Catwalk Confidential is something of a misnomer. Catwalk Predictable would be more fitting a title for this nonetheless personable one-woman show written by and starring 1970s top model Robyn Peterson, who reveals what we may already have known: high fashion is full of hungry girls, hissy designers and drug-and champagne-fuelled shenanigans.
Peterson’s account of her journey from Miami Beach via New York to the catwalks of Paris and 10 heady years at the top boasts dry humour and some pleasing set-piece scenes — the account of her eventful first couture show is particularly cherishable — but not a huge amount of depth.
It’s hard to gauge what this narcissistic career that seemingly came so easily actually meant to her, and I’d have been interested in more specifics of her descent from the modelling heights at the age of 26. She wiggles her pelvis constantly as she talks of "f***-you fashion moments", although this isn’t half as distracting as her leg-wear. Should an erstwhile international beauty really be sporting what look like M&S polyester non-iron slacks?
Catwalk Confidential until 3 Oct (0845 017 5584, www.catwalkconfidential.org).
Catwalk Confidential
Arts Theatre
Great Newport Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 7JB
