Ben Platt is Not a Nepo Baby

Ben Platt commented on the brilliance of Liza Minelli in his performance yesterday at the Ahmanson Theatre, calling her the ultimate nepo baby.  “She gives us a good name,” he said.  Platt, the son of producer Marc Platt (most notably “Wicked” on Broadway and numerous high-profile films,) referenced a question that has come up during his career.  How much has his success been the result of his father’s considerable accomplishments and connections?  After seeing his matinee performance on the final day of his ten-show stand, it’s clear that Platt has already established his place in the realm of show biz offspring who can deliver the goods on their own terms.

It was on the stage of the Ahmanson where the now 32-year-old Platt began his career as a child performer.  He has since achieved spectacular success in the theater, in film, and as a recording artist.  He is no slouch.

In rapid fire patter between songs, he was charming, self-deprecating, and unwaveringly honest.  He applied his strong voice and remarkable range to a variety of originals, pop/hip hop, and a generous helping of Broadway power ballads.  There was something for everyone in his one hour and forty-five-minute show which was performed without an intermission.  Stand out numbers included “The Winner Takes It All,” and a show stopping “Maybe This Time,” which he performed wearing a feather boa.  “To any industry people in the house” he said, “don’t forget I can play straight.”  His closing number was particularly effective.  A ballad he wrote for his husband Noah and performed with guitar accompaniment segued into a shatteringly powerful version of “My Man.” 

It was nice to see the orchestra featured onstage, and Platt was generous in his praise of a first-rate band, which included two brilliant backup singers, Shaunice Alexander, and Allen René Louis.  Louis also handled the excellent vocal arrangements.

His onstage movement was a bit quirky, with a fluidity that at times seemed contrived, but it mostly worked.  It was a big stage with a lot of real estate to command, not for the faint of heart.    

He featured a surprise guest to do a song in each of his shows at the Ahmanson.  We got Jeff Goldblum being very Jeff Goldblum.  Goldblum is a seasoned entertainer and literally bowed to Platt’s superior vocal chops on their duet of “Let it Snow,” which was done in a key that favored Goldblum.  Platt rose to the challenge, handling the high notes with a secure falsetto which he applied to great effect throughout the afternoon.  I did have to wonder what was going on with Jeff’s pants, which were alarmingly short.  Goldblum is known for his sartorial savvy, so his high-water slacks were a puzzlement.

Goldblum’s pants aside (a minor quibble) it was a satisfying and enjoyable concert.  The Ahmanson was packed.   The amazing thing to me was that after leaving everything on the stage, Platt had one more show to do that evening, which was his final performance of the run.   Ben Platt, it seems, is a trouper.  He is nobody’s nepo baby, but a genuinely talented and focused performer with a remarkable, distinctive voice and a disarming presence who can own a stage.