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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
12:46 PM 19th May 2015
arts

Luft - Only A Shadow Of Her Mother

 
When you are dealing with an icon - even if she is your mother - make sure you are wearing kid gloves, for the world will judge you based on their own prejudices, for better or worse.

But if you also deign to bathe in her glory, then make sure you are wearing P60, it's said to be as resilient as a raincoat!

Judy Garland was drugged to the eye balls by the time she was a teenager, had countless failed marriages and lived in a bubble of permanent inadequacy; now she is one of the most enduring figures from Hollywood's Golden Era.

So it was with more than a little interest that I trotted off to see her daughter, Lorna Luft, 'starring' in The Songbook of Judy Garland at Bradford's Alhambra.

The production, featuring the creative talents of Arlene Phillips, was slick, beautifully choreographed and well bolstered by the likes of Ray Quinn and West End diva, Louise Dearman.

But it was a good 45 minutes before Miss Luft set foot on stage, and with just a 15 minute appearance in the first half and a fraction more in the second, it did make the 'starring' sound a bit too much like hype. But, then again, Miss Luft is 62.

However, I find it hard to fault the show's production values because apart from some stunning dancing - Ray Quinn really is an excellent tapper - the backdrop of rolling film from Judy's life - including audio clips - really was excellent.

And I have to applaud Miss Luft for something else - she didn't try and sing Somewhere over the Rainbow, leaving that instead to a Judy film clip. That is smart, knowing what you can get away with and what you can't.

Nevertheless those in the audience loved it, even though there were a lot of empty seats, and, for a moment, it was as if they believed their icon was actually there. But she wasn't. Lorna Luft can belt out a number, more Ethel Merman than mother, but, in truth, it was the 'production' that was the star, not Judy's daughter.



When Garland died in 1969, her A Star is Born co-star, James Mason said that her great gift was that 'she could wring tears out of hearts of rock.'

She was a one off and, last night, it was great to see the wonderful videos of this long since passed lady of the silver screen. I raise my hat to her daughter for pulling together a showcase supported by the full weight of The Judy Garland Estate, but that's all.

One night only.