Trevor Ashley performs Liza With An E at the Vaudeville Theatre
Playing at the Vaudeville Theatre until 18 May.
Life is definitely a cabaret at the Vaudeville as Trevor Ashley brings, straight from Down Under, his one-man, or should we say, one-woman show Liza On An E for the first time to the West End (and only for five nights).
From the moment the multi-talented Ashley walks on stage, he holds the audience in the palm of his hand. Vocally amazing, always witty and wickedly funny as well as charismatic, Ashley is not only the best of all the Lizas in the vocal department, he goes way beyond female impersonation. He captures the soul and craziness of Minnelli without having to copy her mannerisms. Indeed the same goes for his Judy Garland guest appearance, culminating with a moving rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’, which he performs without the wig (which he doesn’t really need to convey the magic of both mother and daughter).
His venture into pop with ‘Poker Face’ is equally irresistible, as is his version of ‘Be My Gest’, wittingly commenting on Minnelli’s marriage to David Gest.
The terrific six-piece band led by George Dyer on the piano, as Billy Stritch, is spot on, and as special guest Christopher Mitchell is a wonderful alternative to Ashley’s frenetic energy with his moving renditon of a Peter Allen ballad.
Though at times risque, Ashley’s patter is never really mean, it rather throws an ironic glance at Minnelli’s sometimes chaotic lifestyle. A special treat is the performer’s rendition of ‘Losing My Mind’.
Patrick Honore
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