Be more chill 😎

What happens when holiday cheer meets hard theatre truths and a cult teen sci‑fi musical? We kick off with real updates fans care about: Evita’s Palladium recording hits digital, Kiss of the Spider Woman announces eye‑catching leads, and The Greatest Showman’s stage premiere locks in a cast that actually fits the material. There’s mixed news too—Hercules lands with a thud, raising the old question of theme‑park staging versus full-blooded musical storytelling—while Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre readies a Cats revival under Drew McOnie that already looks hungry for a fresh take.

Then we shift gears into Be More Chill, tracing how a 2015 try‑out turned into an internet‑fuelled surge, a Billboard‑charting cast album, and sold‑out runs from off‑Broadway to the West End. We unpack Jeremy’s Squip journey—confidence as a commodity, friendship as collateral—and the way small details do the heavy lifting: a theremin’s sci‑fi shimmer, Mountain Dew lore, and a shape‑shifting pop‑culture “coach” that mirrors our habit of borrowing courage. The songs that won the fandom aren’t just catchy; they’re honest. Michael In The Bathroom captures isolation at a crowded party; I Love Play Rehearsal celebrates the rehearsal room as sanctuary. The message lands cleanly: it’s loud out there; learn which voice is yours.

Along the way we wrestle with jukebox rumours (Aqua’s aiming high), talk transfers and tours, and make the case for cast recordings as the lifeblood of new work—especially for audiences far from big-city theatres. We keep it practical too: what good backstage etiquette looks like, why revivals need a point of view, and how fandom can propel shows without sanding off their edges. If you care about musicals as living, evolving stories—and the people who find themselves in them—you’ll feel right at home.

If this episode hits a chord, follow the show, share it with a theatre friend, and leave a quick review. What revival or new musical should we cover next? We’re listening.

End of MLL

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Hello and welcome to Musical Lyrical Lingo. We're your hosts, Tim.

SPEAKER_05 0:29

And LJ. Today and every week we will be discussing musicals, but specifically what they taught us. Hi. Hi.

SPEAKER_03 0:37

We're back.

SPEAKER_05 0:37

We're back. We're watching Christmas movies.

SPEAKER_03 0:39

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 0:40

You're happy.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

You're full of jingle bells and we're not doing anything scary. Never again. Lauren has vetoed some of the musicals. We're not allowed to actually cover some of the musicals anymore on her list.

SPEAKER_05 0:56

She I need a break. That was too much. It was too much. It was too much.

SPEAKER_03 1:02

But listen. All frillinickers this week. It's fine.

SPEAKER_05 1:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:09

No idea who I said that yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_05 1:12

We got something exciting for us today.

Release News: Evita And Spider Woman

SPEAKER_03 1:14

Well, I do have some very exciting news, and I also want to ask your well, not ask your opinion. Well, maybe ask your opinion, say, yeah, no, that's your opinion.

SPEAKER_05 1:23

Okay, just a conversation with yourself.

SPEAKER_03 1:25

Interesting news, very exciting, um, is that actually at the time of this recording. Yes. The next day is the digital release for the Palladium's Aveda. So that will be released and physical release dates are to be confirmed. I don't know what's taking them so long because she was flashing out to vinyl.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 1:51

When she was doing the show. So I don't know why it's taken so long for a physical vinyl release. Not that I have a record card on the colour. But anyway, so there you go. Also, Spider Woman that we've talked about. Is it in the movie? Have you listened to the soundtrack?

SPEAKER_05 2:11

No.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Please listen to it. I want to know your opinions.

SPEAKER_05 2:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 2:15

I was thoroughly impressed. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it now. I think Jennifer Lopez sounds brilliant. Okay. And it sounds interesting. But the movie itself, some of the music is beautiful. I love film music.

SPEAKER_05 2:30

I know.

Casting Buzz: Greatest Showman And Barnum

SPEAKER_03 2:31

You know, when they take a song and then they make it into like a lovely piece of orchestral film music. It's just sounded lush and beautiful. So I'm looking forward to that. On all the Spider-Woman information, the revival we talked about on the pod, which is premiering in Leicester for short tour, they have released further casting information. They have. So joining Annie Jane Casey as the Spider-Woman is Layton Williams as Molina.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 3:01

Very exciting. And George Blagden as Valentine.

SPEAKER_05 3:06

I think that would be great.

SPEAKER_03 3:07

I kind of want to see it too.

SPEAKER_05 3:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:09

I would have to say, of all the musicals that we've talked about this year, that one's like me, should I say? Oh, I know. See what it did there. I see what you did. Being bitten by the Spider-Woman. It just has really intrigued me. I would love to do it. I don't don't know enough about it, and I want to know more. Oliver. Exciting. Full of it today. Um The Greatest Showman.

SPEAKER_05 3:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:38

The musical has announced complete casting for the world premiere. Oliver Thompson is going to be Petey Barnum. Samantha Barks is going to be Charlie Barnum. I think that's great. I think it's brilliant too. You were going, what's she gonna do next? Come on out of Frozen. Like what is next for her? Obviously, she's doing her lovely cathedral game.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

Yeah, that's right.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

But what a great gig, right?

SPEAKER_05 4:04

Yeah, fab.

SPEAKER_03 4:05

So it's start it's running from the 15th of March to the 10th of May in the Bristol Hippodrome. Is it one on tour? Or will it do West End transfer?

SPEAKER_05 4:14

No, I think I'll do West End transfer because I could go Palladium at some point.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

Oh, the Great Showman at the Palladium.

