REVIEW: ‘End of the Rainbow’ reveals trash

Judy Garland bio-drama offers a sad account of the singer’s last comeback

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

BROADWAY REVIEW

While Broadway customers tend to welcome any hit show that sails over from England as a blue-ribbon winner, let’s simply mention a few British duds like “Festen,” “Coram Boy” and the recent Kim Cattrall revival of “Private Lives.”

Just arrived at the Belasco Theatre from England on Monday is “End of the Rainbow,” a play regarding Judy Garland’s final attempt at a comeback shortly before her death in 1969.

It’s trash. Judy swills, Judy sings, Judy vomits, Judy goes on singing.

Pulp rubbish by playwright Peter Quilter, “End of the Rainbow” depicts a jittery Garland, her young fiancé Mickey Deans and a devoted (fictional) accompanist named Anthony holed up in a suite at the Ritz Hotel in London as the broke, emotionally troubled legend gets ready for a series of concerts.

Although the stud-muffin Mickey believes he can handle Garland’s need for pills and liquor, eventually he realizes that she is out of control. Gay, middle-aged Anthony vainly supports Garland with his nearly unconditional adoration. The singer, meanwhile, swallows every pharmaceutical she can find – including drugs meant for a cocker spaniel – and edgily makes quips as if she were on “The Jack Paar Show.”

Every so often the back wall of the hotel room rises to reveal a five-member orchestra who energetically backs up Garland as she warbles old favorites like “The Man That Got Away” and “Come Rain or Come Shine” in varying stages of frenzy.

While Tracie Bennett really doesn’t much look or sound like Garland – she’s got some of the notes but not the quality – she certainly gives a forceful interpretation of the star thrashing on her last legs. In her wilder throes as Garland flailing through a number, Bennett gets awfully Kabuki about it, but you can’t deny her power even if she’s driving a third-rate hearse of a play.

Always a believable actor, Michael Cumptsy is effective as the Scotch-accented Anthony. Tom Pelphrey appropriately looks hunky and helpless as Mickey. Terry Johnson, the director, and William Dudley, the eminent designer, at least provide handsome surroundings for this tawdry memorial to a great artist.

“End of the Rainbow” continues at the Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th St., New York. Call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.endoftherainbowbroadway.com.