From the bright lights of Broadway stardom to a bovine-themed lecture theatre off Bristo Square, the Fringe is a great leveller. And clearly still a big draw, even for a wildly acclaimed leading lady like Laura Benanti.
The Tony Award winner (“and four-time Tony Award loser,” as she pleasingly puts it, early on) has a very off-Broadway story to tell, about that often murky business, and how teenage exposure to archaic Disney princess expectations shaped her own personality. Extreme people pleasing; be polite, pretty, and essentially perfect at all times. The darker tales are lifted by a bunch of mostly killer new songs, co-penned by old friend and onstage secret weapon here, Todd Almond.
Benanti is very much the star though, and – big sigh of relief – definitely not a diva. From the opening lines it’s clear that she absolutely gets the Fringe, and her warts-and-all look behind the curtain hits just the right note of laceratingly dark-but-funny self-deprecation and mind boggling song-and-dance talent.
Benanti is fabulous. In fact, it’s such a cathartic, confessional experience, you do wonder if her frequently-mentioned therapist suggested doing this show. A big cheer for them too, if so.
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, Underbelly Bristo Square, until August 24 (not 11, 18), 4.55pm