National Theatre Live: Fleabag

Amazon's short series of filmed versions of West End shows continues with a recording of "Fleabag" Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one woman show that she subsequently adapted into a two season BBC sitcom that I thought couldn't possibly live up to the hype, but was actually phenomenal stuff.

Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) recounts to the audience about various aspects of her professional, personal and sex life, following the death of her business partner and friend.

Whilst Waller-Bridge is a wonderful actress and carries this (mostly) one woman show through to it's completion (there are some voice overs that she interacts with at times) watching the show after seeing the series feels a touch underwhelming. I mean, this is natural though, it's a 90-minute piece, with no sets, props or other actors, relative to a fully realised six hours or so of Television. The series length gives her much more time to expand on some of the themes that are present here.

You can see the genesis though and why the stage show was so highly regarded. Waller-Bridge is unbelievably good with the daring, filthy and ultimately vulnerable central role. It's a much more rounded story than a collection of the examples of its most vulgar moments would have you believe, as Fleabag tries to cope with the guilt and loss that is eating her alive.

If you're a fan of the show, it's a fascinating insight into the process of adapting something. If you're not, it's a stellar performance.