Liza’s Back! (is broken)

Liza’s Back! (is broken)
By Trevor Ashley and Phil Scott. Music Arrangements by Max Lambert. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. 17 – 22 January 2017.

Look out Liza Minnelli, there’s a new girl back in town. The multi-faceted performer and sometime drag queen Trevor Ashley has let loose on Brisbane audiences with Liza’s Back! (is broken) after seasons around Australia and London’s West End.This show is a sequel of sorts to his smash hit 2010 production of Liza! (on a E) which headlined at the Brisbane Cabaret Festival.

Trevor Ashley is unparalleled in Australia with his now iconic drag impersonations of famous divas, such as Liza Minnelli and Shirley Bassey. But there is no lip-syncing here folks. He delivers the goods with an all singing, all dancing, full on characterization of his chosen divas, with superb comedy patter, going way beyond parody and creating a well-rounded and fully fleshed out character. Whilst some devoted Liza fans might find his act a little mean spirited, there is no doubt that Ashley is right on the money with his hilarious impersonation. Ashley captures every little nuance both vocally and physically giving a truly rounded performance, and at times is more Liza, than Liza.

Ashley has the audience in stitches from the moment he walks out on stage dressed in one of “Liza’s” signature sequined outfits, and with Minnelli’s mannerisms magnified to the hilt, he struts his stuff taking command of the audience and then leading them on a theatrical journey through a list of songs and production numbers from musicals that Liza was “offered” but apparently turned down. Who knew that “Liza” could have played Fantine in Les Misérables, but when she saw the costume designs “they were less chic, and more Chernobyl” – she pulled out.

Packed with lots of inside showbiz jokes, “Liza” takes pot-shots at some of her peers including Barbra Streisand and Julie Andrews – even her half-sister Lorna Luft isn’t spared. However, one of the truly touching moments is when Ashley’s Liza does a touching tribute to her mother, Judy Garland, with his rendition of ‘If He Walked Into My Life’, from the musical ‘Mame’ which tugs at the heartstrings, again proving his ability to dig deeper into the character.

Maestro Bev Kennedy leads a smoking hot 7-piece band that pump out the Liza hits one after the other - Maybe This Time, Cabaret - and of course the world-wide hit New York, New York.

The only way to describe this show is hilarious with an – H.

Paul Dellit

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