SPEAKER_05 4:22

Maybe it does make sense. One of those big because the devil is finishing in March, isn't that right? Isn't that? It's only been extended to them and it's in the Dominion.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:36

So you never know. But I don't think it's going on tour yet because your P.T. Barnum's show with Lee Meade is going on tour.

SPEAKER_03 4:45

So I don't think I want to go and see that.

SPEAKER_05 4:48

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 4:49

Because that's Barnum, the musical Barnum has been on my list of musicals I've never seen that I would love to see. Um although when it comes to Belfast, I don't think Lee Meade is playing P.T. Barnum. It's Matt Rawl, who I saw many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many many years ago. He played Shay in the Vega in London when it was Oh, the Argentinian. Oh, yes, yes, yes. And then uh Roger was a Vega and he was phenomenal. And I also saw him as Zorro in the Mask of Zorro.

SPEAKER_05 5:27

Right, okay. So he's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 5:29

Right. And I would love to see it. Shall we go? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:32

Okay, perfect.

Hercules Soundtrack Disappointment

SPEAKER_03 5:33

So that's exciting. How many talk? Not so exciting for me. And I'm really sorry.

SPEAKER_05 5:42

Why?

SPEAKER_03 5:43

And I hope you're not upset.

SPEAKER_05 5:44

Why?

SPEAKER_03 5:45

Have you listened to the Hercules soundtrack yet?

SPEAKER_05 5:48

Timothy, I just don't want to talk about it.

SPEAKER_03 5:50

Okay, so yeah. It's so underwhelming.

SPEAKER_05 5:54

Isn't that good? I know. And you know what?

SPEAKER_03 5:57

I feel so like you were so excited, and I kind of feel they have let it on.

SPEAKER_05 6:04

I feel like they've let me down to it. Because this show ran in Germany for years and years and years, and people have been like, it needs to come over. And the film is so good and has some great music. I don't want to say it's not we made it's Alan. The music is just wonderful, but there's just something about this West End show that just is a bit like it has been. What's going on, guys?

SPEAKER_03 6:28

Yeah, and I listened to it and I went, It's not making me like wanna bop and dance. And I was like, and then I went, is it too slow? Like are the temples like what's up song? It is born, right? And I was like, it's really like slow and scary. And I was like, maybe it's just me. So what I did, I went back and listened to the anime, the animated soundtrack. It's so like it's my day, Lauren's mind day. I feel they've let you down. I feel like they've let you do better.

SPEAKER_05 7:07

I feel like, and this is what I I I feel like it is in Disney World, Disneyland, you can go and see it's not Beauty and the Beast musical, but it's Beauty and the Beast on stage, and it is pretty much just the film has been lifted and put on stage, but a condensed version. So you're probably not sitting for like an hour and a half, you're maybe sitting for like 50-40 minutes, something like that, right? But it's great. There's the live transformation and everything. No, I'm also thinking like 90s, but that's what I feel like has happened with Hercules. I feel like it's a more in-park production rather than a West End or like a musical. I feel like they haven't got it right. They they've done it for people sitting watching, they've done it for like Find a Nemo and Lion King. And and I think even there was like a small like Frozen before Frozen the musical was. It's it's literally the film, yeah. Just on stage, but not quite musical-esque. It's like in between, and I think if that's what they've they've missed the mark, they've done that rather than actual musical. And yeah, it's just not exciting. That's why I still want to. Because I knew I was going to be disappointed. I went, oh, I wonder if Lauren, this should be so sad.

Cats Open Air Revival And Aqua Plans

SPEAKER_03 8:26

Yeah. Okay, well, let's bring it back on a positive note to finish your theatre news for today. Two other very exciting developments.

SPEAKER_01 8:35

Cats. Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 8:37

We want to have an open air revival next summer at Regent Park's Open Air Theatre. Yeah. Directed and choreographed by Drew McConey from the 25th of July to the 12th of September. Now, here's what's excites me. Anything that goes into Regent Park Open Air Theatre in that summer season that they do always is lush and different and like captivating. And so many of those productions then get transfers or tours after like Jesus Christopher Star. Jesus Christopher Star, like um The Fiddler on the Roof, which is like unlike any production of Fiddler that's ever been before. The second thing that excites me is Drew McComy. Yeah, is amazing, and I do love him, and I think it'll be really interesting. Also, the third thing that excites me about it, have you seen the logo? Hi Flip and Clever. Flip and Clever. So obviously, we know the cat, the original cat's logo was the eye of the cat. This is, if you haven't seen it, go and check it out, listeners. It is like a human eye, right? But then obviously the eyeshadows being done, the eyebrows are like to perfection. It just looks really intriguing, right? Doesn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:54

But they have they have said that it's not going to be like the Broadway. No, it's not. Yeah. So they've said that. But then I've also heard you know the way the Broadway kind of made it like it was it was humans.

SPEAKER_03 10:07

Yeah, it was. It was um like underground New York club. Yes. Like Vogan.

SPEAKER_05 10:13

So then people have said, oh, because this is more like a human eye, are they going to take elements from that Broadway, human-esque and humanized?

SPEAKER_03 10:22

I would love to see it. Because let's be honest, it's bonkers to start off with. So you can do whatever you want to really. So that has excited me, however. A little bit of pain escaped when I read this. Do you know who is working on a jickbox musical?

SPEAKER_05 10:44

Kate is working on a jickbox musical. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

I know what yes, I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie World. They are working on a Jbox musical and they have been quoted saying they want to conquer Broadway and the West End. They're go they are they are aiming high on I mean Aqua, the musical.

SPEAKER_05 11:13

What can it be about?

SPEAKER_03 11:14

Who cares?

SPEAKER_05 11:16

As long as we've got to be a little bit more.

