BWW Reviews: Dance Now Presents MY NAME IS BARBRA/ ADAM

Dance Now Presents: My Name is Barbra ADAM

By Jennifer Fried

Adam Barruch captivated audiences at Joe's Pub this week in his one man show, My Name is Barbra ADAM. From the moment Barruch stepped on stage, he was fully committed to the character of a mental patient, conveyed incisively through contemporary dance numbers. Utilizing a small space, Barruch moved exquisitely, whether it was a small hand gesture or a huge lunge. His movement, at times quick and spastic, at other times fluid and controlled, communicated the agony a mental patient experiences when locked in a room alone with his derailed thoughts. Though he executed no large jumps or dizzying turns, his choreography was breathtaking and certainly the highlight of the show.

After performing two dance numbers, Barruch burst into song, belting out the tunes of Streisand and Garland. In an almost schizophrenic manner, Barruch's character appeared uncertain as to whether he was Barbra Streisand or Adam. Singing for the first time in public in thirteen years, Barruch's voice was full of aguish, pain, but also triumph. Barruch noted that he selected these songs because they had helped him through particularly difficult moments of his life, perhaps fueling the inspiration for the show. In between songs, Barruch's acting became particularly humorous, yet also troubling. I kept thinking that it was the songs that truly liberated him from his self-conscious state.

The show concluded almost too soon, with Barruch posing the question to the audience, "do you want me to sing?" I believe everyone in the audience wished to scream out YES! Then the lights dimmed, and the show concluded without resolution to Barruch's mental state. While some members of the audience may have yearned for Barruch to end in a happier place, the piece demonstrated that the performing arts offer solace to those in dark mental places, and perhaps that's the best cure of all.

Photo credit: Steven Schreiber