Zinging in the rain, Liza is still hard to beat
Review: André Paine
Fans had been happily sipping Moët in waterside gazebos and tucking into £75 Jamie Oliver hampers for two. Then almost as soon as the 66-year-old diva appeared, the rain came down.
Minnelli’s voice faltered like erratic radio reception during the opening Alexander’s Ragtime Band and it fell to her veteran musicians to distract our attention.
But for a star who’s overcome illness, alcoholism and four failed marriages, a wayward vocal and British weather were minor inconveniences. Drawing on audience goodwill and her hunger to perform, Minnelli battled on and ultimately triumphed with an emotive set of cabaret songs, jazz standards and show tunes.
“I gotta hit this note – or ‘off with her head!’” she cackled, a self-aware nod to her vocal limitations in the Tudor setting.
Minnelli was such enjoyably eccentric company – she was constantly hoisting up her ill-fitting trousers – it was easy to overlook the occasional drawling, breathless delivery.
When she sang from Chicago, in which she appeared “about 500 years ago on Broadway”, Minnelli found her voice as the redoubtable Roxie Hart.
Her Cabaret tunes were even more affecting, ranging from the yearning of Maybe This Time to the joyous title song, including a wonderfully wonky English accent for the occasion.
Minnelli strutted across the stage with an alarmingly coquettish display during New York, New York, and she proved musical theatre can be subtly magical with On Such a Night as This, which referenced her mother Judy Garland. Even a jet plane couldn’t ruin the delicate encore of Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.
There may be technically more proficient performances at Hampton Court Palace Festival. But for sheer emotional drama, Liza Minnelli is still hard to beat.
Hampton Court Palace Festival runs until 24 June. Hamptoncourtpalacefe
MICHELLE RYAN IS IN AWE OF LIZA MINNELLI
Saturday June 16,2012
By Lizzie Catt, Lisa Higgins and Jack Teague
AS Liza Minnelli made a rare appearance headlining the opening night of the Hampton Court Palace festival on Thursday there was one super-fan dying to meet the singing legend.
Actress Michelle Ryan is set to take to the West End stage in October in the musical Cabaret, playing the part
made famous by Liza, 66, so Michelle was eager to see her up close, right.
“She’s a legend and truly amazing,” says Michelle, 28.
“When I played the Bionic Woman I didn’t want to revisit any of the old shows but with Cabaret it’s ultimately going to be Liza’s role.
"I’m just absorbing as much as possible before rehearsals start.”
Fans had been happily sipping Moët in waterside gazebos and tucking into £75 Jamie Oliver hampers for two. Then almost as soon as the 66-year-old diva appeared, the rain came down.
Minnelli’s voice faltered like erratic radio reception during the opening Alexander’s Ragtime Band and it fell to her veteran musicians to distract our attention.
But for a star who’s overcome illness, alcoholism and four failed marriages, a wayward vocal and British weather were minor inconveniences. Drawing on audience goodwill and her hunger to perform, Minnelli battled on and ultimately triumphed with an emotive set of cabaret songs, jazz standards and show tunes.
“I gotta hit this note – or ‘off with her head!’” she cackled, a self-aware nod to her vocal limitations in the Tudor setting.
Minnelli was such enjoyably eccentric company – she was constantly hoisting up her ill-fitting trousers – it was easy to overlook the occasional drawling, breathless delivery.
When she sang from Chicago, in which she appeared “about 500 years ago on Broadway”, Minnelli found her voice as the redoubtable Roxie Hart.
Her Cabaret tunes were even more affecting, ranging from the yearning of Maybe This Time to the joyous title song, including a wonderfully wonky English accent for the occasion.
Minnelli strutted across the stage with an alarmingly coquettish display during New York, New York, and she proved musical theatre can be subtly magical with On Such a Night as This, which referenced her mother Judy Garland. Even a jet plane couldn’t ruin the delicate encore of Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.
There may be technically more proficient performances at Hampton Court Palace Festival. But for sheer emotional drama, Liza Minnelli is still hard to beat.
Hampton Court Palace Festival runs until 24 June. Hamptoncourtpalacefe
Minnelli’s voice faltered like erratic radio reception during the opening Alexander’s Ragtime Band and it fell to her veteran musicians to distract our attention.
But for a star who’s overcome illness, alcoholism and four failed marriages, a wayward vocal and British weather were minor inconveniences. Drawing on audience goodwill and her hunger to perform, Minnelli battled on and ultimately triumphed with an emotive set of cabaret songs, jazz standards and show tunes.
“I gotta hit this note – or ‘off with her head!’” she cackled, a self-aware nod to her vocal limitations in the Tudor setting.
Minnelli was such enjoyably eccentric company – she was constantly hoisting up her ill-fitting trousers – it was easy to overlook the occasional drawling, breathless delivery.
When she sang from Chicago, in which she appeared “about 500 years ago on Broadway”, Minnelli found her voice as the redoubtable Roxie Hart.
Her Cabaret tunes were even more affecting, ranging from the yearning of Maybe This Time to the joyous title song, including a wonderfully wonky English accent for the occasion.
Minnelli strutted across the stage with an alarmingly coquettish display during New York, New York, and she proved musical theatre can be subtly magical with On Such a Night as This, which referenced her mother Judy Garland. Even a jet plane couldn’t ruin the delicate encore of Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.
There may be technically more proficient performances at Hampton Court Palace Festival. But for sheer emotional drama, Liza Minnelli is still hard to beat.
Hampton Court Palace Festival runs until 24 June. Hamptoncourtpalacefe
MICHELLE RYAN IS IN AWE OF LIZA MINNELLI
Saturday June 16,2012
By Lizzie Catt, Lisa Higgins and Jack Teague
AS Liza Minnelli made a rare appearance headlining the opening night of the Hampton Court Palace festival on Thursday there was one super-fan dying to meet the singing legend.
Actress Michelle Ryan is set to take to the West End stage in October in the musical Cabaret, playing the part
made famous by Liza, 66, so Michelle was eager to see her up close, right.
“She’s a legend and truly amazing,” says Michelle, 28.
“When I played the Bionic Woman I didn’t want to revisit any of the old shows but with Cabaret it’s ultimately going to be Liza’s role.
"I’m just absorbing as much as possible before rehearsals start.”
made famous by Liza, 66, so Michelle was eager to see her up close, right.
“She’s a legend and truly amazing,” says Michelle, 28.
“When I played the Bionic Woman I didn’t want to revisit any of the old shows but with Cabaret it’s ultimately going to be Liza’s role.
"I’m just absorbing as much as possible before rehearsals start.”
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