A man singing Liza Minnelli in drag. Doesn't sound like your cup of tea? You'd be wrong, just like I was. This show is stunningly devised by the star Sam Thakray, and begins exactly as you might expect, by singing along to Ms Liza herself, and making the audience feel slightly uncomfortable. While there is a potential social stigma attached to drag acts, only later in the show do you realise this initial awkwardness is all part of its genius. Starting with a classically uncomfortable stereotype, 'Tim' brings you slowly into his world, from the glamour of his persona to the darker life behind the dresses.There is no escaping the charisma of this drama, and it certainly is, despite appearances, a drama. Revealing the twist of the story would entirely ruin the experience, so I must insist you see it for yourselves. Although an excellently crafted semi-autobiographical story, one can't help but feel the show is occasionally slightly self-indulgent on the part of our star/director/writer, and at times felt a little out of kilter. But then I suppose flamboyant is the name of the game with this show! The lighting is beautifully put together and constantly subtley reflects the action on stage, whilst also creating a dramatic show stopping environment for the larger numbers, which include Fame, Maybe This Time and Don't Rain On My Parade.Sitting in the intimate space of C+2, you know immeadiately that you are part of the audience that every young singer performs to in their bedroom wall, and it's a facinating concept to view a story from the perspective of that imaginary crowd. With Eddie Izzard style comedy, a voice Liza would be proud of and a story that brought the girl next to me to tears, don't miss this fabulous show stopper.
