| A different perspective: "BUYER & CELLAR" in SAN FRANCISCO |
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| Posted by: |
Dr._L 02:01 am EDT 08/25/14 |
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TB REGIONAL REVIEW: "BUYER & CELLAR" and "MOTOWN THE MUSICAL" in SAN FRANCISCO - T.B._Admin. 10:34 am EDT 08/23/14 |
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In adolescence, I became obsessed with Barbra Streisand. On my very first date, we went to see The Way We Were. It was magical. The brash, ethnic girl got the popular guy. I ignored that fact that it didn’t work out. I dismissed the messages that he didn’t deserve her. I reveled in the idea that it was possible not to be popular but win the heart of the most desired. I savored that fantasy and the gifts of Streisand for many years.
I went to see Buyer and Cellar tonight with much anticipation. I didn’t see it in New York and was thrilled to have the opportunity to see it in San Francisco.
I was surprised at the show I found. I did not believe it to be a comedy. Rather, I found it to be quite sad. Minimal laughter was heard at tonight’s performance. The message of the isolation of celebrity was a little bit too honest. My years of witnessing who achieved notoriety in show business Los Angeles were echoed in the play. I understood the sense of separateness.
I found the writing contrived. When Barbra requests Alex to work overtime to serve frozen yogurt for the guests at her dinner party, I was annoyed at the unbelievable series of events. Of course, dessert was served at the elegant meal. Barbra needed Alex to stay so she could sneak a late night snack, a large cup of coffee flavored confection with lots of sprinkles. Then he stays even longer so James Brolin can get a second cup for Barbra. Really? The celebrities cannot pull the lever themselves on a frozen yogurt machine. It is a vignette based in untruth and placed only to make reference to Streisand’s struggle with weight.
I found the performance to be lacking. One person plays require a level of skill in the performer that permits the audience to distinguish one character from another. That was challenging tonight. I often confused Alex’s lover Barry with Barbra and held actor Michael Urie responsible for failing to provide satisfactory distinguishing characteristics.
In the end, I was disappointed.
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re: A different perspective: "BUYER & CELLAR" in SAN FRANCISCO - chrisampm 01:19 am EDT 08/26/14 |
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