Last night, I went to see Barbra Streisand with my mom and sister. I'd be lying if I said I did it just for my mom, because I've always liked Barbra and harbored a strange fascination with her. I'm pretty sure I read the book that this post is named after, and I have seen most of her musicals, even the bad ones. (In fact, being at the show last night made me nostalgic to see Barbra movies, like Funny Girl and Yentl.) I can't lie. I really like her, and I really liked the show last night. It's true that her voice is no longer what it was. She seemed to be getting hoarse by the end of the show. But there are still notes she can hit, and I'll be damned if she didn't make most of those songs last night sound great, even if her voice was a bit weak.
There were some bad things. Il Divo, for instance. I could have done without the addition of them. They didn't really add anything to the songs they joined Barbra for, and in one case ("Somewhere") they actively ruined a very good song. And the three songs they did without Barbra were the worst part of the night, the most boring, loud, operatic shit I can concieve of. Way to go, Simon Cowell, for unleashing this crap on the world. Secondly, we didn't get to see the much talked about Bush skit, because the impersonator had a pre-standing date for election day. Which I understand, but to be honest, I was looking forward to it. I'm sure it was lame, but I really wanted to see what the fuss was about.
Otherwise, it was pretty frigging good. Barbra even mentioned Sweet Mandy B's; I'm sure she didn't really eat a cupcake there, but it's somehow charming that she really set out to seem like she knew this city. I'm sure some people found it fake, but what can I say? I really wanted to like her, and this worked. She sang hits--"Funny Girl" and "Don't Rain on my Parade", "Evergreen" and of course, "The Way We Were." I didn't expect it, but that song was one of those ones that you can't help but thrill to be hearing. It's HER song. It's spectacular and heartbreaking when she sings it, and it automatically brings you back to the movie, specifically to the last scene. All I could think was, "Your girl is lovely, Hubbell." And of course, because I'm a SatC fanatic, I kept thinking of that scene from the show, when Carrie tells Big, "Your girl is lovely." and he says, "I don't get it." And she replies, "And you never did." Possibly the best scene from that show, and it's a pure homage to TWWW. I don't know. Hearing that song was fantastic. I'd go again just to hear that.
Was it worth the money? (In the interest of full disclosure, I did not pay for my ticket. But I have to say that I think I would have, if my mom hadn't wanted to go.) I think so. I sure hope my mom thinks so. She's a legend, and it's always interesting to be in the room with a legend.
(Funny story: We kept hoping she would announce election results, especially the Duckworth-Roskam race. Every time she talked a little bit about politics, we'd look at each other like, ooooh, maybe she'll say it now. Of course, now we can see why she didn't, because in the words of my sister: "You pissheads in the 6th voted Roskam in." Anyway.)
Comments