{image1}According to Linda Steiber, the solo performer of Skylight Opera Theater's production of "Get Happy: The Music of Judy Garland," the purpose of the show is to celebrate the music of Judy Garland. This quickly dispelled any audience expectations of a Judy Garland tribute show.
What Steiber lacks in physical and vocal resemblance to Garland, she explained during a break between songs midway through the first act, she makes up for in enthusiasm.
"Some of you might ask, "Why you? Why Judy? What's the connection?" to which an anonymous audience member promptly responded with the same questions. After gracefully fielding her heckler, Steiber replied.
"David Brady -- music director and pianist, Susan Currie -- stage manager, Judy Garland and I are all Geminis. We are also fond of chocolate and have big brown eyes (Brady fluttered his eyelashes in agreement). The fourth thing we have in common is that Judy and I both put on shows in our backyards when we were young."
Steiber used this note to dovetail into her next song, "I Wish I Were in Love Again" by Richard Rogers, from the movie, "Words and Music." The words, written by Lorenz Hart, elicited laughs from the mostly older audience, who filled the former Theater X Theater to its 95-seat capacity. After returning to a tall chair in the center of the sparsely furnished stage, she asked Brady if he had ever thrown a plate before.
Smooth transitions and light-hearted banter between Steiber and Brady created an intimate feeling throughout the performance. Her consistent eye contact with the audience and effective use of the somewhat limited space helped make the overall production more interactive between the viewers and performers.
After every few numbers, Steiber paused to provide some background information on Garland's career, as well as her own, describing her critically-acclaimed performance as Judy Garland in the world premiere of "Judy: An Intimate Evening With a Legend" for R.S.V.P. Productions. She spoke of her experiences and growth as a performer, paying tribute to her mother and aunt in the audience by giving them bouquets and getting a bit teary.
"Get Happy" features almost 20 songs from Garland's immense repertoire, ranging from "After You've Gone," which hearkens back to her Vaudeville roots, to "The Man That Got Away," a song from her Academy Award-nominated performance in "A Star is Born."
Of course, no Garland show would be complete without her signature song -- "my anthem, my sacred text," as the singer once put it -- "Over the Rainbow," which was recently named America's top movie song of all time.
After the single spotlight faded to black and Brady finished up with "Get Happy," an older woman commented, "Boy, does her voice take a beating." A true testament to the blood (she scratched her arm on the chair), sweat and tears Steiber put out there in the tradition of the woman who was, according to one of the posters onstage, the "world's greatest performer."
Garland would have been proud.
According to artistic director Bill Theisen "Get Happy" is the first show Skylight Opera Theater has staged in the Studio Theater at the Broadway Theatre Center since the demise of Theater X.
According to Theisen, they hope to continue offering staged readings of new works as well as productions of alternative musical theater pieces.
"Get happy" runs through May 15. Call (414) 291-7800 for tickets or more information.
