Simply Barbra

I saw Barbra Streisand in Cabaret last night….no, not the film, that was Liza Minnelli. I mean cabaret…Barbra….really! You don’t believe me?  I recognised the voice, the nails, the black dress, the slightly nasal Bronx intonation, the nuances, the beautiful head-notes; The expressions; the impeccable professionalism. It had to be Barbra….so how come they wanted $795 a ticket on her last tour?

Steven Brinberg simply IS Barbra in Simply Barbra. He’s that rarest of cabaret artists, a performer of taste and subtlety. The subtlety is what makes this performance so brilliant. It never at any stage becomes parody or burlesque. We’re not watching a drag performer’s tribute to a gay icon – we’re part of an artistic transformation.

It takes perhaps two songs for Steven to become truly “possessed” by his alter ego, but from then on you forget that you are watching a man impersonate perhaps the greatest Diva of our time. You lose yourself in an intimate Streisand concert and it is pure magic. Brinberg never breaks character, not once; even when he – as Barbra- does Barbra’s impersonation of Cher, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt and Bette Davis singing “Alfie”. It’s brilliant stuff.  And seeing “Barbra” sing her Neil Diamond duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” with Mr Brinberg himself – well, it has to be seen to be believed. As a former singer I have no idea how he swaps so quickly from head-voice (though not falsetto) to male chest register, without losing any clarity or tone. The humour is gentle and tongue in cheek, playing to those well known aspects of Bab’s personality, but never with malice. The anecdotes about playing title roles…even Annie…were a perfect pre-cursor to a stunning version of “The Sun’ll Come Out  Tomorrow” – But “Send in the Clowns” was so moving that it out Streisanded Streisand.

Ably accompanied by the terrific Matthew Frank on Piano…and with a guest appearance by Adam Rennie, a young musical theatre performer soon to be seen here in The Producers, this was a terrific night of cabaret and proved again just how eclectic the amazing Chapel off Chapel is. The real Barbra Streisand may be a super star – but Steven Brinberg is a comet. See him while he’s passing through our skies. His Barbra is Simply Perfect.

Coral Drouyn

From sophisticated to sublime

Slide Cabaret, Darlinghurst, June 20-22, 2012.

Acclaimed New York cabaret artist Steven Brinberg cleverly recreates Barbra Streisand’s most famous songs live and delivers a comic routine that keeps the audience chuckling.

This is not a drag show. This is Steven Brinberg simply being Barbra Streisand. From the very first song he portrays Barbra’s every musical inflection, facial expression and physical pose. We see the bobbed hair flicking, the chiselled Nefertiti profile and the subtle Mona Lisa smile that have become synonymous with Barbra. During the first couple of songs it’s clear that Brinberg does not have the powerful voice of Barbra Streisand. But his poise, delivery and charm quickly engage his audience and we are swept away on a journey through Streisand’s music.

Brinberg never strays from character. He tells us anecdotes, always in the first person, about Barbra’s career and personal life. This approach draws the audience into the conceit of Brinberg channelling Barbra. Fifteen minutes into the show we no longer feel we are watching anyone other than Barbra.

Around mid-show he invites a young man, Vinnie Hooper, on stage. He apparently does this in different cities and venues. His largesse enables rising stars to shine.

The most memorable part of the show was a string of songs delivered in the style of other artists. Brinberg sings ‘Alfie’ in the voice and style of Cher, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt and Bette Davis. He switches from Barbra to them and back again. This is both clever and engaging.

Perhaps the most astonishing of all he pulls from his closet of musical prestidigitation is singing ‘You Don’t Bring Me Flowers’ in a duet with himself. He slides seamlessly between his own chest voice to his head voice delivery of Barbra. During this song we know we’re in the hands of a master performer.

Stephen Carnell