Joel Jackson puts in a flawless performance as Peter Allen. He's got the gangly dance moves, the voice, and best of all, he's a great actor, never stooping to parody in this - let's face it - unbelievable true story of a small town boy who becomes a huge international star. But all the actors in this lovingly made biopic are perfectly cast - from Ky Baldwin as the young boy Peter, to Rebecca Gibney as his mother, Sara West as Liza Minnelli, and Sigrid Thornton as Judy Garland. The direction is fabulous -- tight, absorbing and confident. The cinematography and costume design are perfect. And the musical numbers are entertaining without being overbearing, because they serve the story, and are not just there for thrills. You can tell the scriptwriters have gone into incredible detail in digging up little pieces of information -- about Allen's father's death, about Allen's relationship with Garland, and his development as a performer. Because of the stigma of AIDS and homophobia, when Allen died, his achievements weren't properly celebrated. This mini-series should put all doubts to rest. He was a great artist and a loving, genuine person.
