Steven Brinberg: Simply Barbra

Rob Lester | January 25, 2016

Steven Brinberg

Simply Barbra

Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, Nov. 14, 2015

Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes

Photo: Devon Cass

Sometimes old news is good news. It’s long established that Steven Brinberg—Simply Barbra—knows Streisand’s tics, tones, and tessitura to a T and balances imitation and exaggeration. In dress, pageboy wig, make-up (and trademark long fingernails), he-as-she begins offstage with one of those over-amplified breathy sighs of major size, then hummmmming into the unseen mic. There the sly magic begins—in darkness’ drama, Don’t Tell Mama filled with fans of B.S. or S.B. or both. Many know this post-graduate student of Streisand Studies can re-create the phrasing note by note, nuance by nuance, without seeming labored. In unspoken conspiratorial connection with the audience, he senses when to add an eye-lock or eye roll, smooth an already perfectly smooth lock of hair, throw back the head in throes of practiced passion, or just gesture in finger-fluttery ways on just-like-buttery lines. They might anticipate updated references to recent Barbra projects, ad libbed reactions, bringing up someone for a duet and—as he starts to take a solo—sweetly but assertively put a finger to his lips, bat eyelashes, and commandingly whisper, “Not yet.” It all happens.

Saluting the film Funny Lady’s 40th anniversary is tonight’s theme (which could’ve been made clearer earlier for the uninitiated). The score, mixing standards and Kander & Ebb additions is rich. Cooing classic ballads (“More Than You Know”) or roaring into applause-generator “Let’s Hear It for Me,” it’s Brinberg at his Barbra-fied best. Patter is equally brilliant—by nature, truly unique. Chatting about (and still “selling”) the sequel continuing Fanny Brice’s show-biz saga, honey-coated “bragging” and retrospective on-the-mark remarks about co-stars, are sprinkled between songs. Classy pianist Christopher Denny, longtime musical director, remains game, grinning, and gallant. The knockout P.S.: Christmas songs in other divas’ voices (Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, etc.). Brava!

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