There’s a one-man show about a guy working in the mall in Barbra Streisand’s basement
Should you see it or skip it?
In her book My Passion for Design, Barbra Streisand describes a facsimile of a shopping mall that she had built in the basement of one of the buildings on the grounds of her Malibu estate. The one-man show Buyer & Cellar at The Lyric Stage tells the story of what might happen if an out-of-work actor (Alex Moore) took a job as the sole employee in this faux mall.
Should you see it or skip it? Here are the best arguments on either side.
See it!
Buyer & Cellar is very, very funny. The script by Jonathan Tolins creates a relationship between Streisand and her employee that is bizarre but nuanced. Moore’s reflections on the strangeness of his situation are clever. And the interactions between Streisand and Moore create some big laughs.
See it!
There’s some depth to Buyer & Cellar. Moore allows himself to become a prop in a celebrity’s artificial reality. The setup gives Tolins a chance to explore our culture’s odd deification of the talented and famous. The script is never heavy-handed, but it is thoughtful.
See it!
Phil Tayler, the sole actor, does a great job bringing a half dozen characters to life. As Moore, he’s sweet and sympathetic. As Streisand, he never descends into caricature. In his version of the performer, she comes across as lonely, needy, and aloof.
Tayler is liable and charming throughout. He’s a pleasure to watch for the entire 90 minutes of the show.
Skip it!
Buyer & Cellar will resonate best for people who watch old movies or go to the theater. If you’ve never seen Gypsy or watched Judy Garland movies, you’ll miss some of the plays better jokes.
See it!
Buyer & Cellar is the best theater value in Boston at the moment. You can get seats for $43, about half of what you’ll pay to see Confederacy of Dunces. The Lyric Stage has a great little theater in the heart of Back Bay.
The verdict: See it!
Buyer & Cellar will be at the Lyric Stage Company through January 3.
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