Review: Liza's at the Palace and White Christmas

by Gordin and Christiano

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli is in rare form and performing an audacious miracle at the Palace Theater with her brand new show that runs well over two hours and includes many of her memorable standards, including "Cabaret." The charismatic three time Tony Award-winning superstar "razzle dazzled" the opening night audience with a confident, gritty and often magical display of showmanship.

Many wondered if she would make it through what was seemingly an exhausting evening. But there she was coming down the homestretch, draped in a classic red-sequined Halston, dripping in sweat and now apparently running on pure adrenaline. What does she do? She launches into "My Mammy," following that with "New York, New York." She is the blazing embodiment of pure musical theatricality and she is electrifying. The audience responds with wild pandemonium and you can almost see the waves of love coming across the footlights.

At 62, Minnelli is all grown up now and clearly in the best form she has displayed in years. She has gone through multiple husbands, surgeries, addictions, come-backs and now you could add resurrections to her list of multiples, like the Tonys. If her voice isn't as good as it once was, it doesn't really matter much. She is a true legend and she does what all artists do best. She blends her life and art in such in a way to create magic.

The first act is all Minnelli backed by a 12-piece orchestra with the great Billy Stritch on the piano. The second act has the star supported by four dancers for a very personal tribute to her godmother, the great Kay Thompson, who was vocal coach and arranger for MGM during that studio's musical heyday in the 1940s and 1950s and taught Lena Horne and Judy Garland how to sing. The evening, directed and choreographed by longtime Minnelli collaborator, Ron Lewis, showcases her unique gifts, which, after five decades of performing live around the world, are rare indeed.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a beautifully gift wrapped holiday entertainment adapted from the 1954 Bing Crosby film, has finally made its way to Broadway after playing several US cities over the past four years. The evening, directed by Walter Bobbie, is light and breezy with some fantastic production numbers. The show adds additional Berlin standards, like "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano" and "Let Yourself Go," to the already terrific score that includes gems like "White Christmas," "Snow," " Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," " Sisters" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

As musicals go, the lavishly produced evening feels a bit creaky, lacking everything Minnelli's show possessed in spades - an inspirational life force. Instead, we get a meticulous staging that recreates the beauty of the Hollywood film. And the gifted performers, who sing and dance perfectly, unfortunately don't breath life into their rather one dimensional characters. The evening's big strength, besides the production values and Berlin's songbook, is Randy Skinner's stirring tap-heavy choreography.

If you are a softie for a Currier and Ives holiday card replete with fantastic songs and artificial snow you're sure to be moved.

For tickets or more information on either show call 212-307-4100.

Theater critics Barry Gordin & Patrick Christiano are members of the Drama Desk. Barry is an internationally renowned photographer. Patrick is the artistic director of SivaRoad Productions. Visit their Web site at www.theaterlife.com.

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