Laura Benanti as Melania Trump

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#1

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:12am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Laura-Benanti-Channels-Melania-Trump-in-Hilarious-LATE-SHOW-Skit-20160720   I laughed so much.  This is hilarious!

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

Updated On: 7/20/16 at 09:12 AM

[Valentina3]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#2

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:14am

I saw it on TV last night with my partner, and as he started introducing Melania, I knew it was going to be Laura. Was so thrilled, and it was absolutely hilarious.

 

Next stop - SNL 

Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#3

Posted: 7/20/16 at 9:19am

Martha Plimpton should play Hillary and spoof her speech next week. 

http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com

[macnyc]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#4

Posted: 7/20/16 at 10:37am

I was hoping "Melania" would launch into the Gettysburg Address!

Laura is a treasure.

[Nick Murphy]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#5

Posted: 7/20/16 at 10:57am

she's brilliant

[broadwayguy91]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#6

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:07am

I died at "West Philadelphia" . her facial expressions are so spot on!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#7

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:30am

I  didn't get the reference to West Philadelphia.  

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

[Pippin]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#8

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:32am

^

......then we can't be friends

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

[broadwayguy91]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#9

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:35am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "I  didn't get the reference to West Philadelphia.  

 

"

I'm assuming that it was a parody of the fact that she was born and raised in Slovenia and NOT an actual born-and-raised-in-the-US American.

(someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Felm_heart]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#10

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:37am

West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people.

[broadwayguy91]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#11

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:47am

Felm_heart said: "West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people.

 

"

ah, ok. (I never watched that show)

[MarkBearSF]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#12

Posted: 7/20/16 at 11:48am

Watching her in this skit and in She Loves Me, I'm totally impressed at her ability to nail every possible laugh and her impeccable comic timing. 

Even more impressive is that, to my knowledge, she's never been a part of a comedy troupe like Second City or The Groundlings, nor has she done stand-up. No matter how "naturally funny" a person may be or how skilled they may be delivering a character, there's an extra level of comedic skill that she's mastered.

I love Laura - and am looking forward to seeing her at Feinstein's at the Nikko in a couple of weeks.

[dissimilate]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#13

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:32pm

MarkBearSF – I’m in total agreement, her comedic timing is perfect. I asked her once on Twitter whether she’d done any stage improv, and she said she hadn’t, though she does improvise in those TheaterMania “explains the Broadway plays/musicals” videos (which are absolutely hilarious). She isn’t particularly known for impressions either, but she knocks this out of the park!

I sure hope she guests on SNL, or some other show that gets her name out there and showcases her incredible talent. (And not just in comedy either! I recall recognizing her in an episode of Elementary in a role that was entirely dramatic. She nailed it.)

[Tom5]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#14

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:36pm

Mental note to myself; She's a terrific actress.

[LizzieCurry]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#15

Posted: 7/20/16 at 12:48pm

broadwayguy91 said: "Felm_heart said: "West Philadelphia is a Fresh Prince reference, people."

ah, ok. (I never watched that show)"

Here's the theme song. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCqRmx3Dnw

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

[ChiTheaterFan]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#16

Posted: 7/20/16 at 1:15pm

As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now?  

 

Laura Benanti (or anyone but Trump) for president!

[HenryTDobson]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#17

Posted: 7/20/16 at 1:17pm

She's hysterical. As much as I would love for her to join another TV show, I would selfishly prefer if she stayed around Broadway more!

[rjm516]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#18

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:14pm

You kids who don't know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme are making me feel the olds.

Anyway, Laura was AMAZING and I'm so excited to see everyone talking about her today. It's her time to be a household name maybe! 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#19

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:19pm

rjm516 said: "You kids who don't know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme are making me feel the olds.
 

"

Shhhhhhhhh.  I'm still holding out hope it's because I'm so much younger than all these people who don't know the words. The list of things making me feel old is starting to get too long....

[@z5]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#20

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:22pm

Sorry this was not funny at all.....Benanti didn't do anything so great.

[bjh2114]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#21

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:25pm

^Hahahahaha girl, bye.

[Liza's Headband]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#22

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:27pm

Laura Benanti a "household name?" Laura Benanti hosting SNL? I personally love Laura but people, come on. Seriously? You need only look to both Hilty and S. Foster to see how that's working out. Not so well... 

[indytallguy]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#23

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:36pm

ChiTheaterFan said: "As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now? "

 

Straddling a bit of both I'd guess given the demographics on BW boards.

 

[madbrian]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#24

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:43pm

Liza's Headband said: "Laura Benanti a "household name?" Laura Benanti hosting SNL? I personally love Laura but people, come on. Seriously? You need only look to both Hilty and S. Foster to see how that's working out. Not so well... "

I can't see her hosting, but I could see her recurring as Melania, the way they're using Darrel Hammond and Larry David.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

[UncleCharlie]

Laura Benanti as Melania Trump#25

Posted: 7/20/16 at 3:46pm

indytallguy said: "ChiTheaterFan said: "As a child of the 90s I'm shocked people would not get the Fresh Prince reference. Should I feel really old or young right now? "

 

Straddling a bit of both I'd guess given the demographics on BW boards.

 

Or rather than an age issue, maybe some people simply didn't watch the show even if they were around then. And if they didn't watch it, the reference would be lost on them. It was a nice show that got decent ratings for 6 seasons but we're not talking Seinfeld or Friends here.