Nothing breaks the ice more than having a good story to tell—even more exciting if it’s a first-hand encounter with the famous. In the case of Buyer & Cellar, Jonathan Tolin’s delightful one-man play, it’s not just a one-off encounter with any celebrity but a series of encounters with the American icon Barbra Streisand.
Well, not quite.
Rob Madge as Alex More. Photo by Genevieve Girling.
Our narrator Alex More (played by the charming Rob Madge) clarifies right off the bat that the stories he will regale us with that evening is entirely fictional—“What I’m going to tell you could not possibly have happened with a person as famous, talented, and litigious as Barbra Streisand!”. What was real, however, is the place where the fictional encounters take place: the legendary basement of Streisand's Malibu home, which was fitted to look like a shopping mall to display her various collections.
After that short bit of context, Alex moves on to the meat of the story: after being fired from Disneyland, Alex lands the unusual job of working at Ms. Streisand’s basement. He takes the inventory, arranges the displays, mans the till, and learns how to work the frozen yogurt machine and popcorn maker, all in preparation for when the customer pays a visit.
The premise is as fascinating as it is absurd and Madge as our sole storyteller delivers the material impressively. Their impressions of the supporting characters are distinct and entertaining, and Alex’s adoration of his employer and apprehension regarding their relationship serves as great commentary highlighting people’s perceptions and the price of fame.
Photo by Genevieve Girling.
Admittedly, one feels the length of the play at certain points—it’s around 90 minutes with no interval—though it’s through no fault of the performer. The jokes that poke fun at life in Los Angeles/California doesn’t land as well with the audience here across the pond since it feels like a collection of inside jokes we are not completely privy to. The performance could have also benefited from a couple more elements on stage that could be interacted with or observed by the audience as the storytelling goes on.
But ultimately, Buyer & Cellar is a good time. Director Kirk Jameson succeeds in pulling back the curtains a little to paint this version of Barbra as charming and captivating but also a character that is flawed and sympathetic. Towards the end, when the bubble inevitably bursts and Alex and Barbra part ways, we feel the same sense of closure and satisfaction that Alex does. To borrow the closing line: it [feels] good.
Buyer & Cellar runs from 18 September until 19 October at the King’s Head Theatre in London, and then at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 29 October until 2 November.
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