Judy's Scary Little Christmas: Portland Tribune Review

Portland Tribune

ON STAGE
'Judy's Scary Little Christmas'

Triangle Productions hits one over the rainbow with Tony James' return as Judy Garland. James reprises his role from "Christmas With the Crawfords," which Triangle presented two years ago, as Judy gets her own television Christmas show. It's frighteningly familiar to anyone who sat through an Andy Williams special but with a much more satisfying outcome. Michael Teufel shines as Liberace, grinning like a '58 Cadillac, and Kelsey Tyler's Bing Crosby is the perfectly pointless guest. Daria O'Neill overdoes Ethel Merman (if that's possible) but has some of the best lines. Still, the heart of the show is James, who nails Garland's mannerisms, has a fine singing voice and that precise mix of enthusiasm and terror for which she was loved. The show premiered last year in Los Angeles, but Triangle adds a few new twists -- including a Liberace who can actually play the piano.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday, through Dec. 21, Theater Theatre, 3430 S.E. Belmont St., 503-239-5919, $17-$23