Sabrina Carpenter brought her Short N Sweet tour to Orlando and there were some problems

If you were looking for a dose of fabulous femininity mixed with a sprinkle of chaos, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short N Sweet Tour” in Orlando served it in spades. Set against the backdrop of a dreamy white mid-century penthouse (designed with enough chic to make even the most seasoned housewife swoon), Sabrina played the role of the quintessential 1960s hostess throwing a house party — think Mad Men‘s Betty throwing a slumber party with your coolest friends.

The tagline “a little goes a long way” might have been a cute nod to simplicity, but it felt like the production team misunderstood the assignment. From the moment the curtains lifted, it was clear this faux live taping was determined to go all out. Dancers were split across the stage like they were auditioning for a reality show rather than supporting our star. While we love a good ensemble, the visual chaos often left us wondering where to look — at Carpenter or at the crane operator who seemed to be the true star of the show, stealing the limelight (and some sightlines) from at least a quarter of the lower bowl.

Carpenter at one point admitted she was a bit jittery about the Orlando stop. She praised the 17,000 sell-out crowd for being the best of the tour. And while the crowd was undeniably energetic, it felt like we were all waiting for the real fun to begin —moments of genuine connection came when she stepped down into a heart-shaped conversation pit with her dancers. There, she let spontaneity take the reins, playing Spin the Bottle for a surprise song of the night. Cut to “Mamma Mia!” — one of the night’s unexpected highlights, reminding us just how much fun Carpenter can truly deliver when the format allows it.

There were glimmers of potential throughout the performance, teasing the idea of a true variety hour where Carpenter’s quirky, delightful personality could shine. The setlist, too, felt somewhat dull, lacking the proper dynamic that could’ve taken us on an emotional rollercoaster. Instead, we got a rather unfocused 90-minute set that felt more like a bumpy ride through a playlist than a carefully crafted concert.

Ultimately, the “Short N Sweet” live experience is an experimental concept tour that occasionally stumbled, but succeeded when it broke free from its live TV shackles and embraced the concert experience. Carpenter was at her best in those moments of authenticity. Here’s hoping that next time, Carpenter gives us less of the overproduced pizzazz and more of the heart and humor that makes her, well, Sabrina. After all, a little truly does go a long way.

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | or sign up for our RSS Feed

This article appears in Oct 23-29, 2024.