BWW Reviews: Peter Mac Rocks with JUDY AND COMPANY
By: Don Grigware
Judy and Company with Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Peggy Lee, Tallulah Bankhead and Katie Hepburn, ladies of screen, theatre and TV all sharing top billing, as usual is a joyous Peter Mac show. At the all new Peter Mac Supper Club in Hollywood, Garland opens and closes with a bevy of her hits including, "Almost Like Being in Love", "This Can't Be Love", "The Man That Got Away", "The Trolley Song" and "By Myself" from the film I Could Go On Singing. Garland is in rare form, never missing a beat, even getting in a dig about losing the Oscar for Star to Grace Kelly. Next comes Miss Tallulah Bankhead SINGING an outrageous "Everybody's F------But Me" and "Como te gusta mi pinga...", with Spanish making the obscenity sound acceptable, actually quite delicious. Jokes fly out of her trashy mouth, and there's even a raunchy Snow White fable. Following Tallu comes a hilariously, talk about stoned, Peggy Lee who gives her all to "Is That All There Is?" and the politically incorrect "Manana". Lee's synthetic blonde wig gives Mac some great dish lines. Then, like a tornado from QVC, in flies the one and only Liza Minnelli - ablaze in red sequins - giving us not two but three numbers "Say Yes", "Liza with a Z" and "Maybe This Time" with quite an interesting anecdote about how the former was actually written for Kaye Ballard but became a big hit in theCabaret film for Liza. The final guest is Kate Hepburn who treats us to her inimitable rendition of "Coco" and "The Glory of Love" echoing her unusual 27 year extra-marital relationship with Spencer Tracy.
Judy closes with "Over the Rainbow"and "I Will Come Back", preceded by a welcomed song that got away from Judy Garland's repertoire, namely the rousing "It's Time to Start Living" from Pippin. I've reviewed Peter Mac so many times that it is clear at this stage that I am a huge fan of his ultimately humane and loving portrayal of Judy Garland. Unlike End of the Rainbow on Broadway which leaves Garland fans questioning why anyone would want to desecrate her memory, Mac's tribute is totally positive and uplifting.
In June, as Judy would have turned 90 this year, Mac tributes her with an original musical show called Get Happy with highlights from the complete Garland career, bound to please just about everybody. Don't miss it throughout June at Peter Mac's Supper Club with the unqualified great dining cuisine of the French Quarter!
Peter Mac's Supper Club inside the French Market on Santa Monica Blvd in WeHo.
visit: friendofjudy.com
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