Like the late Whitney Houston, Laura Benanti is a freak of nature, blessed with both the looks of a model (which Houston was in her youth) and a voice that could make angels jealous. In Benanti’s case, those gifts are further enhanced by a playful, razor-sharp wit, exhibited not only in her diverse roles on Broadway but in other outings, such as her much-beloved impersonation of Melania Trump on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
DNA has much to do with it, though good training is also a factor: Benanti was born to a couple of singing actors, and her mom, Linda, whose own credits include leading roles in regional and off-Broadway productions, has also enjoyed a successful career as a voice teacher. In recent years, the women have performed together at 54 Below, where they have now returned—under the expert musical direction of Billy Stritch—for a three-night stand titled “Mothers Know Best.”
As a prelude to their opening performance, the Benantis allowed Laura’s own elder daughter, an adorable seven-year-old named Ella, to join a friend for a karaoke version of “Into the Unknown,” from Frozen 2. The girls sang sweetly but had little interest in milking their cuteness, both scampering offstage politely to make way for the main attraction.
The stars, both elegant in black—a dress for Laura, a pant suit for Linda—kicked off their set with a reading of “Que Sera Sera” that, like several numbers that followed, included witty embellishments. When Laura winkingly acknowledged “how I behaved in the ’90s,” for instance, Linda was quick to note “how I behaved in the ’60s,” causing her daughter to wrinkle her perfect nose in mock discomfort.
Such duets were interspersed with solo showcases; Linda’s included a graceful medley of “The Shadow of Your Smile” and “I Had A Dream About You”—the latter being one of several Maury Yeston songs featured here—and a bravura performance of “The Man That Got Away.” Throughout, the elder performer’s soprano sounded bright and warm, the model of an impeccably preserved instrument.
Laura’s singing was as glorious as you’d expect; for me, no leading lady of her generation has offered richer color or lovelier tone. And as always, she delivered more than a pretty face and voice: There was her deftly comedic, decidedly feminist sendup of “Wives and Lovers,” for instance, and “My Fair Lady in 15 Minutes,” a virtuosic summary of the musical from the perspective of a slyly sardonic Eliza Dolittle.
Performing Yeston’s “Unusual Way,” from Nine, Laura fondly remembered the recently departed Chita Rivera, with whom she co-starred in a revival of the show more than 20 years ago. Just as the singer approached an emotional climax, she was interrupted by the sound of a glass or plate dropping—as they occasionally do in cabaret venues—and collapsed in laughter, insisting it was sign from Rivera, ordering her to “get it together.”
Mother and daughter joined forces again to bring the evening to a close, segueing from “Recovering Ingenue”—a song co-written by Laura and Todd Almond, boasting lyrics such as, “I promise it’s still loverly/When you’re in recovery”—to Stephen Sondheim’s “One More Kiss,” which a teenaged Laura used, at her mom’s suggestion, to audition for her first Broadway show.
For an encore, the Benantis served up another original: Laura and Ann Klein’s “I’m Gonna Miss This,” a wistful reflection on fleeting time and enduring love. It was a fitting finale for a show attesting to the power of the maternal bond—not to mention great genes.
Laura and Linda Benanti: Mothers Know Best opened July 21, 2024, at 54 Below and runs through July 24. Tickets and information: 54below.com
