2044
(1 vote, average 5.00 out of 5)
Written by Harry Cherkinian
Dec 16, 2010
Jack Forbes Wilson as Liberace – Photo: Michael Brosilow
He was known by many names throughout his 67 years: Walter to his family, Lee to his friends. And to his legion of fans, he was The King of Bling, The Glitter Man and, of course, Mr. Showmanship.
But throughout his career, everybody knew him by at least one name: Liberace. They knew him as a gifted pianist with a penchant for entertainment at its most eccentric heights.
What many did not know about him, however, was his homosexuality. Liberace lived deep within the closet, within a darkness that, despite the bright lights of showbiz, would ultimately engulf his life.
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater has brought Liberace back to life in a most entertaining way, befitting his spirit. Written by The Rep’s artistic associate Brent Hazelton, the one-man show “Liberace!” tells the glitzy maestro’s story in song and monologue. A tour de force performance by Jack Forbes Wilson captures the heart and soul of the unlikely star from Milwaukee.
We learn at lot about Liberace over the course of more than two riveting hours (including intermission). This theatrical journey is especially appealing for Milwaukee audiences, given the local ties that Liberace maintained until just months before his death from complications of AIDS in 1987.
Born and raised in West Allis, Wladziu Valentino Liberace was playing piano by the age of 4, studying difficult classical pieces to please his stern musician father. During the Great Depression, the young Liberace kept the family afloat by playing cabarets and strip clubs. A performance in La Crosse, during which Liberace was asked to play an encore of “Three Little Fishes,” changed the course of his career, opening his eyes to the possibility of forging a new path as an entertainer.
By the 1950s, Liberace was the highest paid entertainer in the world. He remained atop that throne for decades and became a pioneer in turning Las Vegas into the entertainment capital of the world.
Hazelton wrote “Liberace!” with Wilson in mind, and the fit is as perfect as the tailored sequin tuxedos that became a Liberace trademark. Wilson plays piano in much the same intense and at times choppy style as Liberace. He also personifies the performer in every nuance – the broad and constant smile, the gentle voice, the slouching posture at the keyboard, the leg up on the piano seat. Like Liberace, who was more comfortable in front of the footlights than in the shadows off stage, Wilson makes the stage his living room and he inhabits it wholly.
In addition to revealing Liberace’s fascinating backstory, “Liberace!” pays glorious tribute to the uncanny performer and gifted musician. And of course, the costumes are way over-the-top fun.
Mr. Showmanship wouldn’t have it any other way.
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