BWW Reviews: Peter Mac Becomes JUDY

Becoming Judy
written, directed by and starring Peter Mac
The Gardenia /Peter Mac will be back October 8, 9 with a brand new show

Female impersonators dress in drag and sing or tell jokes, and that's the show. Jim Bailey sings. Charles Pierce was funny in a dress with a joke or anecdote. Peter Mac is much more. His impersonation becomes theatre with a mission. Becoming Judy allows him to portray Judy Garland and also to sing as himself, but way more than that, it offers a message of hope for all gay men trying to cope and make sense of their lifestyle.

The first half of the 90 minute set is Garland singing, cavorting, talking about being back in Hollywood, where Louis B. Mayer died - so it's not all that bad! - and defining who she was ... is, meaning her role as an entertainer. What effect did she have on her guest star Peter Mac? How did she make him happy? It was her job to bring pleasure, and if she did, she was happy. Mac's portrayal of Garland is quite amazing. No one can sound or look exactly like her, although Jim Bailey perhaps comes closest to approximating her vocal instrument. But Mac's is great too. After a few seconds of watching the hand gestures and listening to the funny patter, you are convinced that you are in the company of Judy. He truly does become her, but more than inhabiting her, hits on the very thing that all gays adore: Judy Garland's unabashed humor and gusto to carry on with the show in spite of all odds. Songs? "The Trolley Song", "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart", "Swanee", "Over the Rainbow" - wearing a pair of ruby slippers - "I Will Come Back", and a rousing "If He Walked Into My Life" from Jerry Herman's Mame - Garland wanted to play her, but never did. She would have made a great one! Also, Steve Allen's wonderful "You'll Show Them All" and "Sing Your Own Song" by Goldrich and Heisler, who wrote "Taylor, the Latte Boy". There's also "All For You" and a special material opening number to bring Judy onstage at the Gardenia.

After a brief musical interlude at the piano by great musical director Bryan Miller and Kevin Widener on drums, Mac returns as Mac, freshly scrubbed and handsome, singing a riveting "Hello Bluebird", promising all songs form The Judy Garland Songbook. In this 50-minute segment, Mac talks about what it was like growing up in Jersey, being bullied by gay bashing classmates and ignored by an abusive father. With a little help from an aunt and his grandmother, The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland's music came into his life, brought him his only moments of true happiness and taught him to eventually stand up and be who he really wanted to be. Garland had that kind of effect on his total life. Songs here include: "Oh Boy, I'm Lucky", "Im Always Chasing Rainbows", "Come Rain or Come Shine", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", the meaning intensified, as he plays out a dramatic confrontation between his mother and unbearable father on Christmas Eve, "Do It Again", "I Don't Care", "Forget Your Troubles" and the oh, so gorgeous "Through the Years".

Becoming Judy is more than cabaret; it is theatre at its finest hour. Peter Mac proves his versatility as a dynamic actor and singer, who, like Judy Garland herself, will leave an indelible mark wherever he (she) goes.

 

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