Wed. September 10, 2008
By Michael J. Roberts
There was electricity in the air at the newly opened Venue located in the Horseshoe Casino as the sold out audience waited for Ms. Minnelli to take the stage. As the lights dimmed and the orchestra swelled, one of the most beloved stars in our collective memory took the stage and proved that not only has she still got it, she is back in control of her life and her music. Even with a chest cold, Liza sang, danced and recounted her life and the people that mentored her career in a two hour concert and took her through three different costume changes and a roller coaster of emotions.
The second half of the program (no intermission for the casino crowd) is a recreation of a 1948 nightclub act by Liza's godmother, Kay Thompson, who was a revered vocal arranger for MGM Studios and coached the most famous singers of her era, including Judy Garland, Lena Horne and Frank Sinatra. Thompson left the employment of MGM in the late 1940s and developed a flamboyant nightclub act with Andy Williams and his brothers which Liza saw as a toddler, and was memorized. Later, Thompson wrote the "Eloise" series of children's books. The heartfelt Thompson tribute featured great jazz and dance numbers with the Williams brothers played here by Jim Caruso, Cortes Alexander, Johnny Rogers and Tiger Martina. Liza seems quite at home with these boys and the harmonies together were pitch perfect.
To cap off the night, Liza tells the story of how Thompson personally coached her for her vocals in Martin Scorsese's "New York, New York", a number which proved Liza with a "Z" is one of the greatest entertainers in the world and is on top of the world, again! So to Liza, in the words of her godmother, until the next concert in Chicago, "Goodbye Ms. Minnelli. Happy Everything!"
The Venue is proving itself to be a wonderful addition to Chicagoland performance spaces. The sound is perfectly balanced for the 3000 seat auditorium and the sight lines are exceptional from every angle and vantage point making the large theatre very intimate. Mike Hodin and the front of house staff and ushers are friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, a quality could surely be used in some of our downtown houses. (Special thanks to Om Bhetuwal who was our suite butler for the performance.) Chicago now has a little bit of Vegas 25 minutes downstream. Lucky us! For upcoming concerts and information about The Venue, visit their website.
For those who missed Ms. Minnelli, you have 2 chances to catch her in St. Louis, September 11 & 12, 2008 at: The Bezemes Family Theater At The Lindenwood Center For Fine & Performing Arts. 2300 West Clay Street. Saint Charles, MO 63301 For ticket information call the Box Office at: (636) 949-4433 Ticket sales Telecharge.com or Bezemes Family Theater Missouri lindenwoodcenter.com
Photos by: Jay Shaff, ChicagoPride.com
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