“What would Babs think?”
This was the question that director Darren Sextro and actor Seth Golay discussed at length when they decided to stage a new production entitled “Buyer & Cellar” at the Unicorn Theatre this December. That’s because the play they are to stage is based on the experiences of a fictional shopkeeper of a very real collection of memorabilia belonging to renowned entertainer Barbra Streisand. While Sextro and Golay both admit they were not experts on Streisand’s career before doing the play, they knew they wanted to treat the beloved figure with respect.
“The idea is that Barbra Streisand could walk into the performance and see the show,” Golay said. “So the show does poke some fun at her, but we wanted to do it with heart, and not be mean spirited.”
So would she like the show?
“I don’t think so,” laughed Sextro. “When a show discusses your life it can make you uncomfortable. And it does mock some of her celebrity persona, and her perfectionism. But there are so many references to her life and to interviews she makes, I think her fans will really enjoy it. And even if you are not a fan, it is so funny that those people will enjoy it too.
Jewish playwright Jonathan Tolins got the idea for the play by reading Streisand’s book about remodeling her Malibu, California, home. In the book was a chapter about her basement, which is a literal museum of her collections she has put together over the years. Laid out like a shopping mall, and inspired by Winterthur, the American decorative arts museum in Delaware, there are displays for Streisand’s extensive doll collection, costumes from her movies, antiques and more. After reading this, Tolins thought what if there was one person that had to watch over all this stuff, one employee that had to manage a museum that has a patronage of one.
This became the basis of the one man show “Buyer & Cellar,” Tolins’ one man show that runs Dec. 9 to 27. Previews are Dec. 9, 10 and 11. Opening Night is Dec. 12.
Golay plays the part of Alex More, the out-of-work Los Angeles actor who takes the job hoping that the diva can help him get his big break. However playing shopkeeper to a play shop begins to try on Alex’s patience.
In addition to Alex, Golay plays five other parts, including Streisand and her husband, actor James Brolin.
“My character has a line where he says ‘I don’t do Streisand,’ and I don’t do impressions either,’ ” Golay said. “It’s all about finding the focal point of every character, and being true to them. There is a line in the show that is from one of her interviews where she says ‘truth is very important to me,’ and that is how I view approaching the characters. What is their truth?”
Golay says there is stress being at the center of a one man show, but it can also be freeing to be out on the stage by himself.
“Usually you have the energy of the rest of the cast to play off of, and that’s great,” Golay said. “But this is really a chance to open up and tell a story in a different way.”
This is Sextro’s first time directing a show at the Unicorn Theatre, though he has directed nearly 20 productions on regional professional and community stages. He saw this particular play and when he heard the Unicorn was doing a production of “Buyer & Cellar,” he knew he wanted to be a part of it.
“It’s really funny, really in the now,” Sextro said of the one man show. “There are lots of pop culture references sprinkled throughout that I think people will appreciate.”
Golay agrees and says he enjoyed the writing of the play so much he had bought the script before even knowing he was going to be in the show.
“The writing is very smart,” Golay said.
Sextro says that there are several Jewish themes that are woven in to the play, and there is some Yiddish used by the characters.
“There are Jewish sensibilities that are present,” he said. “There are universal themes in this, but then there are also Jewish themes. There are gay themes. The play speaks to a lot of different areas.”
Golay believes that using an icon like Barbra Streisand as the focal points opens up a lot of avenues of discussion.
“Streisand came out of Brooklyn in the first half of the 20th century at a time when lots of Jewish authors and director and performers and comedians came into the spotlight,” Golay said. “I think this Jewish character and this Jewish culture is reflected in this piece, and she (Streisand) really represents a lot of those artists.”
Performances run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. If you are unable to afford a ticket, you may Pay What U Can at performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, because Unicorn Theatre believes art is for everyone. The week of Christmas, there will be a Monday Pay What U Can performance on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. and a Saturday matinee on Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. There will be no performances on Dec 24 and 25.
“Buy tickets as soon as you can,” Golay said. “It’s an intimate theater, and it fills up fast.”
Tickets are now on sale. Call 816-531-PLAY (7529) ext. 10, go online at www.UnicornTheatre.org or buy in person at the box office located at 3828 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111. Special discounts are available for seniors (65+), students and patrons under age 30.
