Show That Never Was

Barbara and Frank, The Show That Never Was

It is unlikely that these two powerhouse voices of the century would have ever shared the same stage…until now.

They never worked together, exactly, except when they taped a duet in separate recording sessions, but it’s tantalizing to think what it would have been like to have Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra teamed up for a concert tour.

Just imagine the possibilities? Would one have outshone the other? Would their onstage banter have been friendly or a bit snippy?

The show begins even before Barbra and Frank take the stage. The pre-show is video trivia pertaining to the two stars career, achievements and how their lives intertwined.

The screen slowly rises as a silhouette of Francis Albert sings “I’ve Got A Crush On You”, the very duet by which Barbra and Frank recorded in 1993. Barbra enters the stage singing along with Frank but Barbra wastes no time bringing up the fact how Frank would not record the duet “live” with her in the same studio.

The rapport of these two 20th century icons is immediately prevalent. What’s On magazine states, “As good as the music is, the banter between the stars is equally memorable.”

Barbra is first to show her stuff by singing some of the power ballads of her career, “People”, “Evergreen” and “Woman in Love” to name just a few. “When Sharon Owens took the stage, I almost fell off my chair, She was a dead ringer” Jerry Greenburg President of Atlantic Records. “Sharon has the look, the voice, EVERYTHING! Even the nose!” She closes her segment with a special dedication to her real father, “Papa, Can You Hear Me”.

Out from that heart tugging moment, Frank enters singing “I’ve Got The World On A String”! “Sebastian Anzaldo resembles and sounds like a young, handsome Frank” says Editors Choice, Showbiz Magazine. “Confident, cocky and well, one word describes the man…Swinging!” He continues with some of his most memorable hits. “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Come Fly With Me”, “Summer Wind”, need we say more? After a moving rendition of his signature “My Way”, he brings the audience to their feet with “That’s Life”.

A highlight of the show is a delicate blending of two of their signature songs as Sinatra croons verses from “It Was A Very Good Year” intertwined with Streisand singing “The Way We Were”.

From this point in the show, the two stars remain on stage together at the piano. There’s a lot of good natured teasing back and forth. “Occasionally Streisand bristles at Sinatra’s chauvinistic remarks and Sinatra shakes his head at Streisand’s persistant whine.”

Near the end of the show, the tuxedoed Sinatra turns to Streisand, who is attired in a stunning black and white gown, and says dismissively, “Why don’t you go backstage, take a little rest, and I’ll close the show.” A moment of silence is followed by Streisand saying, in the trade mark Brooklyn accent, “Excuse me?”