Steven Brinberg is Simply Barbra @ the M Bar in Hollywood
By: Don Grigware Mar. 06, 2011
Simply Barbra/Southern California Tour/M Bar, Hollywood/
March 3-4
What makes a celebrity a legend? At the beginning of a career, it's talent, lots of drive and guts, great press and of course just a little bit of luck. Once on top, the celebrity must sustain over time the image that catapulted her to stardom. There's a mystique, a je ne sais quoi, that should keep the star out of reach, inaccessible. Barbra Streisand has managed to become an icon, so when a female impressionist attempts to reproduce the speech, the incredible singing voice and style, and every hand gesture and body movement - and the overall persona - that have all made la Streisand one-of-a-kind, it would seem next to impossible to ingest it all and give it back believably. Steven Brinberg is the major exception. He sings exactly like Streisand, speaks with her quiet, laid-back manner and sense of humor, and has the hand and body movements down to perfection. For an hour and a half, one is convinced that he is in the company of the legend. Simply Barbra puts Streisand in closer proximity to an audience than usual and we revel in her individual candor and quirky attitude thanks to the astounding artistry of Steven Brinberg.
Starting offstage with "Some People" from Gypsy, she makes her way to the stage and after the song proceeds to talk about the negotiations to remake Gypsy with her in "The Ethel Merman" role. There's some very funny banter about married life with James Brolin and children Josh and wife Diane Lane, who should all work ensemble as they're like, to quote "I'm the Greatest Star" "all them Barrymores put together." Little idiosyncratic moments surface as when she speaks of recalling all the DVDs of Yentl due to an unappealing photo with "something in my iris". She even offers a free new dvd if owners will turn over their old copy with proof of purchase. Barbra never lets us forget that she's in control.
Song highlights include "The Way We Were", "It Takes a Woman" from Hello Dolly, "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl, a very divaish 'wish I could be the older Annie' with "Tomorrow", a fun paraphrasing of "In Buddy's Eyes" from Follies to "In Brolin's Eyes", "The Way He Makes Me Feel" from Yentl, "Make Someone Happy", Bill Clinton's favorite "Evergreen", a marvelous "Send in the Clowns" and as finale "People". A rendition of "Alfie" is ecstatically funny, as Streisand experiments brilliantly with the voices of Cher, Lena Horne, Earth Kitt and even Bette Davis singing the song. Also, in the encore "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore", she does two voices as if in duet - one male and her own - which comedically proves the vocal control she has over the other singer. Guest star handsome David Burnham also joins Barbra onstage for two real duets Rodgers' and Hammerstein's "I Have Dreamed" from The King and I and "As Long As You're Mine" from Wicked, both nicely executed. John Randall serves beautifully as musical director/accompanist throughout.
Simply Barbra is a delectable 80 minute show whose last song "I Promise You I'll Never Say Goodbye" guarantees Barbra eternal adulation through Steven Brinberg's masterful and loving recreation.
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Don't miss the show when it plays San Diego:
(with Todd Schroeder at the piano)
Saturday and Sunday MAR. 12 & 13--SAN DIEGO---THE CELEBRATION CENTER---8PM Sat. & 2PM Sun. @ 5820 Oberlin Drive San Diego, CA 92121
For tickets call in advance (619) 920-1315
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