Saffert and Snow are both exceptionally talented
Only a month ago now-80 year old Liza Minnelli released her tell-all memoir, so a UK tour of the American show Liberace & Liza: A Tribute is timely. It is nearly four decades since Liberace passed away, so timeliness there is not the key – rather the timelessness of his character – he who from the 50s well into the 70s was the world’s best-paid entertainer, I read. He carved out a unique path for himself and became an international sensation, thanks in part to television (a particular UK show in ’69 is referred to), writes Eleanor Thorn.
This show brings together two masters of showmanship in an imaginary sharing of the stage. These two larger-than-life artistes are portrayed by David Saffert and Jillian Snow so glitteringly – bling knows no bounds when it comes to Liberace – and so brilliantly, that neither Liberace nor Liza fans will leave disappointed. Not only do the pair really capture the essence of the people they are impersonating, they engage with their audience and with each other in a way that really makes this fun, playful, and an enjoyable revisiting of many a familiar song.
This was the touring show’s opening night at Greenwich Theatre, and the house was full. Liberace, being the glitzy icon that he was, in an era when homosexuality was illegal, the gay community had turned out in strength: the rainbow flag-flying Old Rose and Crown next door was busy with pre-show drinks. Once inside, the show opened with just Liberace chatting with the audience with his signature candelabra on the grand, and his unique way of interjecting dazzling piano-playing with banter, disarmingly informal. This personable banter remained charmingly warm once he invited Liza on stage. He tells us his mother is in the front row and his brother at a gig in Peckham. He refers to the marathon this weekend – he’s getting us to do some mind-bending tricks with time and keeps it in the moment.
Liza absolutely looks and sounds the part (even if she doesn’t have quite the same dance skills as the real Liza), and my, can she hold a note. “Cabaret” is her strong opener. Liberace is on piano throughout, and together they sing her mother Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow”. Others include “New York, New York” and “Losing My Mind”. Doing some more gymnastics with time, they surprisingly interweave Britney Spears, the Spice Girls, and Chappell Roan songs too.
In real life, they never met, but why not have a bit of fun?! Here, they are best friends. Saffert and Snow are both exceptionally talented tribute artistes and musicians who together show an ability to be spontaneous, entertaining, and flamboyant without overdoing it. The audience gets to their feet at the end as enthusiastically as they waved to the camera for producer Robert C. Kelly’s social media op at the interval.
Booking: https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/liberace-and-liza-a-tribute/
Tour details: https://www.liberaceandliza.co.uk
