If you’re a fan of Barbra Streisand, you would know she has won ten Grammy Awards, two Oscars, is something of a diva and has a mall under her Malibu home! Strange as it sounds, the last part is actually true, and is the basis for the award-winning play Buyer & Cellar.
Written by playwright Jonathan Tolins, who once wrote for Queer as Folk, Buyer & Cellar is the story of Los Angeles actor, Alex More, who lands a job as caretaker for Ms Streisand’s subterranean basement. To give things a little more perspective, a few years ago, Barbra Streisand had a custom-made underground cobblestoned Victorian-era lane built under her house. This little mini-mall has ye old-style shops full of her collectables – costumes, dolls, antiques and even a lolly shop!
It all came to light when Babs published her book My Passion For Design in 2010, detailing her eccentric renovations, which also includes a little lake with a run-of-the-mill water wheel! All of this is a somewhat irresistible setting to base a fictitious play.
Buyer & Cellar revolves around an out-of-work actor who gets to meet and become a part of Barbra Streisand’s personal world. It’s camp, fantasy and farce! In fact, the premise for the play began when in real life, Tolins met the diva herself at one of his productions. She offered him her Kit Kat bar, which he regrettably passed up, and now through something of a cathartic experience, he has written this show – a show that has won awards and critical praise.
Originating the role of Alex, was Michael Urie, best known for Angels in America and television’s Ugly Betty. Having studied at Juilliard, Urie won several awards for his work in Bab’s cellar including the credited Drama Desk Award. Since then the role has also been played by Christopher J Hanke (Big Love) and Barrett Foa (NCIS).
A new production has made its way to the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), directed by Gary Abrahams with Green Room Award winner Ash Flanders filling the shoes of Alex. Considering it’s a role New York critics have labeled ‘crazy, award-winning fantasia’ they are certainly big shoes to fill. And Flanders doesn’t let anyone down. As mentioned in our last issue, the actor has built a credible reputation in the Melbourne fringe group Sisters Grimm. Considering the passion, and sheer talent needed for this one-man show, which takes on everyone from Alex, his boyfriend Barry, James Brolin and Streisand herself, Flanders is perfectly cast
Bear in mind though, this is not a Streisand impersonation in the style of Carla DelVillaggio. Nor are there any props – well, except for a lone symbolic Kit Kat! What the actor does bring to the role is an impressive illusion built on mannerisms, nuances and tinges that pretty much bring Barbra and her Malibu shop-filled laneway into live theatre.
This time last year the MTC ran the one-woman show I’ll Eat You Last with the delightful Miriam Margolyes. In a similar vein, Buyer & Seller is set to sell out fast. After all, this is the show the New York Observer called a ‘small masterpiece’.
Buyer & Cellar runs until December 12 at Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio
For more visit: www.mtc.com.au
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