SPEAKER_03 11:17

Come on, Bobby. Let's go party.

SPEAKER_05 11:20

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 11:21

And I understand why we've been awakening.

SPEAKER_05 11:23

Yeah, that's exciting.

SPEAKER_03 11:24

That's exciting.

SPEAKER_02 11:27

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_05 11:29

Well that I don't care. Yeah, you don't care.

SPEAKER_03 11:34

Do you know what I hope? I just hope it's a success. Unlike this this Spice Girls musical. Like that should have been better.

SPEAKER_05 11:44

It should have been better. And when we're talking about Spice Girls, could like streaming services please get Spice Burled on some sort of streaming services? Because I just love that film anyway.

SPEAKER_03 11:53

That is my guilty play. Like I did have the DVD of that and it was watched more than once. Oh, I love her.

SPEAKER_05 12:01

It's such a good movie. I could still quote lines from it.

SPEAKER_03 12:05

Yeah, brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

So there you go. There's our musical theater news for the week.

Be More Chill Enters The Chat

SPEAKER_05 12:11

Yeah, some exciting things to look forward to. Exciting that uh hopefully you got your those that are interested in it. Beetle just links went out this week.

SPEAKER_03 12:23

And then you can go to London and go and see that instead of Hercule's. Because I know you wanted to do a London trip this year, and it was to basically see Hercule's. Honestly, please don't do it to yourself. No, no. I can't be so sad.

SPEAKER_05 12:40

I also think Beetlejuice will be extended. It's only meant to have like a small one, but I think it will be. So I am kind of intrigued to see what else comes because I feel like there's going to be an another gap in the West End.

SPEAKER_03 12:53

Yeah, well, that's it. Like and a lot of musicals that were there have all gone at the same time. Like there's burlesque as being gone now, and neither of us saw it.

SPEAKER_05 13:03

Yeah, no, I know. But that's because it's making room for your debut in the Savoy.

SPEAKER_03 13:08

Oh, that's the other thing I meant to say. Have you heard the song that's been released from Palington?

SPEAKER_05 13:15

I've heard the two?

SPEAKER_03 13:16

Oh, I've only listened long enough to show you.

SPEAKER_05 13:18

Do you listen to the one that Tom sang? Yeah. It's beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

Isn't it beautiful? Beautiful. And that has given me so much hope for that musical. Oh no, I think that musical being. Every song is the calibre of that song. Like what was it called? Is it the explorer and the bear?

SPEAKER_05 13:35

Yes, that's it.

SPEAKER_03 13:37

Go and listen to it. Yeah. Listen, it is absolutely it is quintessential musical theatre. Yeah. Perfection.

SPEAKER_05 13:44

Yeah, no, it's not fly. Um, no, there's been a little again, I'll send it to you on the socials because you don't really do socials. It is like the baddie, the exit extra.

SPEAKER_03 13:56

Oh, Victoria Barrett.

SPEAKER_05 13:58

Yes, and it's like explaining like and it's like it's not a patter song, but it's like got that rhythm to it. It's and again, there's only maybe what 30 seconds of it, but it's great.

SPEAKER_03 14:08

Okay, it's great. Brilliant. Right. What about let's talk about a little BM that was once upon a time. It's not over though. This is gonna still well. Actually, there is a concert, there's a gala, there is reunion concert confirmed on the 10th of November at the Arts Theatre with Prophets going to Young Minds, and it includes some of the original. That's right.

SPEAKER_05 14:35

Yeah, because it's a 10-year-old.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

It is of Be More Chill.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Be more chill.

SPEAKER_05 14:41

So strange. Last week we had done Carrie, and then obviously that was gonna freak me out a little bit, and I said we need to do something that's a little bit more chill. A bit more chill. Let's do Be More Chill. But I didn't actually realize how like this is another teen musical. Even though I've listened to this soundtrack, I didn't really understand the story until I properly researched it. And also, there's a big Halloween party.

SPEAKER_03 15:08

That's right. And there's a song called Halloween.

SPEAKER_05 15:12

So yeah, very, very strange how we do this.

SPEAKER_03 15:15

And also a musical that has a lot to thank young fans, or or you know, you know, cult-based fandom folk.

SPEAKER_05 15:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 15:29

Which is crazy that we've managed to do that again. I just I think at this point, I don't think we're just geniuses. I know.

SPEAKER_03 15:35

We are just geniuses. If only I had the the the time for genius. Um with original music and lyrics by the genius Joe Icons. Icon is icon? Icon Icon and his name. Imagine I've heard the word icon in your surname. Uh and book by Joe Trux.

SPEAKER_00 15:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Ned Viz Vizzini. Vizzini. And though both boys really admire Ned and the novel, I speak really highly, and they say that their musical works so well because of the novel. Yeah, yeah. Which I think is really lovely because you don't hear you don't hear creatives like really grazing the original stories.

SPEAKER_05 16:33

No.

SPEAKER_03 16:33

Sci-fi musical Nilo, right?

SPEAKER_05 16:35

It is a sci-fi.

SPEAKER_03 16:36

I'm not a sci-fi fan.

SPEAKER_05 16:37

No, but Joe Iconis, which I whenever I read this, I was like, I can't think I understand. Maybe I don't. He he won the Jonathan Larston grant.

SPEAKER_03 16:49

Oh Jonathan Larson.

Internet Fandom And Broadway Journey

SPEAKER_05 16:51

I'm just like, oh my goodness, I think anybody that we've had a couple of musicals or a couple of people that have had a grant or something from his fund, and I'm like, oh, you went on and made a really good musical, yes.

