Liza has it taped

It was meant to be the great comeback - Liza Minnelli's chance to show the world that her recent marriage signalled a return to the top after her battles with weight and illness. And while there is little doubt that a sell-out audience at the Royal Albert Hall last night acclaimed her performance, there was one question dominating the thoughts of celebrity guests - how much had she mimed during the two-hour show?

At the after-show party Sir Cliff Richard was positive she had. He said: "She did mime some songs - maybe three or four. I personally think it is quite acceptable for an artist to mime some of the show. I did the same when I was on stage with Heathcliffe. I had the flu for around a week and mimed every single track. I couldn't sing a note.

"I think it is so much more difficult to mime than to actually sing because you have to step back and realise you can't give it your all because it won't look right because you are miming. It all comes down to either giving a good performance with dancing and miming, or just straight singing."

Kym Marsh, formerly of Hear'Say, with her fiance, EastEnders star Jack Ryder, was equally certain. She said: "It was quite obvious that she was miming but I totally understand why. All the dance movements and everything can't be done without miming. It's very hard to dance and sing in the right note at the same time."

But for Neil Tennant, lead singer of the Pet Shop Boys, who recorded Liza Minnelli's Losing My Mind track, nothing was going to spoil his enjoyment. He said: "I thought Liza sung tonight the best I have ever heard her. I can't make a comment on the miming."

According to many fans, the 56-year-old singer mouthed her way through at least five of her best-known songs during the debut two-hour show, titled Liza's Back, which pulled in 7,000 fans who were charged up to £95 a ticket.

Her performance came on the day that Minnelli's spokesman strenuously denied getting cold feet over her performances this week because of problems with her vocal cords. Spokesman Phil Symes had told the Standard: "We are not aware of any problems which might affect Liza performing this week."

Minnelli came on stage in a full-length white fur coat and opened with a tongue-in cheek number celebrating her successful battle against the bottle. She thanked husband David Gest, her fans and Alcoholics Anonymous for getting her career back on track. Gest, who produced last night's show, watched from the front row. Minnelli also showed off her new slimline figure when she donned a Cabaret-style basque and bowler hat for one song. The star has lost 98lb.

The highlight came when she paid tribute to the Queen Mother. She ended by singing a cappella version of Vera Lynn's I'll Be Seeing You. "I was lucky enough to meet and perform for the Queen Mother. She was a marvellous woman and I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I heard that this was one of her favourite songs and I would like very much to sing it for you and for her," she said.

Her delivery of the song led to the last of six standing ovations.

Later Liza's bridesmaid at her wedding last month, Martine McCutcheon, said: "Liza is such a huge inspiration to me. To see her a year ago and to see what she has achieved now is just incredible. Liza has really taken me under her wing and I have really learned so much from her. I thought the show was spectacular."

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