A golden road beckons her home

Since Judy Garland’s death in 1969, popular culture has devolved beyond recognition, yet the Garland mystique, like the mythos of Maria Callas, continues unassailable.

This iconic power irradiates the limited engagement of “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” burning down the Canon Theatre. Lorna Luft’s heartfelt tribute to her mother desires only to illuminate Garland’s incomparable talent for new generations. At this, it royally succeeds, via reflective homage.

“Songs” opens with Garland’s televised introduction of Mort Lindsey and Johnny Mercer’s “Lorna,” delivered with passionate parental pride to its youthful namesake. Then that same daughter enters, utterly smashing in appearance, and launches a festive maternal manifesto that continually decimates the house.

Luft performs key Garland standards (sagely leaving “Over the Rainbow” to its owner), as well as associative numbers, all superbly supported by Luft’s music director (and husband) Colin R. Freeman and an ace band.

These showstoppers interface with reminiscences, projected archival footage and specialty material crafted by writers-directors Mitzie and Ken Welch. All is designed to prove the central thesis of Garland as history’s greatest entertainer, particularly the delightful Act 1 closer celebrating Garland’s comic elan and the overwhelming video-enabled duets.

For in the salutatory process, Luft unveils a new legend: Her full-throated performance here is an incandescent revelation, peaking in a 17-minute Garland career encapsulation of virtuoso proportions.

Luft’s glottal vibrato and diaphragmatic punch, traits detectable (though differently hued) in her equally legendary half-sister Liza Minnelli, are unquestionably Garland’s genetic legacy. However, the amber timbre, histrionic assurance and heart-stopping top notes are purely individual and thrilling, unalloyed Luft.

The physical presentation is as svelte as its centerpiece, especially Matt Berman’s gorgeous lighting. All Luft needs is to test the patter’s boundaries, so her delicious personality can soar like her chops. Indeed, since the Welchs’ program credit is followed by “Rewritten every night by Lorna Luft,” such explorations are mandatory, as is attendance at this rainbow-vaulting occasion.

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‘Songs My Mother Taught Me’

Where: Canon Theatre, 205 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills

When: Thursdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.;

Sundays, 3 and 7 p.m.

Ends: Aug. 10

Price: $25-$50

Contact: (310) 859-2830 or (213) 365-3500

Running time: 2 hours