 |
| (Bennion) |
It has been nearly 20 years since an 'ALL Barbra' film has been released, remember the classic,"The Mirror has two Faces"? So what has she done in 20 years? Music, and a few films (Fockers, Guilt Trip) and her marriage to James Brolin, etc. Also noteworthy was her 2010 coffee table book called, “My Passion for Design,” and many eyewitnesses confirm that Barbra Streisand has her own “vintage” mall in the vast basement of a decorative barn.
Jonathan Tolins, author of the very entertaining one-man show, “Buyer & Cellar”, and apparently has never been there but he obviously written this as a fantasy and labor of love. Everything about Barbra is about Perfect detail. I remember hearing about this Play in 2013 with Michael Urie starring in this One-Man show. So when I heard the Seattle Rep was going to stage this in the Leo K Theater this fall, I was so looking forward it. Also looking forward to it was the mostly gay audience on opening night.
In the show, NY based actor, Scott Drummond plays Wannabe actor, Alex More as well as everyone else including Barbra herself. More gets a job working for an A-List celeb and all he has to do is be the caretaker of Streisand's Basement Village.
More isn't as excited at the position as his boyfriend, Barry, and after days of waiting Alex finally meets Barbra and he instantly has to play shop keeper to customer, Barbra.
After awhile Barbra begins to trust Alex more and more and Alex suggests she go back to directing with the "Gypsy" remake. (As of last week, Gypsy had an actual roadblock with Universal passing on the remake).
It also becomes apparent that being too famous is lonely and having too much stuff creates more loneliness and the village was created obviously for the need to buy stuff, but buying your own stuff and putting them back in your store over and over again.
 |
| (Nickerson) |
More even wins over Barbra's Hubby, James Brolin, when he comes down for some frozen yogurt. (Babra has a frozen yogurt store in her village)
Some of Drummond's characters were spot on but at first it was hard to tell when he was changing characters but it got better as the play went on.
The Set (by Catherine Cornell) was remarkably a replica of the old barn in Judy Garland's Final MGM film of Summer stock. According to some dialogue in the play, that was the intention.
The play also has a Devil Wears Prada vibe when Alex starts to doubt if Barbra is genuine or is using him as a companion or Mall Rat (literally).
This Play is clearly for the die-hard Streisand Fan, and I heard there are millions of them around, I am sure this show will be a "Sell-Out".
Seattle Rep's “Buyer and Cellar” continues through Nov. 22nd. Click HERE for Tix and Info.
No comments:
Post a Comment