SPEAKER_03 17:04

But isn't it lovely that those funds are going to people who use those grants to make something really special? Yeah. I just think that's like talk about legacy, that's legacy, isn't it? That those those funds and grants are going to people who were just like Johnson Larson. Yeah. And you know, good on them.

SPEAKER_05 17:26

And he also wrote the song Broadway Here I Come from Smash.

SPEAKER_03 17:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 17:30

Great song. Great, great, great song.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

And then some of the songs in this are great.

SPEAKER_05 17:36

Yeah, and also I love that it's just me because I always have to find a connection with everything. My daughter says that I'm crazy because I can't ever just like watch something I have to say, oh, that person is such and such, and they, and did you know blah blah blah? And she's like, Great story, Mum, great story. The the best friends called Michael.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 17:55

A bit like in tick-tick them. So I'm like, to me, that's like a little nod because he won't get the um the the Lawrence and Grant.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

Anyway, yeah, I mean, I think you made that connection up completely. Probably did, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 18:06

It makes me feel better. Makes me feel better. So you premiered in New Jersey in 2015. So novel was out in 2004, so quite close, but yet, you know, no not directly after. 2018 it had an off-Broadway production, but then moved quite quickly on to Broadway. 2020, we got an off-west end, and then it was in West End in 2021, but it also went to Japan, which I find really interesting. Amsterdam in 2023.

SPEAKER_03 18:33

I suppose that's i am not yet.

SPEAKER_05 18:35

Yeah, and I suppose the the pill is meant to be from Japan.

SPEAKER_03 18:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 18:40

No, 2018. So you think it was off Broadway in 2018? Okay, hadn't even made it, and already there was an announcement of a film adaptation.

SPEAKER_03 18:51

Yeah, so there's been chat of this film adaptations since then.

SPEAKER_05 18:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:56

Although I mean you haven't heard anything recently.

SPEAKER_05 19:01

No.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

Do you know what I mean? I I think there's been more chat of other film adaptations that have come about since then. You would just wonder, is it been bumped by the dynamics? It's it's had quite it's had quite the run to get to where it it it eventually got to. Yeah. Like so in 2015, it started, as you said, with those try-out runs in New Jersey. The critics didn't love it, and the show didn't receive another production. However, in 2017, the show began to gain traction because uh of online uh when the music and a good leg that was posted grabbed the attention of passionate teen fan base and it began to grow. The cast recording then entered into the Billboard Top Ten in July 2017. So the show was resurrected for that 2018 off-Broadway run after that that you know fan traction. It sold out, including a further one-week extension. And I think that's why then the show opened at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway on the 10th of March 2019.

SPEAKER_01 20:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:23

The Broadway transfer was estimated to cost 9.5 million. It did close then on the 20th of June 2019.

SPEAKER_05 20:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:33

It had a London run at the other palace. I I haven't seen anything in there. I would love to see something in it. Because it's had some really like good. I think this is a smaller, smaller scale musical. It's 100%, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:50

Um a bit like, you know, it was in the other palace, babies, yeah, and things like that, which kind of the brothers and heather started being identified. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

The oh Marion and Cake.

SPEAKER_05 21:02

Cake.

SPEAKER_03 21:02

It was the next one.

SPEAKER_05 21:03

Do you know it just like it'd be really good over here in the Mac or something like that? Do you know?

SPEAKER_03 21:09

Like And then what was in recently? The brand new musical? Is it 51st days? Was that the one about the first time?

SPEAKER_05 21:15

Oh, yeah, it's oh no, was 13 Gone on 30 not in the other palace? Or was that in Edinburgh?

SPEAKER_03 21:21

I had one of those two. So in the other palace, it did close early due to the COVID pandemic, but the show then did transfer to the Shasbury Theatre for a 10-week run open on June 30th and closing on September the 5th, 2021. So I mean that's had a decent we run of various different people do love it.

Plot, Themes, And Teen Anxiety

SPEAKER_05 21:47

Um teenagers do love it, and like you'd said, that original cast recording streamed had been streamed 150 million times. And this then just takes us right back to our wonderful conversation with our wonderful friend of the pod, Nico. How this needs to happen for any new musical. Yeah, there needs to be a cast recording. The cast are singing the songs anyway, get them into the recording studio, yeah, get the music out there, let people discover it and find it.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

I think this is what they've done with Burlesque, isn't it? I am sure I think they have recorded it as recorded. Okay. So when are we going to get that?

SPEAKER_05 22:26

I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_03 22:27

Because I'm dying to hear what the music was like.

SPEAKER_05 22:31

But uh, I just it that has to be that has to be in the contract. If you don't get a pro shot whenever you're on whatever, like a big massive, you have to have a cast recording. There has to, and especially for new musicals, how are we meant to discover them? Because theatre is not accessible all the time. So we need to be able to listen. Yeah. And we know because of where we live, and obviously theatre doesn't come to us all the time, or big shoes certainly didn't come to us. We just sat and listened to the casts and do and obviously still do.

SPEAKER_03 23:03

So that was me last week. You're a couple of weeks ago listening to the Hercules one, listening to the Spider-Man. Like, I love when a new cast reporting drops.

SPEAKER_05 23:12

Yeah, so we we need to keep championing this, but I just think that's amazing 150 million. And it was really through YouTube and Reddit and stuff like that, where actually a lot of you can find loads of community members and people sharing, sharing your love. It really is a really unique musical. So, what is it about? What is it about?

SPEAKER_03 23:30

And just before we move on, Joe Iconis was nominated for a Tony for it for the music for Best Original Score. Yeah. Um, what is it about? As a sci-fi, and I'm not a sci-fi fan.

