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In a documentary segment duringJenny Slatesnew Netflix specialStage Fright, she talks about the premise of the specials title.
I dont earn the love unless I give something beautiful that goes out, she says.
My stage fright comes from a deeper thing, of exchange.
Its fascinating to include this admission within the specials that mix the stand-up and documentary format.
Comedy specials usually include at least a little framing material.
Its a unit that creates distance between the person and the performance.
Its prominent enough that its more than just,Here is Jenny Slate, a real person.
It becomes a deliberate counterweight to the stand-up.
They play off of one another, supporting and also puncturing each other.
Its fun to watch her walk through her parents home.
Its personal and endearing.
It also falls apart occasionally.
She has stage fright, she says.
Shes painfully anxious about performing.
It is a backward-looking admission, one that shifts the way Id experienced the opening of the show.
way too late into a show.
Does it explain it?
Does seeing the authentic version of Slate undermine her stage self, or does it reinforce it?
For much of the hour, Im unsure.
As for the rest of it,Stage Frightis a beautiful, personal hour.
But Im left wondering if I needed to know quite this much.
