Catwalk Confidential

Robyn Peterson is one of those rare individuals who has lead an interesting life, is a gifted storyteller and manages to combine the two without being an impossible bore. The sole performer and writer of Catwalk Confidential, Peterson tells the tale of a Miami girl who makes it big in Paris as a model – mostly through sheer ballsiness.

With a broad Miami accent, bright blond hair and a radiant smile, it is not difficult to see how such an enigmatic woman can enthrall an audience. From the outset, Peterson is engaging, with her words being spilled out at an almost incomprehensible speed without ever losing the listener.

A simple stage with nothing but a stool and the occasional slide show of stills from her impressive portfolio does everything to magnify Peterson’s subtle command of the stage. Listening to anyone talk only of themselves for an hour usually causes the mind to wander, but the script is kept interesting with funny, insightful commentary and the regular slips into character to portray those she meets along the way. In particular, her impression of her mother is amusing and cutting without losing the any of the warmth the model possesses.

Witty, perceptive and brilliantly performed, Catwalk Confidential in its modesty, intrigue and affection is a rare oasis in a sea of self-indulgent monologues.