The spectacle of the Golden Globes, an awards ceremony with a famously chequered past, unfolded once again in Beverly Hills this week. Despite the dissolution of its controversial organising body, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the show went on, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser.
The Globes' Persistent Allure
As the cameras panned over the glittering audience during Glaser's affable opening monologue, a question lingered: what would it take for Hollywood's elite to finally boycott this event? The HFPA was disbanded in 2023 following racism allegations, yet 95 former members retained voting rights for this second Penske Media-era ceremony. The 2024 event featured a commercial tie-in with a betting tool and introduced a new category for best podcast, won by Amy Poehler's Good Hang.
In television, there was recognition for actor Stephen Graham, whose Netflix show Adolescence explores men's rights. HBO's The Pitt won best drama, a show still requiring a VPN for UK viewers. The ceremony proved that short of a Pompeii-like catastrophe, the allure of the red carpet and potential accolade continues to draw A-list crowds in their finery.
West End Welcomes 'Oh, Mary!'
Shifting focus to London's theatre scene, the hit Broadway comedy Oh, Mary! has transferred to the West End, playing at the Trafalgar Theatre. The play features Mason Alexander Park reprising Cole Escola's starring role as a depressed, alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln. The production is a farcical take on American history, filled with jokes about Abraham Lincoln's sexuality, which has reportedly led to some bewildered walk-outs.
While the London run is sold out, the show hasn't replicated its New York impact. Some suggest the niche American history references are off-putting for British audiences, while others note London can be a 'much straighter town' theatrically. The play has elicited puzzled reactions from some patrons who might have preferred more mainstream fare like Wicked.
From AARP Awards to Sondheim Revivals
In other entertainment news, the week also saw the AARP's Movies for Grownups awards, where George Clooney made an appearance. The AARP itself is a media behemoth in the US, reaching 38 million members and boasting the highest circulation of any print media in the country.
Looking ahead, London's Barbican announced a major production for its 2027 season: a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, starring Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. This promises to be a hotter ticket than even Kenneth Branagh's forthcoming RSC production of The Tempest, though parents may baulk at Sondheim's typically lengthy running times for family outings.
Finally, tributes marked the 10th anniversary of Alan Rickman's death, revisiting his famously witty and candid diaries, which included an anecdote about an uncontrollably drunk Guardian party in the late 1990s.
