#1
Posted: 3/20/13 at 1:05am
Wondering what the buzz on this is like...
Has anyone seen BUYER & CELLAR?
#2
Posted: 3/20/13 at 10:26am
Me too, I would like to know if it will stay open for the entire run...
#3
Posted: 3/20/13 at 10:18pm
I've definitely not been a fan of one-person shows, and this one, though less exacting than most, does nothing to make me one.
We are told at the beginning of the show that Barbra Streisand installed a mini-shopping mall in her basement. Michael Urie plays the fellow hired as "shopkeeper"/custodian. In the course of this 90 minute intermissionless evening, he relates his experiences, and plays out interactions with his partner, Streisand, her husband, and her secretary.
Urie is personable and deft; there are a few chuckles; the minimalist set and lighting design are attractive. But the material is too slight for both the format and length of the piece, and like so many examples of this genre, ennui sets in early.
We are told at the beginning of the show that Barbra Streisand installed a mini-shopping mall in her basement. Michael Urie plays the fellow hired as "shopkeeper"/custodian. In the course of this 90 minute intermissionless evening, he relates his experiences, and plays out interactions with his partner, Streisand, her husband, and her secretary.
Urie is personable and deft; there are a few chuckles; the minimalist set and lighting design are attractive. But the material is too slight for both the format and length of the piece, and like so many examples of this genre, ennui sets in early.
#4
Posted: 3/20/13 at 11:16pm
Thanks, After Eight, I am thinking I might just agree with you on this one if I go, based on the premise you're describing! Too many choices out there right now....
#6
Posted: 3/31/13 at 10:18pm
I enjoyed the play. It's short, and sweet, and I laughed a lot. Urie is fab, as always. Perfect casting.
#7
Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:31am
I thought Michael Urie was a delight in this very light and funny show. The audience I was with on Saturday night laughed a lot. Is this great? No. But Urie is well worth the price of admission. And I didn't regret seeing it, like I did Belleville! It helped that I knew nothing about this play when I walked in.
Updated On: 4/1/13 at 12:31 AM
#8
Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:34am
I was seriously disappointed. The same playwright gave us the incomparable PROPHET AND LAUSS. This is nowhere near its brilliance.
http://docandraider.com
Updated On: 4/1/13 at 12:34 AM
#9
Posted: 4/1/13 at 9:20am
After Eight summed it up nicely. I am a Michael Urie fan, thought he did well with what he had. Unfortunately, I found the material lacking and monotonous after a while, it was a long 90 minutes.
#10
Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:09pm
How are the audiences for this show? It has a REALLY long run and I wanna get tickets at a later date but how can it stay open so long?
#11
Posted: 4/1/13 at 12:58pm
I went last Wed, theater was about 3/4's full, it was a holiday though.
Rattlestick is shows this running until May 4th on their website.
Rattlestick is shows this running until May 4th on their website.
#12
Posted: 4/5/13 at 3:09pm
#13
Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:54pm
I caught this tonight--after being warned off it and encouraged to see it by equal numbers of theater friends--and really liked it. Urie was charming, I was never bored, and the house was packed, which I figure has something to do with it becoming a NY Times Critic's Pick in the last few days. Just so much fun and lots of laughing out loud...which I really needed at the end of a long work week 
#14
Posted: 4/7/13 at 7:46pm
I got to see BUYER & CELLAR this afternoon and boy, am I glad I did! What a sweet, enjoyable show this is, grounded by a wonderfully charismatic turn by Urie. I would rank it in the list of my favorite shows I've seen this season, to be quite honest. It moves by rather swiftly at 100 minutes long, and it certainly seemed as though I was not the only one in the (sold out) audience who really, really enjoyed it. Urie got two enthusiastic curtain calls and nailed every single laugh, but also managed to switch back and forth from the comedic moments to the more dramatic ones with ease. I heard plenty of people saying how surprised they were at how much they loved it and that they wanted to see it again. I hope this catches on...it's a really lovely little show. I would definitely recommend checking it out if it piques your interest! I am really happy I did!
Side note: Victor Garber was in attendance this afternoon and seemed to love it just as much as everyone else did!
Side note: Victor Garber was in attendance this afternoon and seemed to love it just as much as everyone else did!
#15
Posted: 4/28/13 at 9:33pm
I got around to seeing Buyer & Cellar this weekend and really enjoyed it. It's light and breezy, and Urie delivers the laughs with aplomb.
I'm not a crazy Barbra fan (I like the way you pronounce it- some people still say the "a" that I dropped!), but really warmed to the material, and Urie's "Criterion Commentary" on The Mirror Has Two Faces was a riot.
It wasn't deep or life-altering, but I agree with Wickedrocks that it was one of my favorite things of the spring. Very recommended.
I'm not a crazy Barbra fan (I like the way you pronounce it- some people still say the "a" that I dropped!), but really warmed to the material, and Urie's "Criterion Commentary" on The Mirror Has Two Faces was a riot.
It wasn't deep or life-altering, but I agree with Wickedrocks that it was one of my favorite things of the spring. Very recommended.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#16
Posted: 4/28/13 at 9:51pm
I went yesterday and really enjoyed it. Loved Michael Urie. He was hilarious. It was a fun night at the theatre. Also the house was practically full.
#17
Posted: 4/28/13 at 10:11pm
I was there for that performance as well. Really enjoyed it! John Benjamin Hickey was also there!
-elli-
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#18
Posted: 8/5/13 at 8:08pm
Does anyone know if Ms. Streisand has seen this?
ARTc3 formerly ARTc. Actually been a poster since 2004. My name isn't Art. Drop the "3" and say the signature and you'll understand.
#20
Posted: 8/5/13 at 8:53pm
Saw it last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's really funny and I was surprised how much heart it had. Given that I've only seen him in campy roles like Mark St. James and Bud Frump, Michael Urie was a revelation. Of course I knew he'd nail the humor, but it's really a very, very well-rounded performance.
Billy Porter was there too...dressed like a naughty schoolboy.
Billy Porter was there too...dressed like a naughty schoolboy.
#21
Posted: 8/6/13 at 11:33am
Hmmmm. How exactly does a naughty school boy dress?
#22
Posted: 8/6/13 at 8:16pm
Button down shirt, bright bow tie, short shorts, socks and saddle shoes or something similar. It worked for him.
#23
Posted: 11/4/13 at 9:50am
Saw the show yesterday. Michael Uhrie is indeed captivating, charming, and extremely talented in the show. The first half (up through the buying the doll story) was quite funny. But then it rambled to me, and never reached that height again. It grew long -- the "joke" was over and became repetitious to me. I didn't feel the pathos with the entire boyfriend issue as what was their relationship based on to begin with?
#24
Posted: 11/4/13 at 10:45am
I saw this over the summer and enjoyed it. Would was most interesting was that Streisand's manager, Marty Erlichman, was in the audience with Richard Jay Alexander. That same night, Jessica Walter was there as well. Couldn't see their reactions, but they stayed for the show and stood up for the standing ovation. I wanted to see if they went back stage, but was up in the balcony/mezz and didn't get out in time.
#25
Posted: 11/4/13 at 8:46pm
See this? Or the saved by the bell parody?
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