Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright is Travolta’s debut show that tells the story of her crippling shopping addiction and how she manages to abscond a steadily increasing mountain of debt through the medium of spray tanning. With absurd anecdotes, sincere reflection and a sprinkle of celebrity invitations, Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright leaves you feeling touched.
You have complete faith in her authenticity, hanging on every word
Travolta is incredibly energetic on stage, with a bubbly and peppy personality that would make anyone smile. She relieves us all by addressing the elephant in the room right away (her surname) and the audience quickly realise that Nicole has so much more to her than being a Travolta. Yes, this resembles the cliched comeback commonly used by those branded with the label of ‘nepotism baby’, but Travolta’s childhood stories are anything but a cliche. Her introduction levels with the audience, enabling them to feel a deeper connection to the struggles she is yet to open up about.
Travolta warms into her performance, and there are some elements to her opening half that could be improved with minor revisions. The projector was skilfully utilised to good effect, more so than by most acts, but some of the jokes were a little on-the-nose. This works when the audience are familiar with the performer, but can create a slightly stilted atmosphere when placed at the beginning of a show. The impressions of her family members, for instance, could be more exaggerated to combat this and break the ice.
Despite this, Travolta’s storytelling gathered momentum so effectively that I turned a blind eye to the initial obstacles. The narrative itself is captivating, with jaw dropping anecdotes of maniacal spray tan clients, impersonated convincingly by Travolta. Her demeanour is such that you have complete faith in her authenticity, hanging on every word. Her impressions are entertaining and I wished for more, particularly as it is a skill that Travolta herself takes much pleasure in.
Travolta managed to convey a complex story of two halves through clever structuring choices, handpicking snippets of conversations that she spins into a captivating yarn of obsessive materialism. Travolta lets down her guard at the end of the show, and one is left feeling a heartfelt affiliation and bond with her journey. We feel uplifted by her honesty and overwhelming optimism. Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright is a true peak behind the curtain that will move and inspire you.
