Judy: I’m Still Here – Ambassadors Theatre, London

Musical Director: Steve Orich

Judy Garland’s legacy is one that attracts the most devoted of fans. Her powerful and emotionally fragile vocal performances, built upon a very troubled personal life, have a passionate and enthusiastic band of supporters who have kept her legacy alive and thriving long after she passed. It is no surprise then that Debbie Wileman’s one-night-only tribute to Ms Garland is a near sell-out of vocally enthusiastic fans.

It is not just Judy’s musical legacy that’s filled the Ambassadors, it’s Wileman’s performance. Wigged-up and sequinned-clothed, you wouldn’t confuse the two ladies for each other in a line-up, but there’s a passing resemblance. However, when Wileman opens her mouth, it’s another story. Her ability to mimic Garland is quite astounding, but what’s impressive is that she does so without it becoming a parody and by maintaining (and in some instances enhancing) the emotional power of the original songs.

As a tribute to Garland, I’m Still Here doesn’t follow the usual ‘greatest hits’ approach that a covers band would typically take. Wileman is a self-confessed superfan and so has taken her knowledge of Judy Garland to curate a show that mixes some of her most renowned works with a range of songs that, in Wileman’s eyes, Garland should have sung, or would have sung if she were still around.

As a result, alongside classics like Over The Rainbow and Get Happy, we get Garland-infused takes on Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, Patsy Cline’s Crazy and Johnny Mathis’ Misty. We even get a few songs from the musical Mame which, apparently, the composer wrote with Garland in mind for the lead, but she never performed. This blend of the known and unknown really sets this show aside and makes it a standout. Being able to extrapolate Judy from what we know her for and give us her potential take on other songs not only makes this show fresh and engaging, it also provides us with a deeper insight into Wileman’s understanding of Garland and her remarkable performance skills.

Alongside the songs are some lovely stories, delivered in Wileman’s native Essex brogue and, at times, impersonating Garland. There are tales of Garland, Wileman’s own life, and even some noticeable history of the theatre and surrounding area. It’s all very entertaining, often funny, and creates a warm intimacy between performer and audience. It’s a powerful and touching performance that takes us beyond a simple impression and gives the audience what they want, and a hell of a lot more besides.

Reviewed on 30 June 2024