Brighton was a sea of sequins and sparkles last night as it hosted the first UK tour of ‘Liberace and Liza – A Tribute‘, and we don’t think we’ve seen a more genuine standing ovation in a long while.
The show imagines a situation in which these two iconic stars are best friends and go out on stage together to remember their lives, loves, and successful careers – – reality, the two never met, but if they had, no doubt it would have been exactly like the show last night. Liberace (David Saffert) arrived first, the scene set with the essential grand piano and candelabra, larger than life in his glittering red cape – something he found at the back of the closet (we all got the reference!). As soon as he started to play, we knew we were in very safe hands as he added flourishes and augmentations to ‘Chopsticks’, his fingers dancing over the keys with the trademark raised hand at the end of each phrase and a gurn to the audience.
Once he invited Liza Minelli (Jillian Snow) to the stage, the place was in uproar. Every movement was accentuated, every opportunity to parody was taken, and we knew a star was in the room. The two of them sparred, stealing each other’s limelight, providing loving digs and challenging each other to be the biggest diva on the stage. All the classics came out, along with a few new surprises.
What was clear from the outset was that we were watching two amazing performers. Saffert is a classically trained pianist, able to fully embrace Liberace’s complex style of playing whilst holding the character throughout. His Gershwin medley at the end of the first half was mesmerising and worth the ticket price alone. Snow has a stunning voice, able to produce and hold all the big notes. Her performance of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ was pitch-perfect and deeply emotional; the comedy was set aside for a moment to let the real talent shine through. It was also clear that both performers had a close connection and respect for their alter egos. They are obviously fans themselves, which made the performances feel personal.
It was the comedy of the night that will stay with us. They managed to weave in songs from the Spice Girls and Chappell Roan, and Liza’s rendition of Britney’s ‘Toxic’ was astonishing. She opened the second half with ‘Losing My Mind’, stomping around the audience and pulling off hilarious dance moves, dressed in another dazzling outfit. The pair continued to play together, involving the audience in a ridiculous quiz and shamelessly plugging their upcoming shows. Whenever there was a chance to add a gesture, make a dig, or draw attention to themselves, they took it, and the audience loved every moment.
This is a show full of warmth, humour and most of all amazing music. These are highly professional performers delivering a show they clearly enjoy with a feel-good energy that was unavoidable. Huge congratulations go to these artists who have reimagined a scenario and added their own talents to produce a hugely enjoyable evening.
Performance Details
Brighton Fringe
Wednesday 6 May at 6.00 pm – Ironworks Studio
Wednesday 6 May at 8.30 pm – Ironworks Studio
Saturday 9 May 2026 – Nottingham Arts Theatre
Sunday 10 May 2026 – Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol
Tuesday 12 May 2026 – Crazy Coqs – Brasserie Zédel, London
Tickets for Brighton Fringe are available here.
