While on holiday with her small daughter in France, Janie Dee confided in the second half of this snazzy one-woman show, she was nearly stung by a scorpion that had got into her knickers (cue braying from delighted Donmar crowd). She told her daughter that the scorpion would brag to its friends that it had been in Janie Dee's pants. Her daughter's succinct reply: "Yeah, and they'll say: 'Who's Janie Dee?'"
Well, now that you ask... Logically, musical comedy actor Dee should be a household name rather than the opening turn at the small-scale Divas at the Donmar season. She has a cupboard full of Best Actress awards, including the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics' Circle, an achievement matched only by Judi Dench.
Moreover, her voice can handle opera as well as pop, and she can carry off a purple bikini, which she did while wafting through a (slightly contrived) medley of "holiday songs". And, as demonstrated during a breathless finale, she's even handy - or footy - at the near-extinct art of tap dancing.
An all-rounder in an age of niche skills, maybe she's just too versatile for superstardom. Actually, "versatile" doesn't do her justice. There was a slightly hysterical sense of never knowing what her next trick, or anecdote, would be (she solemnly revealed she christened herself Dee in homage to early panto co-star David Jason), which whisked things along so briskly that two hours passed in seconds.
The first half was more of a piece than the second, though; decked out in black satin and body glitter, Dee delivered a sparkling tribute to musical theatre and the jazz era. Thought you never wanted to hear a fluting rendition of The Sound of Music again? Dee's elegant simplicity made it feel new.
Part two was a flap of costume changes - dungarees, bikini, mermaid tail - and genres. An appropriately grumpy These Boots Are Made for Walkin' was followed by, of all things, her prettiest and most dramatic moment, Ave Maria. Then Mercury-nominated trumpeter Guy Barker ambled by for an "impromptu" duet. A delectable, happy occasion for all 100 or so of us.
Until August 10. Box office: 020-7369 1732.
