Saw the show last night. It's so well done. SO tragic. You felt bad for laughing but it's so difficult to hold the emotions in funny or not.
I was wondering if Liza would see the show. I can't imagine what it would be like to see someone portray your mother on stage - especially with the subject matter and the time of her life covered in the piece.
I'd want to stay far away but my curiosity would certainly be peaked...
Hell to the no. She's said many times that she knows her mother so she no interest in seeing how others interpret her. To add to that, I doubt she'd have interest in the tragic scenery chewing that goes on in this show.
Actually, I attended a talk back about a month ago with Tracie in Minneapolis, and this question came up. She said that when the show was running on the west end, Liza had attended a performance. Tracie said she was told by the house manager after the performance that Liza had attended, but she left after the first 25 minutes without saying anything. However, the house manager nor her knew exactly why she left. Tracie said it could have been that she hated it, or that she couldn't handle seeing her mother portrayed onstage (which I wouldn't blame her for).
^which Tracie said she wouldn't blame her for, or which you are saying you wouldn't blame her for? Or both, bboth0882?
Oh, sorry, i was unclear, I meant I wouldn't. I don't think I could handle seeing a deceased family member that I was close to, being portrayed on stage.
Didn't she poo-poo BOY FROM OZ?
Which had her dead mother, her dead first gay husband, and a lively Steph Block as Ms M. herself.
I doubt it. Even if it's a loving portrait of Judy (I haven't seen it yet, so I wouldn't know), I think it would be difficult for Liza to see someone play her mother on the stage. Didn't she not approve of the Judy Davis mini-series too?
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
^JV, she actually did watch the Judy Davis miniseries. I know they mention her seeing it with her sister in the Directors commentary.
She won't even dignify it by acknowledging it. She avoided The Boy From Oz entirely and that had Hugh Jackman in it.
It's one thing to watch a movie about the end of your mother's life in the privacy of your own home. It's a completely different thing to see it live on stage surrounded by an audience who are probably watching you as much as they're watching the show.
Though Liza did meet with Hugh Jackman when he was prepping for THE BOY FROM OZ, Jackman and the media did report that she politely stated that she was not going to see THE BOY FROM OZ.
Saying this, I think it is safe to assume that Ms. Minnelli will not being seeing END OF THE RAINBOW. Not now; not ever.
The ABC TV mini-series LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS is a completely different scenario as it is (and was) a joint family project. Her sister Lorna Luft not only wrote the book the film was based on, but also produced the television adaptation, etc. Liza was very much involved with the project in some form or another.
^ That's something I didn't know. Thanks for that!
Liza was very much involved with the project in some form or another.
That's not true. Liza was not involved with the book or the miniseries in any way, shape or form.
She watched it, some time after it aired, and said complimentary things about it, but she was not involved with it.
You also notice from watching the miniseries that Liza (as a character) is barely in it at all. I know it was based on the book Lorna Luft wrote and the primary focus of the last act is the relationship between Judy and daughter Lorna. I just found it odd that Liza was virtually non-existent through the whole thing, no real scenes even between Liza and Lorna. Perhaps that's exactly what she wanted.
Updated On: 3/23/12 at 12:58 AM
It;'s not like she'll try to sue to have it not done (which woul dbe a lost cause, but other celebs have done in similar situations), so I give her credit. Nobody in their right mind that I know of would want to see something similar about someone in their life.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
It's interesting that Liza saw it in London, and left after 25 minutes.
I saw the show in London last year...Maybe Liza left after the moment when Judy sinks to her knees, and tries to undo her husband's fly to give him a blow job...
And frankly, most of the show is as tawdry as that moment.
Is that true that she showed up and left?
She was certainly in town around that time
I know Liza's an easy target but have a heart folks- no matter how true to life the portrayal is or isn't- if that was your mother or your life I highly doubt you would be able to sit through a live theatrical presentation of it- I know I wouldn't. My family has had a few members who battled drug and alcohol problems and I don't even like hearing the stories!
As far as the Lorna Luft mini-series it was a non-Liza production all the way. Remember things haven't always been peachy keen between the two of them - I think in recent years they get on ok, but from everything I've ever read there had always been some underlying tension there.
Liza's father is mentioned disparagingly several times, including wisecracks about his sex life.
None of Judy's children are mentioned in the play.
Liza and Lorna do NOT speak
Lorna has said, personally to friends, that she is completely against this production. She thinks it is "low" and "disheartening" and "rubbish." They tried desperately for some time to stop the production altogether, but alas- as stated before- it was futile from the very beginning.
I have no idea how Liza feels specifically.
Liza and Lorna do NOT speak
Not true. Not currently. Liza and Lorna have been speaking to each other for several years.
Liza came to see Lorna in White Christmas at the Paper Mill, and the two sisters spent their first Christmas together in several years.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"Lorna has said, personally to friends, that she is completely against this production. She thinks it is "low" and "disheartening" and "rubbish." "
I agree 100% with Lorna.
Stand-by Joined: 10/15/10
IamMyownMusical said....
### Liza and Lorna do NOT speak
Lorna has said, personally to friends, that she is completely against this production. She thinks it is "low" and "disheartening" and "rubbish." They tried desperately for some time to stop the production altogether, but alas- as stated before- it was futile from the very beginning.###
......
Updated On: 3/25/12 at 06:19 PM
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