The Essence of Audrey at Edinburgh Fringe

The Essence of Audrey, Edinburgh Fringe, Pleasance Complex. Written and performed by Helen Anker. From 20 July to 25 August.

Review by Gill Yardley

This one-woman biopic is a delight. Set in a dressing room, surrounded by her memorable costumes, mostly by Givenchy, Audrey talks us through the highs and lows of her life and career.

She tells the stories of what led to her career on stage and about how she got the part of Eliza Doolittle, but her singing was not up to it. Everyone thought Julie Andrews, who had been playing her on the stage already, would get that.  It dented her popularity for a while. 

She explains about her upbringing and background in Belgium as a child, and how she was given food and shelter when she was starving and hiding from the Nazis.  This is why she became the ardent ambassador for UNICEF in later life. She won as many accolades for that as she did in her sparkling life on screen. There’s mischief in her eyes and champagne in her glass as she recounts the highs and lows she has lived through.

This is a very relaxing interlude between the other frantic Fringe offerings.