SPEAKER_05 23:44

So it's a really unique, it does follow the the novels pretty well. So Jeremy is a high school junior and he lives with his dad, who this is quite important. He the dad refuses to wear trousers, which actually annoys and irritates Jeremy. Jeremy's bullied, he ends up signing up for the school play because he fancies a girl, but he's introduced to this um Squip, which is a super quantum unit Intel processor, like a drug. And it's a little pill that plants the computer into the user's brain. He ends up taking this, which gives him confidence and popularity, but it means he also blocks out his best friend, which is Michael. In the end, there's a big Halloween party, and in the end, somebody burns a house down. It sort of leaves you he wakes up in the morning after everybody has ended up taking this pill and he ends up in hospital, and he soon starts to not listen to squib anymore and not listen to the voices of his friends and family. He just listens to himself. So it's kind of a journey of self-discovery and realizing that there's always going to be voices, but the most important voice is yours.

SPEAKER_03 24:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:56

And you've got to listen to it.

SPEAKER_03 24:58

So taking a squip is very unconventional method of fitting in, isn't it?

SPEAKER_05 25:04

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 25:06

And then there is an element of this swip was trying to become world dominant. Yeah, I think over the words of that as well.

SPEAKER_05 25:15

It's definitely that. And like he's introduced to this squib from the the guy that like is bullying him, and then he thinks that it's only them that are they're on it. And then as he goes back and does the play, he realizes that actually the teacher has has given everybody in the play it because he wants the play to be amazing. It's one of those like you think as a teenager, you're the only one going through something, and then the more you talk about issues and the more you talk about your concerns, you realize somebody goes, Yeah, no, I'm feeling that too.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Listen, Lauren, that was my takeaway. My first musical lyrical lingo was thank goodness I'm not a 14-year-old boy anymore. Yeah. Going through high school.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:58

Going through life. Nightmare. Absolute nightmare. And like all of those things like filling in, and you know, I even the even the idea of joining the school play to be popular or to meet people or to meet a girl or you know, like all of that.

SPEAKER_05 26:15

Yeah, trying to like navigate life when everything is changing, your body is changing, and you just don't know what's happening.

SPEAKER_03 26:22

And even we Michael, like how we Michael was feeling when he started to like move away from Michael and all of that.

SPEAKER_05 26:29

It was like, oh yeah, trauma. Yeah, no, no. This musical is often cited as the first true internet-fueled hit musical. Oh, interesting. Also, because it did sort of come before before COVID. So Beatle Just falls just in that sort of like internet-fueled musical because people were outraged whenever they heard it was closing because it was only sort of gaining traction on like the likes of TikTok and stuff. We've had like we had Ratatouille internet musical during COVID, and then we had the Bridgeton musical, but this here is because it was a musical that then, like being on the internet, people found it and shared it and loved it and liked it and all of that stuff. Yeah, a bit similar to last week. I don't have a huge amount of musical lyrical lingos of the lyrics. And it's not that there was words that it wasn't like they weren't using big words or anything like that. It's just it's more of a modern up-to-date musical. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:28

And and we do find that with those more up-to-date musicals that some might say there isn't the eloquence in the vocabulary, maybe used anymore. But what did make me laugh was you came to me about a week ago and you were like Yes. I didn't realise how rude it is. Like Lauren was like absolutely affronted. Like, and I was like, oh, at that point I hadn't listened to that thing, you know, and reminded myself of it. Because I'll be quite honest with you, I think I'd done a lesson or two in the past, but I hadn't like it wasn't one of those ones with any insight out inside out. Do you know what I mean? It's only my third lesson, and also what the things about quite a lot. Obviously, for a 14-year-old boy. He's can picture and we're not gonna mention some of the what is it, slang words for different parts of anatomy and and yeah, um occurrences that might occur.

SPEAKER_05 28:38

That's a very good way of putting it. Have I done that quite well, Lauren?

SPEAKER_03 28:43

Honest to goodness, pretty Lawrence beside me here. She was absolutely hilarious. I don't remember it being so rude.

Lyrics, Slang, And Tech Easter Eggs

SPEAKER_05 28:50

I was like, is it rude? And I think as well for me, I I do remember like obviously years ago, like putting it on and the kids being in the car and me going, nope, turning that off. But they were maybe a lot younger than they are now. But now, as I'm listening to stuff, I'm like, oh, I don't I don't like that this is the age my kids are starting to become.

SPEAKER_03 29:17

Come on, come on. And it's such a catchy opening and also does make you go, oh, I remember sitting on the computer, like waiting as the like the dialing up with the ring of death. Is that what you called it? Like waiting for the broadband to no, it wasn't broadband, it was just dial up to come on. However, he's waiting for something. He is waiting for a certain image.

SPEAKER_00 29:45

Yeah, waiting on but it's like I wasn't waiting for that.

SPEAKER_03 29:49

But I do remember each other on MSN. And then every so often, like one of us disappeared, and that's because I'm sorry, somebody's on the phone. I used a computer at home. I used a computer at home for two things when I was that age. Talking to you and MSN. Talk into you and MSN. And my musical favorite series. I thought it was so good. I thought it was so cool. I've just burned the new TV tomorrow. I'll bring them into the bottom. It's a really good one. I think you like it. That's literally how I went.

SPEAKER_05 30:27

And now it's just like digital where you like send me something. No, you don't have to burn the phone to see. Oh, we were so killed. I think that's what you were trying to say.

SPEAKER_03 30:38

I'd rather be dear. I'd rather be dead.

SPEAKER_05 30:40

Like doing anything else.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

Exactly. Exactly. One thing I did.

