COME TO THE CABARET ABOUT ELIZABETH TAYLOR AT WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE APRIL 21

Ann Talman and Elizabeth Taylor both made their Broadway debut in Lillian Hellman’s gripping play of greed and family battles in 1981 when Ann played Alexandra,13, the daughter to Elizabeth’s manipulative Regina. The friendship established there lasted until Elizabeth’s death in 2011. “The Little Foxes” was a semi-autobiographical play set in Alabama in !900 about a struggle for control of a family business at a time when only men were considered legal heirs. Regina, the formidable daughter, fought that decision. Because Ann was never close to her own mother, she developed a bond with Elizabeth (don’t call her Liz) where the Hollywood icon “mothered me.”

To learn about their intimate relationship over decades, come to the Lucille Lortel Barn at the Westport Country Playhouse on Sunday, April 21 at 7 p.m. for Ann Talman’s one woman show “Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile,” a cabaret show of songs and stories that will bring this iconic star to vibrant life. These deeply revealing stories matched with corresponding songs show Elizabeth as a motherly friend who helped Ann with dating advice, loaning her jewelry, as well as valuable life lessons. Who knew Elizabeth was a fun loving and wicked prankster who often did such outrageous things as greasing the show’s long impressive staircase railing with Vaseline and made silly faces to break up the actors. You will now know as well as learn interesting anecdotes about this great star in the firmament who was an outstanding part of Hollywood royalty. With her violet blue eyes and small stature, she was a trailblazer.

With Ann’s help, you will gain insights about Elizabeth’s eight marriages, possibly a result of her sheltered childhood, and how she loved them each in her own special way, her perfume and jewelry empires and her opening night gifts to all the crew and actors for every show in every city, and her devotion to the cause of finding hope and a cure for AIDS. Because of her close friendship with actors like Rock Hudson and Montgomery Cliff, Elizabeth helped to establish, as a co-founder, The Foundation for AIDS Research. She did not abandon, as so many did, those she loved like Michael Jackson. Her grandchildren now run this foundation, that has raised more than $270,000,000, dedicated to research and awareness.

You will hear such inspiring tunes sprinkled throughout like “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Shalom,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Send in the Clowns,” and “How to Handle a Woman.” The evening is directed by Lisa Koutrakos with Alex Rybeck as music director on piano.

For tickets ($20), call the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Route One, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at www.westportplayhouse.org.

In February 2023, on what would have been Elizabeth’s 91st birthday, Ann Talman debuted this charming and deeply personal reflection on her good friend Elizabeth Taylor, a grand dame who was "famous for being famous.” Come to the cabaret…to learn about Elizabeth Taylor's humanity and authenticity by one person who knew and loved her.