THEATRE REVIEW: End of the Rainbow - at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from Tuesday, April 5 to Saturday, April 9, 2016.

THE incomparable singer that was Judy Garland had a great voice and was a great performer.

So having to portray such a showbiz legend of this stature is certainly a challenge but Lisa Maxwell managed to live up to all that it required as she transported herself completely into the complex world of the singing sensation.

Maxwell, a successful and recognised actress more recently linked with ITV’s Loose Women, virtually dominated every scene in this superb production which is competently directed by Daniel Buckroyd. And she is wonderfully aided and abetted by her two co-stars - the ultra-talented and versatile Gary Wilmot and Sam Attwater.

Wilmot is Anthony Chapman, her gay pianist, and Attwater, her fiance and manager, Mickey Deans, the man who would become her fifth husband.

There was a nice fluidity to an excellent set as it cleverly switched with ease from their suite at London’s Ritz Hotel to the stage at the Talk of the Town.

The unscrupulous Deans had booked a six-week run of performances for Garland at the theatre, primarily to pay off debts, while also utilising Garland’s craving for the love and adoration she regularly received from audiences as she belted out many of her major hits such as The Trolley Song, The Man That Got Away and, of course, Over the Rainbow.

The challenge to deliver her best to adoring fans on this tour was clearly too much for her and she again found she could only cope with the pressure with the aid of pills and alcohol.

Lisa Maxwell needed no such ‘medicinal’ boost to show true talent in portraying the great Garland with a stunning performance, and voice, the star herself would surely have admired.

Writer Peter Quilter has neatly entwined fragments of fun and emotion in this enigmatic portrait of a falling star attempting to make a comeback in the 1960s.

It is definitely worthwhile catching as there really is treasure to be found at the end of this particular rainbow.

Not even an unexpected interruption during Tuesday night’s opening performance could put this top class trio off their stride.

This happened when a member of the audience was taken ill and necessitated halting the show for almost 15 minutes whilst medical assistance was sought and administered.

It was great credit to the three main characters that they were able to pick up with ease from the moment of this unfortunate delay and continue in their roles faultlessly.

This, together, with the overall performances and quality music, fully merited the standing ovation all were afforded at the end.

VAL WALLCROFT