CONCERT REVIEW BARBRA STREISAND

Link: http://www.columbusdispatch.com/features-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/10/07/20061007-D1-01.html

CONCERT REVIEW BARBRA STREISAND
Singular sensation
The diva touches past, present glories in impressive fashion
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Barbara Zuck
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

* The Hot Issue: Did you attend the concert? What's your review?

Streisand’s dress and voice shimmer onstage.
Barbra Streisand begins her concert with Starting Here, Starting Now

In an age of instant, throw-away celebrity, true entertainment royalty is getting hard to come by. Columbus received a visit from the queen last night, as Barbra Streisand — looking and sounding every bit the aristocrat — played a packed Value City Arena on the second stop of an extensive American tour, her first in 12 years.

Dressed in a long black sequined gown and 4-inch spiked heels, Streisand dominated both halves of the more than 2 1 /2-hour show.

The arena had a retro look — configured like a giant nightclub, with long, tiered, lighted runways extending well out into the hall and surrounding a full symphony orchestra. A small table with a vase of flowers was placed front and center, and after Streisand came onstage — lifted via a small elevator smack into the middle of a spotlight — she worked this part of the stage, closest to her adoring audience.

"Hello, Columbus," Streisand yelled — as fans screamed "We love you!" back. Then she immediately launched into an upbeat version of Starting Here, Starting Now. The familiar and distinctive voice may have sounded a bit husky at first, but not for long. By the time she got to her third song, the show-stopping The Way We Were, both Streisand and the crowd were well-warmed up.

Streisand certainly gave the outward appearance of polished elegance. But there were amusing reminders of the "funny girl" who started her career playing comedienne Fanny Brice. Moving to the piano at one point, she tried to play a song she had written when she was in her 20s, hit a wrong note, and said, "Oh, s---!" much to crowd’s delight.

Later, she took her shoes off and strode the stage in stocking feet. She made no secret of her need for either reading glasses or the teleprompters placed strategically around the hall — so obvious even some of the crowd could read along. It gave the show a kind of homey feel.

The trip down memory lane took a sharp step back into the present, however, one many in the audience must have been waiting for. As Streisand began the first lines of her song Evergreen, the four young men known as Il Divo appeared behind her — to more cheers from the crowd.

Il Divo and La Diva blended voices beautifully in selections on both halves, and one wished they had sung a few more tunes together. Women in the audience of a certain age no doubt appreciated the way Streisand turned the stereotypical generation gap on its ear, surrounding herself with handsome men probably about half her age.

The four amigos sang on their own on both halves. Four handsome men in tuxedos crooning in foreign languages. Who said romance is dead?

After a long set of ballads at the top of the second half, Streisand threw out an unexpected curve — a visit from President Bush (impersonator Steve Bridges). As a well-known supporter of liberal causes, the singer couldn’t resist a few very light punches at the current administration. Bridges, by the way, has the Dubya down pat, but the bit went on too long.

La Diva and Il Divo finished with a nod toward Leonard Bernstein — a gorgeous rendition of Somewhere from West Side Story.

Streisand is a singular and amazingly accomplished artist. She’s been successful and lauded in two arenas — film and music. She once called herself "an actress who sings."

Better "a singer who acts." It won’t be "the laughter we remember." It’ll be the voice.

bzuck@dispatch.com