LIBBY INTERVIEWS...

BARBRA STREISAND

 

 

Libby

 

Well look at you!!! Fabulous--but I didn't expect anything else.

 

Barbra

 

Thank You.

 

Libby

 

So your big "final" concerts are over....

 

Barbra

 

Why do you say it like that?

 

Libby

 

Well, it's kind of like an "Everything must go" sale, you know what I mean? There's a store on my block that has been saying that for the past thirty years.

 

Barbra

 

Well I mean it.

 

Libby

 

O.K. Wink. Now Barbra, I was in the audience for your first performance as Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get it For You Wholesale. You were hilarious absolutely hilarious. Do you remember that?

 

Barbra

 

Yes of course.

 

Libby

 

Really!!! I thought you would have but I wasn't sure because I was sitting pretty far back.

 

Barbra

 

Oh, no, I remember doing I Can get It For You Wholesale, but I don't specifically remember seeing you.

 

Libby

 

Oh. I was wearing red. Seventh row? I had a wrap, I was sitting next to a blonde gentleman...?

 

Barbra

 

Sorry.

 

Libby

 

I was also there at the première of your motion picture picture debut in Funny Girl, your amazing portrayal of the legendary comedian Fanny Brice. You remember that?

 

Barbra

 

Um. O.K. I of course remember the film but if you're going to ask if I remember seeing you at the premiere I can't honestly say I do.

 

Libby

 

Yellow.

 

Barbra

 

What?

 

Libby

 

I was wearing yellow.

I was only about 28 rows behind you, I had a tickle in my throat and I remember thinking "Jeez I hope my coughing isn't bothering Barbra!" It's kind of bothered me all this years thinking that I might have spoiled the evening somehow.

 

Barbra

 

Don't worry, I didn't hear you.

 

Libby

 

Sometimes it sounded like I was choking--some people in the audience were really worried.

 

Barbra

 

No, I didn't hear a thing.

 

Libby

 

I'd had a gin fizz.

 

Barbra

 

Oh.

 

Libby

 

I could've died.

 

Barbra

 

I'm sorry I don't remember seeing you as far as I know this is the first time I laid eyes on you.

 

Libby

 

What about the Hollywood Bowl? The Riviera Hotel, the MGM Grand? I was at all of them.

 

Barbra

 

I'm very sorry.

 

Libby

 

Oh, OK.

 

I'm just kind of disappointed. I’m a really big fan. I named my second child after you until my husband started calling her Connie. I know all the words to all of your songs even the ones in Latin and my first wedding song was your cover of What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? in 1970, Make It Like A Memory in 81 for my second wedding and Hello Dolly for my third. You always gave me so much inspiration because we are so alike. Let's face it, we're both no spring chickens, we both aren't oil paintings so even though I'm so much younger than you, when when I would watch you on stage I'd think "Boy if she can do it anyone can".

 

So, I was hoping that, as your probably your biggest fan and one who has supported you so much-- actually, I bought one of you acrylic finger nail remnants off E-Bay for 1400 bucks. It's still got a little coral nail polish on it--would you like to see it?

 

Barbra

 

No thank you.

 

Libby

 

You'd think you could at least remember somebody who has invested so much time and money in you.

 

Barbra

 

I'm really very sorry, but there are a lot of people at those concerts...

 

Libby

 

I just thought since we were almost like soulmates....sisters.

 

I feel a little depressed, but let me take a moment here to turn into serious journalist mode rather than friend,--which I wasn't in any case but forgive me for being so naive.

 

(Silence)

 

Libby

 

OK, James Brolin.

 

Barbra

 

My husband yes.

 

Libby

 

One word: why?

 

Barbra

 

We're in love.

 

Libby

 

Forgive me Barbra, don't you think you could've done better? I mean you're a legend and he hawks transmissions, 'course you probably don't even recognize him in commercials since your powers of observation aren't so hot.

 

Barbra

 

I don't think that's fair.

 

Libby

 

An affair fine, but staring googly eyed at him and listening to him as if he was a prophet. Quite frankly even a pretty old woman can't get away with that without looking foolish. Don't get me wrong not that you're not gorgeous in an interesting way but, come on Barbra...

 

Barbra

 

I find this insulting, I...

 

Libby

 

MTV.

 

Barbra

 

What about it?

 

Libby

 

Do you think you would even have a career if you were starting out today and had to meet current standards?

 

Barbra

 

I can't answer that, I don't know.

 

Libby

 

Let's look at it. Camera's everywhere, gorgeous little moppets swinging their ta-tas and not one big nosed skinny kid in the lot--well there's Celine Dion but she's Canadian so she doesn't count.

 

Barbra

 

I think it comes down to talent not looks.

 

Libby

 

So the girls they're making stars of these days. it's just coincidence that they all look good wet?

 

Barbra

 

I think talent wins out.

 

Libby

 

I wish Barbra I could believe you and I will the minute I see a music video featuring a girl who sings like an angel and weighs 400 pounds.

 

Barbra

 

You might have a point.

 

Libby

 

I'm sorry?

 

Barbra

 

You might have a point.

 

Libby

 

That's what I thought you said.

 

Barbra, in all the years that I've done celebrity interviews that is the only time anyone has ever said that.

 

I take back what I was thinking before. How you are taking your own press too seriously that hearing that you are a legend has made you think you are one.

 

I take all those thoughts back now, I bow to your greatness.

 

Barbra

 

...Thank You.

 

Libby

 

Are you sure you don't want to see the finger nail?

 

   Copyright 2001 S.Grehan-Howes