Mickey & Judy is a cabaret memoir piece by Michael Hughes about his experience of growing up and learning to accept the boy and man he is destined to be, with the constant inspiration of Judy Garland by his side. He brings in a song from a musical or Judy’s repertoire for every important moment of his young life while accompanied by musical director, Douglas Price, on a piano keyboard.
Hughes’ journey begins with his boyhood as he played dress-up with his sisters and their Barbies and into the psychiatrist’s office to be analyzed for his ‘abnormally’ feminine behaviour. His tales of being bullied in high school and running away from home will sound familiar and will also make you laugh. The melodies of Broadway comfort and enhance every story with a little razzle-dazzle.
Besides the performers, the only piece of scenery is a framed photograph of Judy Garland that rests against the piano. I would have loved to see a bit more use of set or costumes to enhance the comedic aspects of the piece and to help bring the audience deeper into the imaginative world that Hughes creates with song.
Traces of Judy can be found nearly everywhere, in choice of song (‘Oh Do It Again,’ ‘The Man That Got Away,’ ‘The Trolley Song’) and in Hughes’ own voice. He proves he really did learn everything he knows about musicals from Judy with little lilts and trembles that mimics hers in his own lovely tenor. A tenor that’s worthy enough to grace the stages of the West End and Broadway.
It’s a sweet little piece and is sure to bring a smile, warm your heart and make you want to believe in your own wild dreams, just like Mickey.
