Simply Barbra’s Holiday Show – Christmas in Leicester Square

Simply Barbra’s Holiday Show was performed at Christmas in Leicester Square.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

As part of the Underbelly Festival for Christmas in Leicester Square was Simply Barbra’s Holiday Show, a festive and loving celebration of Streisand’s talent as portrayed by the equally gifted Steven Brinberg.

The selection of Christmas songs taken from Streisand’s two Christmas albums was extensive: ranging from ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ itself to the encore to Judy Garland’s ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’.

Also included was lesser-known festive material such as ‘I’m Christmasing With You’ and ‘I Don’t Remember Christmas’ – a jewel from Maltby and Shire’s Starting Here, Starting Now.

Aside from the obligatory ‘The Way we Were’, Brinberg’s Broadway and movie selection was also happily eclectic and far from obvious, including the too rarely heard ‘Love is Only Love’, supposedly written for Streisand for the movie of Hello, Dolly! but in fact a track cut from Mame.

Brinberg’s patter about it being a film first and her not being able to get a ticket for the Bette Midler revival was both funny and affectionate.

Even more interesting was the inclusion of songs Streisand has never performed and might never sing, such as as ‘My Favourite Things’ (with a typically Streisand slow delivery) and ‘Beauty in the World’ from the Patti LuPone/Christine Ebersole War Paint. There were even hints at a movie version she would do with Meryl Streep – which we all know will never happen!

But the highlight of the concert was ‘Christmas Box Medley’ in which Brinberg demonstrated his versatility and amazing ability at impersonating other divas in their often imaginary Christmas albums, starting with ‘White Christmas’ by the great Lena Horne.

Particularly hilarious were Katharine Hepburn’s talked-through ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’; Cher’s ‘We Need a Little Christmas’; Bernadette Peters in a sexy ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, culminating with Bette Davis talk-singing through ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and Bea Arthur through ‘Silver Bells’.

The icing on the cake was Brinberg’s spectacular rendition of the duet ‘Who Can I Turn To?’, showing off his amazing range by doing both Streisand’s and Newley’s voices to perfection.

Expert musical director Michael Ferreri, flown in from New York just for the occasion, had a jazzy solo turn singing ‘Let it Snow’ and his rapport with Brinberg shone through his piano accompaniment.

Simply Barbra is still the best alternative to Streisand herself and this holiday offering was a good companion to the Netflix documentary and live CD release from the diva herself.

For those who missed this one night only event, Brinberg will be back next April at The Pheasantry.

Patrick Honoré