Liza Minnelli plays Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall
ON STAGE / Crowd welcomes the legend back to town
Xtra staff / Toronto / Friday, October 28, 2011
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Liza Minnelli was welcomed back to Toronto by a friendly crowd at Roy Thomson Hall on Oct 28.

The singing and acting legend's performance in Cabaret won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. She has also won Grammy, Tony and Emmy awards.

Her storied past of love and loss made for some comedic moments, as when she introduced a song from Chicago sung by Roxie Heart, who was charged with murdering her husband.

Minnelli, whose mother was Judy Garland, continues to draw in the gay crowd. Below are highlights from Friday's show.


Liza Minnelli Roy Thomson Hall Cabaret "Gay icon" Toronto performance live  


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Reader Comments


 
When will it end?
Judy Garland’s father, Francis Avent "Frank" Gumm , was a closeted homosexual. Both Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minnelli married and divorced homosexual or bisexual men and were allegedly physically abusive to some of them. In particular, Judy Garland married and divorced Vincente Minnelli and Mark Herron (Garland was allegedly physically abusive to Herron while on drugs and alcohol). Liza Minnelli married and divorced Peter Allen and David Gest (Minnelli was allegedly physically abusive to Gest while suffering from alcohol abuse). In a weird twist, Mark Herron (Liza’s former stepfather) allegedly had an affair Peter Allen (her first husband). All of these people represent the tragedy of the closet, substance abuse and dysfunctional relationships. While one can have sympathy with Garland and Minnelli, at what point will gay men stop venerating them?
Rick, Toronto Ontario
10/30/11 5:28 PM EST
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the truth
oh rick. So eager to believe things that aren't true. Minnelli is at MOST 5'3, she never abused David Gest or Mohammed Soumayah. Gest made a bunch of wild claims, none of which stood up in court. Vincente Minelli was not gay...his kids by different women should be enough proof. Bisexual maybe, but no names have ever come forward to say they were involved with him. Yes he was an effete artiste. So is Prince, who's the biggest pussyhound of all. Garland beating up Herron? She was 4'11 and frail. You conveniently left out how often Herron beat her up. I'm not saying they are perfect, just want to clear up your sorely lacking information. Gest is and has always been out in his private life. Herron came out publicly after trying to be straight for long time. Incidentally, one of Liza's other husbands was bisexual. Care to guess?
Lily, Toronto ON
10/30/11 7:06 PM EST
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There are sources for the info in my post
Lily, there are a number of sources for the information in my original post. For example, at minute 6:27 in the following clip, there is a discussion of how Garland married gay men: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wE2PxUig8U Similarly, at minute 0:25 in the following clip, there is a discussion of how Garland’s abuse of Herron resulted in him filing for divorce. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsKOR8eZLYg&feature=related
Rick, Toronto Ontario
10/30/11 7:45 PM EST
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