Liza Minnelli

On an unusually hot, muggy, summer night in Los Angeles, there was a little bit of fear that the outdoor venue of the Hollywood Bowl might be a bit much for the frequently ailing but always game Liza Minnelli. And when the show was delayed due to technical difficulties, one began to wonder if the legendary performer would even take the stage.

But like the plucky gal she is, the audience was informed about 30 minutes into the delay that Liza would be out soon -- by Liza herself. That's right; over the sound system the capacity crowd heard the unmistakable voice of Minnelli, who assured us she was "itching to get out there!" Because of that respect for her fans, all was forgiven. When she finally did arrive on stage, she did so with the grace and assuredness of the pro that she is.

There has been some Facebook and Twitter banter regarding the fact that the gays of Los Angeles were turning out in droves to see Liza. Some understood the fandom, others didn't get why anyone would go see someone who isn't at the top of their game. What those people are missing is the fact that Minnelli has seen it all. She's worked with the best and succeeded in an age of Hollywood that was exciting, challenging and changing. I mean, when you can tell people your godfather was lyricist Ira Gershwin...

And here's the thing: I'm not a big Liza fan. Actually, I never really thought about her in a positive or negative way. I've seen "Cabaret" and "Arthur" and know who her mom is, but other than that, that's about all I really cared to know. But something about being in the presence of someone who has seen and experienced so much in an industry that I love intrigued me enough to check her out.

And yes, her voice isn't that strong. Yes, she grew physically weary as the show progressed. But for God's sake, she's not a spring chicken anymore. Quite frankly, when she had to keep sitting down because of a shoulder injury, I didn't quite much care. I didn't come expecting her to flit around the stage like a 20-year-old. I came to hear stories about her life and the people she worked with, and I came to hear her sing songs she made famous. And that's exactly what I got.

In a way, it really was a Marvin Hamlisch show. Telling tales of the recently passed on gifted composer, Liza sang a selection of his classics and talked about her past with him. She opened with "We're Here to Stay" and then moved on to a song written for her by "Chicago" team Kander and Ebb from her one-woman show called "Liza with a Z."

From there, she regaled the audience with how she offered to stand in for an ailing Gwen Verdon who was starring in the original production of "Chicago" on Broadway. As Liza explained, Kander and Ebb said "no superstar ever replaced a superstar" in a Broadway show. Liza simply said, "But I want to do it!"

And that's the type of gal Liza is. She's down to earth and matter-of-fact; even when she's talking about people like Bob Fosse and Hamlisch like they are just buddies that come over to watch television. She openly makes fun of the fact that she isn't so young anymore and that half of her body parts have been replaced. Motioning to her torso, she stated, "From up here I'm Dorothy's daughter," referring to the iconic role her mother Judy Garland played in "The Wizard of Oz." "But from here down, I'm the Tin Man!"

As the night progressed and the stories kept coming, Ms. Minnelli moved from songs like "What Makes a Man, a Man" to "Maybe This Time" from "Cabaret," to "Shine on Harvest Moon." She explained her "Confessions" album was recorded in her bed while recovering from surgery and was told by many she sounded incredibly relaxed on the recording. She responded to that statement with her trademark "deer in the headlights" look that made the audience roar.

Closing out the night, Ms. Minnelli belted out "He's a Tramp" from Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" and of course, ended the show with her iconic "New York, New York." But it was after the final applause and her band (including long time showman and piano player Billy Stritch) left the stage that Liza was left alone. She told us she was heading off to a plane to attend Hamlisch's funeral and offered an a capella version of "I'll Be Seeing You" in memory of him. It was lovely in its simplicity and its message. Just like Liza.