Barbra in Toronto (Air Canada Centre)

October 17th and 20th 2006

Song List (note the changes from previous shows)

ACT 1

Funny Girl Broadway (overture)
Starting Here, Starting Now
Down With Love
The Way We Were
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Ma Premiere Chanson
Evergreen (with Ill Divo)
I'll DIVO SET #1: (no Barbra)
(a) Unchained Melody
(b) Don't Break My Heart
(c) My Way (dedicated to BJS)

Music Of The Night
Funny Girl
The Music That Makes Me Dance
My Man
People

ACT 2
Where Or When (Night one Only)
When The Sun Comes Out
Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen
Unusual Way
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Stoney End Parody (Night one Only)
Happy Days (George Bush skit)
Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair
Cockeyed Optimist
Somewhere (with 'll Divo)
My Shining Hour
Encores:
Don't Rain On My Parade (Broadway version reprise)
Smile

Fan Alexandra Brill before the first Toronto Show

Here is Alex's first night review:

Okay, so it is early morning here and I am completly exhausted. The show was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I also asked her to sing a line from Stoney End and that is the question she read!!! I freaked and jumped up and down in my seat-again. She dedicated "the way we were" to Trudeau and fanned herself when discussing their relationship. Just to let you know, I was 10 feet away from James Brolin who sat in the pit with the sound crew-unbelievably hansome last night! Okay, when and where was the surprise of the evening for me, but Somewhere and My Man had my legs shaking and me crying like a baby. I met a great woman named Deborah who will be joining us on the web site sometime today-right Deborah!!! She was a kindred spirit and I was so glad someone around me was as freaked out as me. We also went right up to the front of the stage before the show and said we couldn't believe how close we were to where she would be standing- it was very funny. I also got to meet Space Captain and he was a charmer. My picture is in Gallery 10 and I am posing with both of my arms fully outstretched- it was very overwhelming. Her voice was magnificient and she did the DROMP for her first encore and Smile as her 2nd. When she sang Funny Girl the audience went nuts. I do have to say there was an enormous amount of energy and positivity to the crowd last night- but also very well behaved. God, what an evening, I am still shaking... off to have tea in my new Barbra mug!!!
take care,
Alex

thank god I am going again Friday just so I can soak in what flew past me last night!!!

... and here is Alex's Night Two Review

Sorry it took a few hours to come back down to earth. Last night was absolutly incredible again. She was in spectacular voice last evening. It was good for me to see her again because it really brought things into perspective for me. She really is just a person and like you and me(except for the voice). She did pretty much the same show, no Stoney End parody, but she did answer a pressing question-when is she going to write her autobiography. She said it is next on her list. Another fan asked what it was like to sing with Judy Garland and she said she was a fragile woman but that her experience with her was something she would never forget. She corrected an audience member at the end who said she had a Bichon, she said"No it is a Coton de Tuleur" and everybody freaked. Also said they are from Madagascar and then reminisced about how she use to put in her playbill's that she was from Madagasgar, it was great!! I had wonderful seats at the side of the stage and took about 100 shots through my digital binoculars, they are amazing shots. Have I stayed too long at the Fair was my fav. last night, she swayed and danced a little while singing- it was so nice to see her so relaxed. When the George B skit came on the audience started to cheer and she said" Oh you've heard about this have you- well just play along with me then okay". It was great. There was a guy in the front row that was out of his mind and she joked with him quite a bit because he was just sooo excited. She kept pointing and laughing at him because he was nuts!! Overall it was amazing and the set list was the same as Tuesday. I thought I would be overly bummed out today but I am still so full of adrenaline it is great. It has been the most remarkable week of my life and I will never forget it as long as I live. Have a great time at your shows, you will not be disappointed.

OZoneDeb:

Alexandra captured the essence of the night. Although I had an idea of what songs to expect from Tuesday night it felt like I had never heard them before.

Without a doubt, she just appeared so relaxed during the show and truly enjoying herself. James B was sitting in the same spot as Tuesday night per the sound crew and again I saw him leave just prior to the encores.

