CityLife

Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds: Alive And Fabulous
Bridgewater Hall
April 9, 2010

Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds brought a flurry of movie star-dust to Manchester in her one-woman show.

Difficult to believe that this star of several iconic movies is now in her seventies as her glittering gown was cleverly slashed to reveal, as she put it, her one good leg!

This feisty lady established a humorous rapport with the audience pretending to be shocked that anyone turned up and convinced that the younger members of the audience wouldn't know who she was.

From her first entrance to her last curtain call, which warranted a standing ovation, this all-round entertainer sang, danced a little and dished the dirt on ex-husbands and co-stars alike. The audience loved it!

The funny anecdotes which accompanied the excerpts from her most famous films, as well as some Hollywood bloopers, revealed that life behind the silver screen wasn't nearly as glamorous as we movie-goers imagined.

Her most famous role was playing Gene Kelly's love interest in Singing In The Rain and she confided that during rehearsals, the star inadvertently left his toupe behind, glued to her discarded chewing gum!

Debbie's ex-husbands also take some flak from pop star Eddie Fisher, who left her for Elizabeth Taylor, to the others who ruined her financially. But it's all delivered with self-deprecating humour and you're never more than five minutes away from the next song.

There are amusing impressions of her famous friends from Marlene Dietrich to Jimmy Stewart and she brought the house down with an hilarious impression of Barbra Streisand.

This nostalgic trip down movie memory lane reflected the golden age of Hollywood and the audience didn't want to leave shouting out questions which were answered with good humour. As I left, fans were queuing at the stage door for yet another glimpse of the glamorous star as she left on the next stage of her pre-London tour.

Long may Debbie Reynolds remain Alive And Fabulous!

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