THE WAY SHE WERE
Envisioning a Barbra Streisand concert, one pictures $1000 seats at the Dolby for a show where every word has been discussed, rehearsed, and teleprompted. By contrast, at El Cajon’s gem of a too-well-kept-secret venue — the 1200-seat Magnolia Theatre (which just had a $7M renovation), entertainer Sharon Owens made it feel like Barbra at a cabaret-style jazz club show complete with a seventeen-piece brass band. And based on Owens’ looks and energy, I’d say sometime in the late ’70s. With only about 200 seats sold, all in the front, the lighting is carefully worked to make it feel like the rest of the house isn’t even there, as if the show was never meant to hold a single person more.
Of course the first thing everyone wants to know is, “Does Sharon look like Barbra?” There are moments that you think, “Damn, she really does look just like her,” and then she’ll make a different face and you’ll think, “Mmmm, maybe not so much.” The bottom line is, the look is close enough that the other stuff matters more.
The next question, of course, is “Does she sound like her?” We’re back to “More often than not,” which is still saying a lot. After all, Barbra Streisand is one of the greatest pop voices of a couple of generations, holding notes like few could and doing legendary runs. Owens may not be quite on that star level, but even coming close — while trying to sound like someone else — is really impressive (I suggest you see this as a tribute, not an impersonation). Owens powerhouses through many of Barbra’s toughest songs (“No More Tears”, “Somewhere”) and doesn’t hold back. Likewise, she’s up for rapid-fire songs, like a section of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” that she does in a medley (which only made me want to have heard it in full).
Lastly, the third question I’ve been getting is, “Does she do shtick between the numbers like Barbra?” The answer is a qualified “no”; Owens is better at being Barbra than Barbra, because Owens clearly has such fun in that role. She plays off the audience on a level that the real Streisand would never dare. A terrific moment was when she tells the history of the classic “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” which was not initially a duet. Without Neil Diamond standing next to her, Owens pointed the mike to the audience when his part came up and waited for some man to sing the next line. The moment a guy from the audience did, she feigned amazement at his voice, worked her way into the middle of the fourth row, and cajoled him onto the stage for a duet he was very unprepared for (Owens whispered every line into his ear and the band adapted brilliantly to give him time to catch up).
Owens spoke about 30% of the show and, while it was always a pleasure to hear the next song, all of her bits were delightful — whether rehearsed, playing off the band, or talking to patrons as Barbra. A great moment was when she was challenged to try rapping a Barbra song; after giving it a solid try for a good two lines, she laughingly ending that experiment.
Another terrific aspect of the show is that, while Barbara has a hit list that could easily fill every minute of two hours, Owens chooses not to go the easy route. Instead, she includes numbers like Victor Young’s 1932 ditty “Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long,” Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” and a medley of non-hit songs from “A Star Is Born.” Amazingly, given the size of her band, she even takes requests, meaning they all have to be ready for anything she accepts.
Speaking of the band, under the direction of Chris Montgomery, the energy is strong with great synchronicity and outstanding moments of solo clarinet, trombone, saxophone, and more. Owens’ awe and praise of the band doesn’t feel like platitudes … and rightly so. At one point, accidentally breaking away from her Barbra voice, she sighed, “You don’t get this too often, I mean, a big band. It’s so sad,” and then catching herself, returned to Barbra’s grandness.
You’re right, Sharon, we don’t get it too often. Keep bringing it to us so we can keep telling people to go see this show wherever you are, because likely only a few who were there had ever seen you before but, unquestionably, everyone left a fan.
photos courtesy of the artist
An Enchanted Evening with Barbra Starring Sharon Owens
The Magnolia, 210 E Main St in El Cajon
reviewed on Sept 14, 2024
for more tour dates, visit Sharon Owens