SPEAKER_05 30:46

I actually had to say to my husband, do you know what this is? And of course he did because it's iron. Anyway, a therem. A therem T-H-E-R-E-M-I-N.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:58

So Be More Chill is reportedly the very first musical to have a therem in its pit. And a therem is an electronic musical instrument that is played without physical contact, producing a spooky sci-fi sound.

SPEAKER_03 31:17

That's very cool. That's very cool. That's really cool.

SPEAKER_05 31:20

That's a good thing. Apparently, that's the very first musical to have that in its pit. And that's just one of those things you like. You don't actually touch it.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's weird, isn't it? Yeah, that's weird, isn't it? In the song More Than Survive, the dad sings, We are all men in this house. Pretend we're in the army. Ten Hut. Ten Hut. Now according to the novel. Now according to the novel that the show's based on, Mr. Heave is that Mr. Heave. Mr. Heave. Mr. Heave. We'll go with that. Mr. Heave uh wasn't even in the army and he then sings is like a drill command.

SPEAKER_04 32:01

Yeah. Did you know that? Do you know what Ten Hut? Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 32:05

It's just like come to attention. How do you know that? How'd you know that? How'd you know that army reference?

SPEAKER_05 32:12

M is a jungle book? M is a jungle book?

SPEAKER_03 32:15

What? What?

SPEAKER_05 32:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:17

Did they say turn book? Do they say turn hook? Turn quick on the left quick.

SPEAKER_04 32:23

Or did we do it in the army section?

SPEAKER_03 32:26

No, but I've been never. No, but I've been never I've never heard before. Yeah. Yeah. But there you go. But there you go.

SPEAKER_05 32:34

I think we did it in the army section.

SPEAKER_03 32:37

We didn't do ten hut.

SPEAKER_05 32:40

Oh no, did we just go attention? Right turn.

SPEAKER_03 32:44

By the left. Okay. March. He also sings I'll never be a Robert De. So this is not Jeremy.

SPEAKER_05 32:53

Not Michael.

SPEAKER_03 32:54

What's the Jeremy? Jeremy sings. Jeremy sings I'll never be a Robert De Niro. For me, Joe Peshi is fine. Robert De Niro. So Robert De Niro on IMBD calls him one of the greatest actors of all time. But Joe Pesci is known for playing secondary characters and sidekicks. So Jeremy Stephen shows he's completely happy being a supporting character just as long as he's there and present. That was. That was.

SPEAKER_05 33:26

You just wanted to be there.

SPEAKER_03 33:28

Present. Present included. Involved. One of the gangs. Just not centre of attention. Didn't want centre of attention. Didn't want centre of attention. No. I'd want centre of attention. Back then. Yeah. Back then. No my god, please don't look at me. Oh my goodness, he's looking at me. He's looking at me.

SPEAKER_04 33:47

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 33:49

He also thinks my He also thinks my MacDaddy game. Couldn't be more limp. Couldn't be more limp. MacDaddy? MacDaddy?

SPEAKER_01 33:58

Old slang.

SPEAKER_03 33:59

Old term slang term for MacDaddy. This is another example of Jeremy using outdated and highly irrelevant terms in everyday speech. He struggles. Does struggle. I would say he's on spectrum. Yeah. Somewhere. Yeah. He does struggle with everyday speech, talking to people, hence he takes this pill to fit in. He's completely disassociated with social norms and doesn't know to fit in. How to fit in. What's that?

SPEAKER_05 34:37

Which is sushi, which includes steak and scallions.

SPEAKER_03 34:42

Oh that's sick. Do that steak. No, I can do that. No, I can do that. Do you know what it also mentions? Do you know what it also mentions? And I was like, I have to write this down, Ron. I'll be so proud I know what it is. He sings cause the girl. He sings cause the girl at Sev Eleven gave me a generous port. Sev-elev abbreviation abbreviation for 7-Eleven, which is an American convenience store, and did you know that?

SPEAKER_05 35:09

And what other high schools? I knew that too.

SPEAKER_03 35:13

I knew that too from our Heller's episode because I didn't know what a 7-Eleven was. There you go.

SPEAKER_05 35:18

See, musicals always teach you stuff.

SPEAKER_03 35:21

Yeah, indeed.

SPEAKER_05 35:22

Um I just had in Do You Wanna Ride where it mentions Pinkberry.

SPEAKER_03 35:29

What's Pink Berry?

SPEAKER_05 35:29

And it's a frozen yogurt shop. And it's a frozen yogurt shop.

SPEAKER_03 35:32

Oh, is it like a franchise? Oh, is it like a franchise?

SPEAKER_05 35:35

Don't we have that in Dear Evan Handsome as well? Oh, we do. But I don't know if it's Pinkberry. It's one that's very specific to California. But again, I was just pulling out like elements. We've got 7-Eleven, we've got frozen yogurt.

SPEAKER_03 35:51

Have you been dipping berry?

SPEAKER_05 35:52

No, I've definitely been to a lots of frozen yogurt shops, but I don't think I've been to a specific Pinkberry. Okay.

Culture References And Product Lore

SPEAKER_03 35:59

Fair enough. Um Halloween. In Halloween. The number. Yeah. Not last week. They say give me nicotine, vaseline, and vitamine and gasoline. That line. That line just rang another music musical to me. Give it to you again and see if you again and see if you can pick up what very similar to think about what we've mentioned already. This episode, it all makes more sense, right? So the line is the line is give me nicotine, vasoline, and fetamine and gas gasoline.

SPEAKER_05 36:36

It's another high school one.

SPEAKER_03 36:39

Nope. He got a grant from her.

