“Clever, pointed, but always rooted in a deep love… impeccable instincts for both musical mimicry and playful exaggeration”

Natalie Charlé Ellis brought a razor precision to her parodies, offering up delightfully sharp send-ups of Broadway royalty. Her takes on Audra McDonald and Kelli O’Hara struck a perfect chord — clever, pointed, but always rooted in a deep love for the craft, making them irresistible to watch.

It was Ellis’ turn as Catherine Zeta-Jones, though, that truly brought down the house. With a breathy, overdramatic flourish, she transformed “Send in the Clowns” into “Send in the Hounds,” drawing howls of laughter — both from the audience and quite literally offstage. It was a moment of sly brilliance that showcased Ellis’ impeccable instincts for both musical mimicry and playful exaggeration.

—Lighting & Sound America