Barbra & Liza Live! continues at the Charing Cross Theatre, London until 17 November 2024.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Following a tour in England and Scotland, Steven Brinberg and Rick Skye are taking over Charing Cross Theatre with Barbra & Liza Live!, a spectacular tribute to two of the most iconic voices in entertainment history, featuring Brinberg as Barbra Streisand and Skye as Liza Minnelli, delivering performances that are nothing short of spellbinding.
Brinberg’s uncanny vocal resemblance to Streisand, coupled with his graceful hand gestures, brings a touch of elegance to every song, while Skye’s portrayal of Minnelli is filled with energy and sass, perfectly capturing her bold stage presence. What adds warmth to the incarnations is a genuine love, respect and affection for their muses.
Brinberg is the premier Barbra Streisand impersonator, having performed internationally, both on stage and television, and collaborated with legends like Marvin Hamlisch. His show, Simply Barbra, has been praised for its affectionate and wickedly funny take on Streisand’s music and personality.
Skye, New York City’s leading Liza Minnelli impersonator, has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) Award for Best Impersonation. His performances, known for their high energy, detailed emotion and touch of humour, are showcased in his beloved tribute show, Bazazz! A Sequined Variety, which I had the pleasure of attending several times at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC.
The setlist is a nostalgic journey through Broadway and Hollywood hits, featuring beloved Streisand movie classics like ‘The Way We Were’, ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Papa, Can Here Me?’ as well as a slice of Funny Girl with ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’, with a moving mashup of ‘Cabaret’ and ‘Over the Rainbow’, in which Minnelli evokes her mother.
Also included are songs not associated with the duo like ‘Feed the Birds’, and special material like ‘Betty Ford’ poking fun at Minnelli’s history of battling the bottle, plus lesser-known numbers like Charles Aznavour’s ‘Quiet Love’ and more.
The fun-filled evening aptly ends with a nod to Sondheim with ‘Old Friends’ from Merrily We Roll Along followed by the legendary ‘Get Happy’/‘Happy Days Are Here Again’ duet from the Judy Garland TV show, in which Minnelli substitutes for her mother again.
Throughout, the audience is treated to a delightful mix of humor and heartfelt performances, making for an unforgettable evening, thanks in no small part to Nathan Martin’s stylish and effortlessly charming piano accompaniment.
Despite a few technical hiccups and the size of the venue, which is not quite intimate enough for the performers to address the audience directly as if in a proper cabaret setting like The Pheasantry or Crazy Coqs – where both have appeared regularly – the show’s warmth and the performers’ undeniable talent shine through.
This makes Barbra & Liza Live! a must-see for fans of these legendary divas and anyone who appreciates a night of musical magic, in fact anyone who wants to share their love for these timeless, albeit sadly semi-retired, international entertainment icons. Not to be missed.
Patrick Honoré
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