BWW Reviews: LIZA (ON AN E), Lyric Theatre, October 7 2013

What good is sitting alone in your room playing GTAV when you could be out at the Lyric on Shaftesbury Avenue watching Trevor Ashley and his live band pay an affectionate homage to one of the greatest divas ever - Liza Minnelli?

Despite proclaiming a frog in her throat (and scorning a minion/protégé who daresto bring her water, not wine) the voice managed to be both a pastiche of Ms Minnelli's gravelly throat but also brought one to goosebumps during a touching rendition of 'As if We Never Said Goodbye,' from Sunset Boulevard.

Ashley treats the show as a confessional detailing Liza's family dramas, her rivalry with both her mother Judy Garland and her 'little known' sister Lorna Luft, her battles with the booze and substances and of course her many marriages.

Several songs are hilarious parodies about this colourful life but the second act saw the classics; 'Cabaret', 'Maybe This Time' and 'New York New York' all of which brought the house down with standing ovations.

Sadly Ashley returns back to his native Australia today but he clearly relished being back coming on for a second encore of 'Over the Rainbow,' something Liza M would NEVER do! Maybe next time he will stay in London a little longer.

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