Courtesy of ET Canada
Jenny Slate is a well-known actress, recognized for her fun and bouncy television presence. Excelling in voiceover work, she is known for her roles in movies and shows such as “Big Mouth,” “Zootopia,” “The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Secret Life of Pets.” With a voice for comedy, the 37-year-old actress decided to create a comedy special, “Stage Fright,” that premiered Tuesday, Oct. 22, on Netflix.
The show begins with Slate in an intimate theatre doing stand-up comedy. Joking about everything from her outfit to politics, Slate gets the audience instantly laughing. The show then shifts to documentary-esque filming. She is shown talking about her family and interviewing them in her childhood home. Throughout the course of this special, Slate interviews a family member and then proceeds to joke about it in her comedy show, giving an inside look at the material she uses in her show. As the special goes on, Slate becomes more personal, touching on her recent divorce and the emotional distress this caused her, as evidenced by her hesitation to use it as material in her show. However, she does touch upon it in the comedy part of the special, joking about moving back home and bad dates.
As Slate begins to discuss her struggles with stage fright, the show’s tone becomes more melancholic. She speaks about how it’s not that she’s afraid people won’t think she’s funny, but that she feels she is expected to give a certain amount of herself and she doesn’t want to disappoint her audience. “I don’t earn the love unless I give something beautiful that goes out. My stage fright comes from a deeper thing, of exchange,” she said in an interview just hours before her show began She also talked about how she’s afraid that she will be so nervous she will “deny herself the moment to have fun.”
From the performance Slate gives, no one would ever know her struggles with anxiety and self-deprecation, nor would they suspect the sadness she has gone through with her divorce and returning to her hometown.
Slate takes the stage with confidence and excitement, entrancing the audience, clearly in her element while wearing a black silk tuxedo and drinking a beer. The actress in Slate is also apparent in her sudden shifts in “roles” during her show. Using different voices and faces, she is undeniably hilarious and talented.
The format of the film is very refreshing. The way it incorporates both stand-up comedy and personal interviews gives the audience an inside peek at the person behind the act. Slate is more than just a funny personality; she is a human being. She struggles, as we all do, but has been able to channel these emotions into finding joy through comedy and acting.
Because of Slate’s rare ability to show her true self and maintain her humor, “Stage Fright” is a must-see for comedy and documentary lovers alike. Viewers will be laughing at one moment and crying the next. There is absolutely no way to watch this film and not fall in love with Jenny Slate.
