Calling all Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland fans! Get ready to be a part of a new diva tribute show for Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival.
Liza’s Good Judy, part of the Midsumma lineup, is a new solo show in which actress Manda Rozen-Flannery embodies both iconic divas. This 50-minute journey explores their relationship, features a selection of famous songs, and reflects on some of the sadder moments in their lives.
Rozen-Flannery begins the show dressed in Liza Minnelli's iconic costume from "Cabaret," representing the most memorable era of Liza's career. The premise revolves around an old suitcase belonging to her "mama," which has been shipped over for her to open in front of the audience. When she opens the suitcase, a cloud of smoke envelops the stage, and the spirit of Judy Garland emerges. From that point on, Rozen-Flannery switches between the two legendary divas.
Even in her debut solo show, it’s clear that Rozen-Flannery is a very talented performer. Her vocal prowess soulfully belted out the somewhat difficult song selection and was a joy to witness. Rozen-Flannery, with the whole creative team, has created a beautiful tribute to these iconic divas. There were some opening night jitters, but we warmed into a strong collection of songs such as The Singer, Maybe This Time, Mein Herr, The Man That Got Away, and Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
The deep affection the performer has for Liza and Judy is evident throughout the show: as audiences, we see it and feel it. This is a testament to the care and dedication taken in storytelling from both Rozen-Flannery herself as performer, but also the work behind the scenes from director Bram Harris and musical director Martine Wengrow. A highlight was when the characters discuss their different husbands, and there are moments that showcase Judy’s playful behaviour, like when she continuously fiddles with the microphone cord during her performance.
The references and song selections are thoughtfully chosen and meaningful, giving us a more vulnerable connection with both character and performer. Somewhere Over The Rainbow was performed beautifully and served as the absolute highlight of the show. It created a perfect closing moment, and the audience applauded as if it were the final act. The surprise came when Rozen-Flannery began speaking again and performed another song. I feel the show could be improved with some restructuring of sequences to create more impact.
At the beginning of the show, it was relatively easy to distinguish between Liza and Judy, as Rozen-Flannery skillfully altered her voice for each character, even while singing. However, this distinction faded quickly, and it often became challenging to identify when Rozen-Flannery was switching between Judy and Liza. By the end of the show, I noticed the changing lights—red for Judy and blue for Liza—but by the time I realised this, it was too late to clarify my earlier confusion.
Perhaps I’m simply not the target audience for the show, however I feel the lack of clarity could have been resolved with clearer choices. Further workshopping may be necessary to ensure that it is clear which character is being portrayed at any given moment, even for us audience members who are not entirely familiar with the songs and backstories.
Rozen-Flannery has created a beautiful tribute to two of the most iconic divas, showcasing her talent as a performer and her dedication to both Liza and Judy. I had a great time watching this show and commend the team on their work. This piece shows great promise where some workshopping and refining could make it even more of a hit.
Liza's Good Judy closes on the 7th Feb. Grab tickets here!
3 stars
