Tallahassee
By Laura Guyer
Tallahassee was overjoyed to see Liza appear after four cancellations. They didn't care that her voice was a little less than perfect. They cheered and shouted "We love you!" till the tears rolled down her cheeks and she was unable to speak. Finally she thanked them for being home when she came calling. She told the audience about her throat operation and her hip operation. She hit a few notes that I've never heard before. She said that soon she'll be even better than before.
In Atlantic City she made a tremendous improvement from the first show to the last one. The notes that she had trouble hitting on Friday came out clear and strong on Sunday. And what she lacked in vocal quality she more than made up for with charm and wit. She talked a bit more because it seemed to help by giving her voice a rest. She also sang a lot slower and drank a lot more Gatorade to irrigate her cords. She says she has a new set of cords, like having a new car, and doesn't know how to drive them yet. She said she wasn't meant to be away four months and really missed us.
Those few fair-weather fans who expressed disappointment in her Friday performance should have been there Sunday to hear the improvement. She hit far more good notes than clams, as she referred to them. And now she's off to Hong Kong to see a voice teacher in order improve even more. As Matt said, this is not it. She will keep getting better. Performing is good for her. It strengthens her voice and boosts her spirits.
She kept referring to us as her family and to coming home to us. We need to encourage and support her the way a family would. Some fans seem more concerned about the performance than about her health and well-being. I urge all of you to go to as many concerts as you can and give her all the support you can. Clap till your hands fall off and cheer till you're hoarse, then do it some more. Keep it up till you see her tears because then you'll know you've touched her heart.
We can't expect a perfect performance from her after two weeks in a hospital and four months of recuperation. Just be thankful that she's back and that she's on the road to recovery and that all the terrible rumors we heard aren't true. Remember, she isn't just a singer but an overall performer. We enjoy the whole package of singing, dancing, acting, and humor. And she doesn't just entertain. She touches our hearts and spreads sunshine and joy.
If she keeps improving at this rate, she'll be better than ever in no time. And she'll be grateful for our loyalty and support. She said that's what keeps her going and she couldn't do it without us. We can't discount a brilliant 34-year career because of a few missed notes.
At the New Dramatists Luncheon she looked radiant in her pink suit and black turtleneck. After lunch they showed clips of her singing Kander and Ebb songs. Then the room went dark and a voice announced her. A spotlight illumuinated her standing on the stage. In a voice choked with emotion, she spoke from her heart without written notes about being loved, nurtured, and cared for by Kander and Ebb.
While in New York I visited the TV museum and viewed the tape of her singing Over the Rainbow at the tender age of 13. Even at that age she had all the poise and charm she has now. And she knew how to deliver a song.
The new trio consists of Cortes, Larry, and Max, and they're quite good.
For Liza's fans, it was worth the wait
By Mark Hinson, Tallahassee Democrat Staff Writer, May 1997
The star of Cabaret captivated her Tallahassee audience in a perfomance that put her recent vocal cord surgery to the test.
“How do you like my rainbow dress?”
Liza Minnelli hit the stage Tuesday night at the Civic Center with a slightly husky voice, thanks to her recent vocal cord surgery, and a multicolored gown that glowed as strongly as her stage presence. “I hope I sound good,” she said after opening with Say Yes and The Man I Love. “If we hit a really bad clam, we’ll stop and go back,” she said and laughed. The audience didn’t seem to mind as she went into a moody dramatic reading of Sailor Boys, accompanied by a smooth-sounding 12-piece orchestra.
Her dress reflected the signature song of her mom, Judy Garland, and she paid tribute to her director father, Vincente Minnelli, by singing the title song from his musical Gigi. It was definitely Liza with a Z. And an E for extra effort. Throughout the first 45 minutes of the show she joked with audience members and even poked fun at herself. “Vertical stripes always help,” she said of the flowing short-cut gown that was somewhat revealing.
Minnelli appeared as part of a black-tie benefit concert for Tallahassee’s LeMoyned Art Foundation. The show was rescheduled five times before last night’s May date was set. About 600 well-appointed ticket-holders showed up early for a pre-concert dinner of filet mignon, chicken, shrimp and wine. The good seats at the table down front went for $150 a pop and the diners included such notables as Florida first lady Rhea Chiles and former Secretary of State Jim Smith.
“I can’t tell you how glad I was to see her plane land,” LeMoyne director Richard Puckett said as the dinner crowd arrived. “She’s very nice and very pleasant,” Puckett said. He also passed along a story about Minnelli making a brief pit stop in her limo en route to the Civic Center on Tuesday afternoon. “She stopped at the Sing (a convenicnce store) and got out to get a snack,” he said. “She was hungry from the flight.”
“This has been a long time coming,” LeMoyne president Carlton Enfinger told members of the pre-concert crowd as they muhcned on shrimp. “If you can believe it, on Sunday night there was a tractor pull in here,” Enfinger said as he pointed around the concert hall, which had been decorated with Liza posters and icons.
“I think the rescheduling put a lot of people off,” LeMoyne staff member Mary Beth Foss said. “But I think they’ll regret it. How many times do you get someone of this caliber to Tallahassee? This will be one you can look back on in a few years and way you were glad you were there.”
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