Me Inside of Me Review

Me Inside of Me - 7 out of 10
Main Theatre @ Goodwood Theare & Studios
TICKETS: Me Inside of Me | Adelaide Fringe

After earning critical acclaim in community theatre productions like Merrily We Roll Along (where this reviewer can personally vouch for her turn as Beth Spencer) and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert—Dani Greaves’ comfort on stage makes her Adelaide Fringe debut feel like a long-overdue homecoming.

Me Inside of Me is an autobiographical cabaret defined by a refreshing, sometimes startling, honesty. While a few family members in the premiere audience might have winced at the level of transparency, Dani understands that art requires vulnerability. She shares hers freely, backed by the sensitive accompaniment of music director Daniel Brunner on keys and Dylan Rufus on guitar.

The show journeys through the milestones of Dani's life, though its chronological "whole-life" approach occasionally prevents her from diving as deep as the material deserves. A standout moment occurred when she discussed the grief of losing her pre-motherhood identity while simultaneously loving her children without regret. The audience’s audible collective sigh of recognition proved that this internal conflict is a goldmine for exploration; one hopes she explores these complex "grey areas" further in future iterations.

Technically, the show hit a few snags. The amplification was notably "dry," providing little support for Greaves' vocals – a challenge compounded by a cold caught from her kids. This lack of acoustic warmth made the performance feel "raw," which suited the emotional honesty of the script but occasionally left the singing feeling exposed. Similarly, while Trevor Anderson’s directorial debut is solid, a few clunky prop transitions felt slightly mistimed.

Ultimately, Me Inside of Me is a heart-on-sleeve debut. If you value vocal talent paired with genuine, unvarnished storytelling, Greaves is a performer well worth your time.

–Scott