End of the Rainbow (Photo: Alistair Muir)
cast list
Tracie Bennett, Stephen Hagan, Hilton McRae, Robin Browne
directed by
Terry Johnson
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The time is 1968, the place London, and a weary Judy Garland has arrived with her new young fiancé to do a punishing series of shows at the Talk of the Town, only to find herself battling with the demons that will all too soon overtake her.
In Peter Quilter's new musical drama, seen earlier in the year at Northampton's Royal Theatre, Olivier award-winning actress Tracie Bennett gives a powerhouse performance as the disintegrating diva.
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By turn vulgar, funny, needy, arrogant and desperate, she throws herself wholeheartedly (and indeed often physically) into the role, making it far more than simply a gifted impersonation. She splendidly captures the grotesquery of a drunk, defiant and pathetic at the same time, while not losing sight of the charisma that personified Garland. While at times she veers dangerously close to Baby Jane territory, she is always pulled back by the play's earthy humour and her own genuine emotional range.
She is supported by a razor sharp script and a duo of strong performances: Stephen Hagan deserves credit for making his portrayal of soon-to-be husband number five Mickey more nuanced than it could have been. It would have been easy to play him just as a sleazy opportunist, but instead there are glimpses of someone genuinely frustrated and baffled at having bitten off far more than he can chew. Hilton McRae, as Scottish pianist and musical director Anthony, brings both spikiness and warmth to the role, his deadpan humour undercutting some of the play's more melodramatic moments. His wry performance, both affectionate and exasperated, perfectly illustrates Garland's talent to alienate those most disposed to love her. Robin Browne, meanwhile, provides able support in a trio of roles, most notably a radio interviewer.
But of course a play about one of the all time great voices stands or falls on its music, and here the show truly shines. Bennett is simply amazing: she utterly captures the essence of Garland, whether belting out showtunes or collapsing into torch songs. Her magnificent voice is even more effective in a theatre as intimate as the Trafalgar Studios, where you can really feel its power. Those expecting a full-on musical will be disappointed – several classics are only partially sung or hinted at - but there should be enough to please all but the purists, with stand out numbers include a rousing rendition of the Trolley Song, and a heartbreaking Man That Got Away.
William Dudley's opulent hotel room set is used to great effect, shifting seamlessly to the Talk of the Town nightclub, where despite her troubles, the singer continues to shine. Director Terry Johnson deserves high praise for keeping the pace tight and perfectly balancing the sometimes conflicting tones of the play. While not sidestepping the tragedy that was Garland's life, this show also never minimises the triumph that was her talent.
It is testimony to the play's quality that at the end of the show the crowd is on its feet as much for Judy Garland as for Tracie Bennett; and though her widespread adoration was scant consolation to a lovelorn and lonely woman, it's nice to think that that the hardened showbiz trouper would get some pleasure from her enduring legacy, and the rapturous response she can still command today.
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