Judy's Scary Little Christmas: LA.com Review

12/10/03

Lauri Johnson as

ETHEL MERMAN with ensemble.
Photo by Michael Lamont

"Judy's Scary Little Christmas"

The Skinny

If Richard Nixon, Liberace, Bing Crosby and Joan Crawford all gathered around the crackling fire for Judy Garland’s 1959 holiday television special, who do you think would’ve spiked the festive punch with vodka? Now we’ll never have to wonder.

“Judy’s Scary Little Christmas” arrives at The Court Theatre as if to throw the musical tribute genre in front of the Metro Red Line. Think "A Mighty Wind" meets “Jerry Springer” in this Ovation Award-winning production that depicts the imaginary comeback of Judy Garland hosting a deranged Christmas special live from Hollywood. Mimicking the traditional format of holiday specials, this one has her celebrity guests arriving at her front door for a wickedly spirited chat before diving into rousing musical performances that promote their latest projects. Liberace’s dramatic piano solo and colorful flamboyancy is a grinner, while Eric Anderson’s portrayal is spot-on. Commercial breaks are the real highlight as Crosby and Garland switch out the punch for straight vodka and the stars’ on-camera personas bleed into a nasty humanity. The overwhelming joy is Connie Champagne as Judy Garland, so honest and vocally stunning that it’s easy to forget that the whole evening is as make believe as Santa Claus himself. Nevertheless, once Judy gives the closer “Make It Shine” a diva treatment, you might still be a believer.