Next week see’s the return of the amazing Trevor Ashley to London from his home in Australia with his hilarious show, Liza’s Back (is Broken) at Underbelly on the Southbank. This amazing show casts the showbiz legend Liza Minnelli in all the roles she’s never played. Dave Cross had a catch up with the man behind the miss, Trevor Ashley to find out more.
Hello Trevor, are you looking forward to performing again in London?
Of course! I always have such a blast when I come to London. The audiences are fantastic.
Did the reception you get last time surprise you?
It was slightly surreal. It was like an out of body experience where I actually became Liza for the three nights because of their incredible reaction. I mean, it was pretty nuts.
Can you tell us a brief history of you as a performer?
I started out wanting to do cabaret and was a male cabaret artist and then somehow fell into drag. I landed my first musical which was the world premiere of Priscilla, and from then I’ve starred in the Australian productions of Hairspray, as Edna, Les Mis, as Thenardier and I’m about to go home to play Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. Liza however has toured me round the world and I have been lucky to do the West End, plus of course the Underbelly Festival.
How would you describe the show Liza’s Back?
It’s a fantasy based on roles Liza Minnelli should have done in her career. In some cases it’s a fantasy based on roles Liza should never do. It’s funny, brassy and can catch you off guard… I love doing it.
We love the thought of Liza as Norma Desmond or being in Wicked, what role would she play?
In this particular show she does Elphaba – kinda badly. I think however, she would have been a great Madame Morrible in Wicked.
Are there any roles she, or you wouldn’t do?
I really love showing what would happen if Liza played Maria in the Sound of Music. She’s totally wrong for it, but it’s a very funny premise. How much further could you get from Julie Andrews? We did want to have her also try Eliza in My Fair Lady, but we ran out of time. She’d suck at that too.
The show is very funny but we get the feeling it’s all done from love – are you a fan?
I’m a huge fan. She was an enormous inspiration to me growing up. I wore out my VHS of her Live at Radio City. The fact that I now get to travel the world playing her is pretty amazing.
Win a pair of tickets for Liza’s Back
Boyz has a pair of tickets for Liza’s Back on Tuesday 27 June. Just send an email to [email protected] with your contact details and we’ll pick a winner.
Liza’s Back at Underbelly Southbank Festival. Details and tickets at underbellyfestival.com or 03333 444167
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