: do the British thoughts speak in American accents or their natural British accents?

I had no idea this was a one act musical???

Begging for a US tour so i can see this show

Saw this on Broadway. I’m thrilled to see it survived by moving to The West End. Our loss. The tragedy: Broadway ( especially post-Covid ) is no longer a place that supports non-mainstream non-Corporate shows. If a show can’t sell advance tickets to busloads of schools and churches it can’t survive financially on Broadway. Disney and Concert “musicals” are not Art, nor do they enlighten. A Strange Loop is a piece of Art, and a lost treasure.

I want to apologize also: I realize i have a lot of prejudices. I want to work through them, and I realize they are not fair. I know, in my heart, we are all equal; and I am sorry.

First comment? I think so 😌

Hello idil😈

insiteful, but he does go on and on.....I got halfway

too bad the box office sales were not good. had to compete with bigger ones.

I look forward to Disney producing A Strange Loop movie. Maybe Tyler Perry could write and direct it.

I am glad that people enjoy this show, but I did not. I suppose my feeling is not a popular one, but that's ok. I work front of house on Broadway and have seen the show a number of times, and it just makes me cringe. Since I am a gay, black artist, I certainly can relate to the story. I just wish the characters self struggles weren’t exploited so much here, without proper redemption in the end. To me, it just shows how we hate ourselves and how family and society help us to do that. To me the show doesn't celebrate black gay creative outcasts, it shows our pain as entertainment. I wanted to like the show, but it made me very unhappy. Sorry, that's just how I feel.

A Strange Loop is the kind of brave unique creatIvely bold theatre that makes me angry when I see people praising boring jukebox trash because it’s “fun.” Like my god do you know nothing about what COULD BE if we fostered this work from new playwrights?!

I really wanted to like this show and I definitely can't say it was bad - the actors were great, I liked most of the songs and some of the comic bits were very funny. But it definitely wasn't my cup of tea. It was very intense and the I just felt so bad for the main character the whole way through with no real redemption for him. Probably didn't help that I saw both Groundhog day and Operation Mincemeat the day before - it just could not compare in my mind. Just my taste though.

God you lost me at about someone writing a musical about a young gay black writer… so confusing lol 😂

Sorry, i thought it wasn’t that great, didnt enjoy it at all, If there had been an interval, i would have left.

Are you aware that KZfaq has set an offensive anti gay ad from an organization calling itself the church of god into your channel?