I’ll Be Seeing You, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry Review:

**** (4 Stars)

“A Glittering Compassionate Encounter”

Wladziu Valentino Liberace known to the world as simply “Liberace” passed away nearly forty years ago; he died as he lived a walking contradiction. A man who lived a lie in full view of the world that would see him attain the title “Mr Showmanship”. While his talent was never in doubt, his private life became something of a legend that would see the pianist not only hurt all those he fell in love with, but most strikingly of all he hurt himself the most.

Forming part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director of Pitlochry’s Festival Theatre, Cumming makes his co-directorial debut alongside Ben Occhipinti with the world debut of “I’ll being Seeing You” written by the critically acclaimed Martin Sherman (whose greatest work “Bent” is approaching its 50^th Anniversary) with Sherman also making his professional acting debut at 87.

The play goes far beyond the depth of the 2013 HBO movie to find out what really lay behind the candelabra and discover the man who was so staunchly conservative in his political and religious beliefs that he would hide his obvious self-evident homosexuality behind a series of remarkable lies. Liberace could have made a difference in a massive way but chose rampant Capitalism and bathing in jewels, glitter and celebrity instead.

Sherman’s script is wonderfully executed, shining the light of the modern era via the role of “Writer” played with dexterity by Free Fee his performance really sums up the clash between the world of today and the world of Liberace’s life. Examining the court cases “Liberace sued the Daily Mirror for implying he was homosexual and remarkably won the case” That reflection is transposed later in the play with Martin Sherman himself taking over the role of the “Writer”, so both sides of the argument are given full view.

Performances are excellent and Bafta, Tony and Olivier award winner Simon Russell Beale gives a tour de force turn as Liberace completely immersing himself in the role he sparkles behind the piano but equally revels in delivering a truly conflicted and flawed human being. Fra Fee delivers a knockout turn as the younger “Writer” with great physicality while Sherman’s elder “Writer” giving a deeply emotional performance. Its this central character pairing that carries a play which is very much a glittering compassionate encounter of the gay generations.

Joining the leads are Anne Lacey in a comedic joy filled turn as Mother/Heidi, Ali Watt as Chauffeur/Hunk (a thinly disguised Scott Thorsen) and Adam Kashmiry as Hunk all of who shine in there moments in the spotlight with Ali Watt’s “Hunk” giving the audience much to think about as it clear Thorsen was the love of Liberace’s life but what a price he paid.

Production wise the show is highly impressive, Tim Hatley’s design captures the glitter and sequins and flying of the high points of Liberace professional life but balances it with dour reality of the “writers” flat with guile, ease and style. This is boosted by Grant Anderson’ stellar lighting design that has the wow moments balanced perfectly with dark reflective ones.

While Cumming’s and Occhipinti direction is free flowing and harnesses the comedy to make the truthful moments even more shocking. There does feel at times the play is a little bloated and could be achieved in an hour in a production which is running at one hour and twenty minutes.

That being said; The theatre in the hills is producing a stellar season and “I’ll be seeing you” is corner stone of that creative flair for telling the story of a man who was once the most famous man in the world but is now condemned to this history books as flawed human being  who hid his sexuality and Aids diagnosis behind a wall of lies that would ultimately tumble down on him in death.

Funny, Taught and emotionally open this a stellar piece of dramatic theatre that hopefully has more life ahead following its run at Pitlochry for now grab those tickets.

I’ll Be Seeing You, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry until Sunday 11^th October 2026. For more information and tickets go to: I’ll Be Seeing You | Pitlochry Festival Theatre