SPEAKER_05 36:43

Oh, tick-tick boom. No, no, no, no, no, no. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Love Evo M. Yes. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:51

It's just Love Evo M from Rent.

SPEAKER_05 36:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:53

To me. And now that's because I didn't know. And now that because I didn't know that he got the Jonathan Marsh grant. So it all makes so much sense. That's so weird.

SPEAKER_05 37:03

Yeah, 100%. That's why I think that's all I learned. Well, um, one of my favourite souls. One of my favourite souls.

SPEAKER_02 37:09

Michael.

SPEAKER_00 37:10

Michael Lincoln.

SPEAKER_05 37:11

Yeah. Um Michael. Yeah, you know, I do think that he said Michael because of Tic Tik Bum. But uh he mentions a PT cruiser, which is a car, but it's a really ugly looking car.

SPEAKER_03 37:25

I bet that would fit with I but that would fit with Michael. Michael's not the color.

SPEAKER_05 37:29

Nobody else knows that somebody's driving a PT um cruiser and it says Chrysler cruiser car, but it's like got a couple of bumps at the front of it. I looked it up, I was like, I don't want to be driving a PT cruiser.

SPEAKER_03 37:40

So it's not a brand new car.

SPEAKER_05 37:45

Uh but it hasn't failed me yet.

SPEAKER_03 37:48

I love when you I love when you make those laughs. I love when you go, that wasn't funny. It was delicious. That was literally one of those laughs.

SPEAKER_05 38:03

Yeah. They have to do something special with the squip. Can you remember what it is? Can you remember? To take it with something.

SPEAKER_02 38:12

Oh yeah, mine. Oh yeah, mine. Yeah, they've got to take it with green marking juice, which is the original and the best.

SPEAKER_03 38:20

And we can't get the it over here because there's apart from in like the like American can I.

SPEAKER_05 38:26

I still don't think it's the proper one because the substances in it are banned over here. Yeah. But it's like that American call.

SPEAKER_03 38:37

It's like that American called that my brother took one time and sent him boogaloo.

SPEAKER_05 38:43

But what happens when they they drink Martin Dew red? Martin Dew red.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

Oh. Oh.

SPEAKER_05 38:51

It deactivates it. So that's what happens during the play whenever he realizes that everybody has taken it. And but it though it does make a reference in the music. Where he says, you know, people can't take it because it's being discontinued in the 90s. But actually, Mountain Dew Red, there was for a very, very, very limited time a Mountain Dew red sold in 1988, but it is not the same Mountain Dew red that is available now. And Mountain Dew red came out in 2001 and it's cherry flavoured, and it alone increased Mountain Dew sales by six percent. Oh wow. Which is a lot like for uh a drink's company.

SPEAKER_03 39:32

And are you talking here? America.

SPEAKER_05 39:35

We don't have any Mountain Dews, one thing we don't really have over here. Once upon a time we did once upon a time, didn't we? And then it was banned.

SPEAKER_03 39:42

Yeah, but yeah.

SPEAKER_05 39:43

Um, I love that this squid can present like anybody, but the default is can you read? Like I just think that's so funny, both in looks and sound. Some of the productions have changed because he says he goes, Are you uh can you read? And he was like, Yeah, this is only a default. You could be so in the original productions it was Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, yeah, and then it said, like, or somebody uh from anime, and now it's been changed or it has been changed to either Princess Leia or Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell. So surely you can just change that.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

But surely you can just change that whenever you want.

SPEAKER_05 40:27

I think so because it's also been Batman Beyoncé, and then the anime bit has been updated to sexy anime cat girl with a teal.

SPEAKER_00 40:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 40:37

So I think that that that's pretty funny. Squip is obviously this this pill that they take. It's a computer, it makes you more confident and attractive and know exactly what it is you want to say. But Squip, as you said, maybe wants to take over the world or maybe just wants more power. A bit like he just wants everybody to have one, a bit like something else. A bit like something else. Apple or social media. Um so there could be that sort of metaphor for what is it we're really taking on to better ourselves? Is it bettering us or is it hindering our true selves?

SPEAKER_03 41:16

The answer is yeah, is it blocking out our real voices?

Squip As Metaphor And Sci‑Fi Rarity

SPEAKER_05 41:19

Sci-fi musicals are very rare, but this is a rare and fun as it blends high school with sci-fi. So I think it works.

SPEAKER_03 41:27

I think it works actually. Like I do think because I'm not a sci-fi fan, but I can decide. I didn't know.

SPEAKER_05 41:33

Yeah, I think as of that misfit sort of element to it, and they are quite likable characters, you know, they're not horrible.

SPEAKER_03 41:41

I wanna see Jackson on the light. I think the musical. I think that's a sci-fi musical that I would give a go to next. Is there not sci-fi? It's green. Is there not a mythology? Alright, then all right then I don't know. I haven't seen it Greek mythology. I haven't heard recording.

SPEAKER_05 42:01

But it has a test recording, so uh I mean I don't know if that falls under sci-fi, like science fiction, science, Percy and the lightning thing. Science fiction fiction.

SPEAKER_03 42:22

I have no idea what sci-fi um I can spell it.

SPEAKER_05 42:26

I didn't realise that the author of the book he himself struggled with his own mental health and he did die by suicide. How day? Yeah, so I just yeah, really important message in Be More Chill is it's tough as a teenager, it's tough during life, but try and listen to that strong voice in your head, and if you can't listen to that, listen to others around you. Yeah, and that voice will get stronger.

SPEAKER_03 42:52

Definitely. So definitely. Yep, there is health like there.

