Trevor Ashley, Australian performer and drag artist, came to Brighton for one night only in preparation for a season in the West End.

His act as Liza Minnelli was so much more than mere impersonation. It provided a delicious evening that paid tribute to Minnelli yet sent her up wickedly. All the flamboyant gestures, giggle and gushiness were there but there were times when he portrayed her pain at never having found true love and the realisation at an early age that there would always be competition with her mother.

Ashley’s performance was a brilliant tour de force combining superb singing with outrageous comedy as Liza recounted, between musical numbers, her life and failed love affairs.

Some songs were delivered straight while others were clever parodies. Liza With A Z and Say Yes were fully laden with drug references while Mein Herr soon slipped into marital warfare with David Guest.

Away from the comedy, Ashley’s strong voice impressed with the pairing of Losing My Mind with Maybe Next Time, and a terrific version of As If We Never Said Goodbye.

Other impersonations included Lady Gaga, an over-the-top Donna Summer and just a brief glimpse of Judy Garland.