Broadway in Chicago presents BUYER & CELLAR.
Michael Urie kicks off his one man show confessing that he doesn’t do impressions. I disagree. Not only did he do Barbra Streisand, he also did her assistant Sharon, his boyfriend Barry and James Brolin. His Babs, despite sounding slightly like Christopher Watkin, swept into the room like the well-known celebrity. Urie transforms back and forth from himself to Babs with elegantly absurd gestures of familiarity. He sweeps invisible hair off his forehead. He rolls his tongue around the inside of his mouth. He flails his arms in grandiose style. Barbra Streisand is in the house. And this part of her house is a wacky, underground mall.
Playwright Jonathan Tolins had a thoroughly original idea and ran with it. Tolins was inspired by Streisand’s 2010 “Passion for Design” book. The book was written by Streisand and describes her eccentric and vast collections showcased in shoppes in her basement. In the opening, Urie very amusingly explains the book is real but the story is not. Tolins creates an out-of-work actor named Alex. Having recently worked at Disneyland as the Mayor of Main Street USA and also a brief shtick at Banana Republic, Alex is uniquely qualified for the roll of Streisand’s mall manager. His job is to keep the plaza at ready for the appearance of its sole customer.
Tolins’ concept is brilliant. Under the skillful direction of Stephen Brackett, Tolins’ script is actualized to perfection by Urie. The story and the storyteller engage. At one point, Urie as Alex and Babs get in a bidding war over a doll. It’s pure hysterical. The whole notion of Streisand’s basement emporium of crazy is so preposterous, we buy it. All of it! Q: What to get a woman who has everything? A: An underground mall to store it in.
This show is exactly my fantasy of how a mega billionaire hordes her money and stardom. The charismatic Urie exaggerates Babs’ persona in a playful way. There is a scene about coffee yogurt and sprinkles that Urie does first as Alex and Babs and then as Alex and Brolin. Riotous! The intimate look at celebrities in their basement wonderland is spoof-tastic. Urie has the ability to pause and allow the audience to digest the ludicrous moment. The laughter comes in waves as each member of the audience catches up to the joke. This is the most fun I’ve had at the mall or in a basement.
The tone of the show is never mean-spirited. It’s aspirational! Tolins wrote a loving, madcap tribute to a superstar. I loved it and I think Babs would too! BUYER & CELLAR is exactly how we poor people fantasize the lifestyle of the rich and famous… only a million times funnier.
Running Time: One hour and forty-five minutes
At Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut
Written by Jonathan Tolins
Directed by Stephen Brackett
At 7:30pm May 30 and June 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13
At 8:00pm May 31 and June 7, 14
At 2:00pm May 31 and June 1, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14,15
Buy Tickets at www.broadwayinchicago.com
Production photo by Sandra Coudert
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