I had terrific floor seats, row 18 and actually went up to the stage during the intermission to try to see the poor person falling apart in the front row but no luck.

When I was leaving I asked the sound crew fellow if a CD would be out in December and he said " the aim of the game is December but it's going to be tough".

Sorry I missed you at Gate 5. I know traffic was bad. I got there about 5:30 and people were lining up behind each other and missing the point that they could start a new line. I tried to convince them but I guess they were afraid to move. I finally got a security person to tell them which I hope helped move everyone in a little faster.

I loved your picture so much that I had to do the same. Just checked and they are not uploaded yet but keep an eye on Gallery 1.

I too thought I'd be down today but not at all. I checked the local Sun and Star but didn't see any reviews.

To the folks going to the Boston show, enjoy, enjoy

OFur2:

friday show was again terrific... she did not sing where or when, but love the South Pacific songs especially hearing them for the 2nd time. Beautiful. A friend went to the 2nd show and came home stunned... saying I had just watched a phenonemal performer.
The rave reviews Babra gave on restaurants she had bought the pizza, the fish and chips etc. and mentioned them on the show was funny and those places are happy for obviously good advertising.

BabsBabe:

Arising from the depths of the stage to thunderous applause, Barbra stood glimmering before me--and it was a moment that I will never forget. As soon as I heard "the voice", I knew that this would be a wondrous night. In that instant, Barbra and her audience connected and the lovefest began. At the sight of her, my tears flowed, but soon subsided in response to her calm, relaxed demeanour. I was transported to a small cabaret with stage side seats as I watched Barbra embrace each member of the audience with her warmth and exquisite vocal stylings.
The sailor suit, first with skirt and then with pants, was the costume of choice for this "Funny Girl". Her voice soared in "Starting Here, Starting Now" and in "Come Rain or Come Shine". Her mellow, full tones filled the room as "The Way We Were" hung in the air like wisps of sultry smoke. In a very personal moment, Barbra reminisced about Pierre Trudeau saying that they had remained friends until he died. I would have loved to have listened to their political conversations!
On this "international tour" (as Barbra put it), IL Divo added a foreign flare, and many in the audience were swooning at the sight of the four, handsome tenors. They left the stage after dedicating "My Way" to Barbra, and I was glad--too much popera for me. The Funny Girl Suite was a fitting conclusion to the first act. When she sang "My Man" with such tender control, it broke my heart. It's amazing how "People" can get to you every time you hear it. The words are so relevant today.
At the beginning of the second act, Barbra, stunning in her black and gold dress, shone in the haunting "Music of the Night" duet with IL Divo.--it was entrancing.
This act was giving us a glimpse of a philosophical Barbra with the tender "Children will Listen" and the thought-provoking "Unusual Way".
Even the question and answer period did not interrupt the flow of this more subdued part of the evening.
The Bush skit interlude was hilarious with Steve Bridges going off the teleprompter several times and catching Barbra off-guard, making her laugh. It was great to hear "Happy Days Are Here Again" as a solo with the preamble of her hope that she can sing it for real after November 7!
My favourite song of the evening was "Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?". Barbra was literally right beside me when she sang it. I felt that I could have stretched out and touched her. It was truly a heart to heart moment.
At the end of the second act, Barbra was at her optimistic best with her sincere rendition of the William Saroyan poem. "A @#%$-Eyed Optimist" from "South Pacific" led to the awe-inspiring "Somewhere" duet with IL Divo--the best pairing of the night. How apropos that her final song of the set was "My Shining Hour".
The two encores were fantastic! "Don't Rain on My Parade"--one of my all-time favourites, was a showstopper! But, it was the very poignant "Smile" that meant the most to me personally. It is the song that inspired me to keep going through very difficult times. When Barbra left the stage for the final time, I remained
transfixed in my seat, unable to comprehend what I had just witnessed. I was privileged to see Barbra Streisand perform live, in peak vocal form. But, I also caught a glimpse of this wonderful, generous woman who is comfortable in her own skin, and who is no longer afraid to show herself to the world. Thank you, Barbra.

Photos

Craig Hall -- www.barbranews.com -- 2006