SPEAKER_05 42:57

Um and also in the end, oh I didn't know that. Jeremy's dad does put on trousers.

SPEAKER_03 43:03

I don't understand why it walks away. I don't understand why it walks around with like no trousers away.

SPEAKER_05 43:08

Do we? I also don't see why it's a that big a problem.

SPEAKER_03 43:12

Oh come on.

SPEAKER_05 43:12

No, I'm not saying that I would like it. I just mean like Aaron started walking around.

SPEAKER_03 43:18

Aaron started walking around this house. No, I'm just actually saying I like what we've got no trousers on. With no trousers on.

SPEAKER_05 43:24

Yeah, Aaron would never do that. No, but that's not the point.

SPEAKER_03 43:27

No, but that's not the point.

SPEAKER_05 43:29

Yeah, I suppose it is a bit weird. That's weird.

SPEAKER_03 43:31

It is weird.

SPEAKER_05 43:32

It is a bit weird. It is, yeah. Okay, per Jeremy. I just thought maybe Jeremy was being a wee bit like his dad just wants to be.

SPEAKER_03 43:39

Like you just wouldn't be able to find out. Like you just wouldn't be able to invite anyone wrong because your dad's always on his Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi's Wi-Fi. Oh my goodness, why fum? Wi-Fi's.

SPEAKER_04 43:51

Oh, that's still probably that's like a jump straight to the drug and that's called Wi-Fi. Would they would they take there you go?

SPEAKER_03 44:02

Well, do you have Emmy H standing on the book?

SPEAKER_05 44:05

I love Play Rehearsal and Noah.

SPEAKER_03 44:10

Really?

SPEAKER_05 44:11

And Michael in the bathroom.

SPEAKER_03 44:13

Yeah, Michael in the bathroom. Yeah, Michael in the bathroom. It's actually the song. It's actually the song that I heard before I then listen to full cast recording.

SPEAKER_05 44:21

I think those two, yeah, people kind of know them. But I like I love play rehearsal because she's so like she's cute. Cute. She's me.

SPEAKER_03 44:29

It's weird. Yes, she's weird. Yes, she is literally you. Um I actually love things like that. Very good, very good.

SPEAKER_05 44:41

And that is a really lovely song because it builds um and great edition song.

SPEAKER_03 44:48

That's great.

SPEAKER_05 44:49

Absolutely fantastic song, but I'm sure it is over sang. Out of editions.

SPEAKER_03 44:54

I know exactly. I know exactly that really well. Do that really well. Okay. Um yeah. So yeah.

SPEAKER_05 45:02

Yeah, that was great. I really enjoyed that. I do like doing new new musicals, musicals which are maybe a wee bit different, and just like looking, you can always learn something.

SPEAKER_03 45:12

Yeah, and yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_05 45:15

Help, help, whatever.

SPEAKER_03 45:17

But as we say, but as we say, every musical has a message. Every musical has a message. You learn something. You learn something. Valuable, valuable life lesson from every musical. We haven't been let on yet. We haven't been let on yet, and we're three seasons in. Episode 160. By my count.

SPEAKER_05 45:38

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 45:38

I know. 116 episodes. It's mental.

SPEAKER_05 45:41

Who'd have thought?

SPEAKER_03 45:42

Who would have thought? Well, who would have thought? Well, here, think this one three. What would Paddy do? Would you rather have your microphone have your microphone left on backstage to reveal a private conversation you're having? Would you rather or would you rather have your microphone cut out during your crucial solo number?

SPEAKER_05 46:06

I'm gonna say cut out during uh crucial solo number because I'm all about performance, so the performance is still gonna be great.

SPEAKER_03 46:17

I'm bigger than any microphone.

SPEAKER_05 46:19

While the conversation people are always gonna talk about that. Well, whenever the mic cuts out, they're gonna say it's the biggest.

SPEAKER_03 46:28

It's the biggest I have in theory. I have to do it. When mics are left on, when mics are left, I can cope with it. I can cope with most other things that go wrong. I can cope with the mist cue, I can cope with the microphone cut and out. Frustrating as that can be. Especially if it's a show you've been involved in. I can't abide when a microphone's on. When a microphone's on, I need to hear people talking backstage. I can't ready to get out of them to walk out of London.

SPEAKER_05 47:04

Because it's bad in theater practice, you know can't talk. You just you shouldn't be talking. So there's no need to go, oh shit.

Mental Health, Messages, And Songs

SPEAKER_03 47:15

Because that is gonna like distract from so it's oh I was at a show. And I went, I was at a show recently. Oh no, and that happened, and I was like, Oh no. What is going on? And then happened three times. And then happened three times.

SPEAKER_05 47:31

And you can kind of like every time I just got more and more. But it it kept going. Like it was it was really obvious and really loud, and you were like, It's really large, and you're like, Oh my god, oh my god!

SPEAKER_03 47:48

Like, oh my gosh. But yeah, I know that was thoroughly enjoyable. That was thoroughly enjoyable until next week. Until next week.

SPEAKER_04 47:57

Well we need to discuss that.

SPEAKER_03 47:59

Well we need to discuss that alright, don't we? And when you see it'll happen again, we'll pluck two the next two musicals out of thin air, we'll do it. We'll go away, we'll do our research and come back and go. These two are linked. Of course, I think we just make up. I think we just make up like some OE connection here and there.

SPEAKER_05 48:17

Well you do that anyway.

SPEAKER_03 48:18

Well you do that anyway, to be fair. Um until next week, we'll just have to come back and see what we're talking about.

SPEAKER_04 48:25

It'll be a mystery there, so indeed. Till then.

SPEAKER_03 48:27

Indeed, till then bye.