Review: Laura Benanti - Nobody Cares | Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

Name: Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares
Brand: Laura Benanti
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Lisa in the theatre
Aug 18
3 min read

Updated: Aug 19

Broadway star Laura Benanti brings her celebrated one-woman show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is "A love letter to recovering people pleasers everywhere" and plays at Underbelly, Bristo Square until 24 August.

Laura Benanti. Photo credit: Avery Brunkus — Laura Benanti. Photo: Avery Brunkus

Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares ★★★★☆

review: 16 August 2025 | Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh Festival Fringe

For her first ever show in the UK, Broadway legend and Tony-award winner Laura Benanti has chosen not to do a musical, but a comedy show - with music. Fans flocking to Underbelly Bristo Square to see the star perform may be disappointed to learn that she doesn't sing any musical theatre classics at all. However it would seem there's no end to her talents.

Laura - who shot to fame for playing Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music in her Broadway debut, in 1998 - has since won awards and critical acclaim for her roles in major Broadway shows alongside her many TV and film roles. She is also widely recognised as the woman behind the iconic Melania Trump impressions on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. And it's her comedic aptitude that Laura has chosen to showcase in her show 'Nobody Cares.'

In Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, Laura is joined on stage by Music Director and co-writer Todd Almond and an excellent small live band. The vibe is that of an intimate concert or a late-night cabaret session, the small stage brilliantly lit, overflowing with musical instruments and promise. Laura bursts on to the stage in a pink, tailored suit, radiating confidence and a superstar glow. Before she even says a word, there is no doubt - this is a star!

Laura is a natural comedic storyteller and in her one hour show here she blends some very personal stories about dating, marriage, motherhood and people-pleasing with brilliant original songs. The songs are all hilarious. Opening number 'Give it to Me' sets the vibrant comedy tone perfectly, and her lament that men should not send any unsolicited pics of their private parts is painfully funny (and true! Please stop.)

Each of Laura's songs are performed, as you would expect, with the stunning, powerful voice and stage presence of a Broadway veteran. But the overall quality of the sound levels in the room - with the perfect balance of backing music and vocalist - is also impressive. (Always difficult to achieve in a temporary fringe venue!) Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is billed as a solo show but MD Todd Almond is an active and engaging part of the show too, his playful interjections and clear control over proceedings welcome and impressive.

Laura's observations on the world and critical self-reflections are refreshing and relatable. Her regret at awkward teenage hairstyles and later experiences with 'boy-men' all recognisably normal. And that's where this show triumphs: for being a Broadway megastar, Laura comes across as incredibly down-to-earth and likeable. Her show at the Edinburgh Fringe is also fabulously accessible. (Ticket prices under £20!)

A funny and engaging comedy cabaret show from a world-class performer. ★★★★☆

Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is at Underbelly Bristo Square for the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. Find full dates and details below.

MORE: Find more Edinburgh Fringe news and reviews on Lisa in the Theatre here

Laura Benanti talks about the show in her own words:

This show is an utterly transparent, self-deprecating romp through my life as a pathological (and now recovering) people pleaser. During the show I discuss the ups and downs of my early career, my three (yes, THREE) marriages. Childbirth, Raising children, perimenopause, and the journey from wide-eyed ingenue to grown-ass woman. It has been incredibly gratifying to receive so much positive feedback from such a wide variety of audience members... Young women, their mothers and THEIR mothers, Gay men (my favorite kind), and my personal favourite: boyfriends and husbands who were dragged to my show against their will and are now my “biggest fans” While the show features a handful of original songs (written with Todd Almond), it is not a musical. It is a comedy show with music. (There’s a difference, I promise!)”