review - The Judy Garland Christmas Special

Peter Mac as Judy Garland is motivation enough to go on down to the Gardenia for a fun-filled evening of  entertainment, and with Christmas fast approaching, what could be more pleasurable than a stroll down memory lane and TV's delightfully homespun The Judy Garland Christmas Special. In that very show audience get to see a really youngish Liza Minnelli (Glory Gale), a young Lorna Luft (Alissa Cote) and little brother Joey Luft (not so little David Marker). And very special guest star - this was pre Golden Girls - Bea Arthur (D. J. Schaefer), who camps it up buddy-style with la Garland.

In this delicious parody of the TV special, we hear offstage voices like that of Joan Crawford, trashing Garland's maid for offering her a wire-hanger for her coat, and that of a chastising Kate Hepburn coaxing Crawford to the bar. The offstage dialogue gives Mac opportunity to make a quick costume change and come literally spinning back as none other than the Ghost of Christmas Future - an older Liza Minnelli - who, in a dream sequence duets with the younger Liza (Gale) on a sizzling "Steam Heat". Schaefer has a ball as Arthur asking Garland frequently about the booze, and singing a cute "White Christmas" out of which come more than a few zingers about Be White - B. White,  get it, Betty White. In case you didn't know Bea hated Betty, for God only knows what reason. Mac and Schaefer duet blissfully on "Jingle Bells", "It Happened in Sun Valley", "Winter Wonderland", "Happy Holidays", and "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays". Other highlights include: Cote singing in precocious Luft style "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", Marker doing a very sweet "Where Is Love?" from Oliver, Mac essaying a lovely "O Holy Night", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and, sharing a wish Garland made at 41 in 1960 to Santa Claus with super musical director Bryan Miller, an engaging "All I Want for Christmas Is a One Night Stand at Carnegie Hall". Garland's actual appearance there came in 1961 and what a great plug for Mac to get in that 2011 is the 50th anniversary of that unforgettable concert! Of course, the kids encourage mama to end with everyone's all time favorite "Over the Rainbow".

What a grande way to spend a pre-holiday evening, camping up the 60s with Garland! You have two more chances to visit the incomparable Peter Mac: tonight Friday December 16 and tomorrow Saturday December 17. Remember: the Gardenia at 9 pm! Don't miss The Judy Garland Christmas Special, which I'm told, will have some extra special added surprise guests!

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