Finding Gabi
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
The Queen of Cabaret has returned to Port Hope, and this time she is actually performing in her own autobiographical cabaret. Gabi Epstein is on stage at the Sculthorpe Theatre, upstairs at Port Hope’s Capitol.
Gabi is no stranger to Port Hope: Last year she had a one-day cabaret show, and you might not recognize her, but she was the nasty witch in the Sleeping Beauty panto, as well as Roz, the annoying secretary in 9 to 5. She was also in Fiddler on the Roof and The Little Mermaid.
So it’s great to see her back in Port Hope, this time with her story, Gabs Sings Babs in song, perfected over the last three years. I saw the first performance of Gabs Sings Babs at the Globus Theatre, Bobcaygeon three years ago. Since then, there have been various edits and changes. The new improved version gives us a warmer, more seasoned and well-polished Gabi.
But rest assured, she still has all her high-speed energy and her powerful belting voice!
In Gabs Sings Babs, Gabi tells the audience of her long-time obsession with Barbra Streisand. She starts out comparing her life to Barbra’s: Babs was born in Brooklyn in 1942 and came out with her first album in 1962. Gabs was born in Toronto in 1985 and came out with her first album in 2010. Then Gabi tells us of her struggle to land the lead role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, the musical made famous by Barbra. Unsuccessful auditions, even after two and three call-backs, might make some actor/singers give up. But not Gabi: she eventually landed the part at the Segal Centre in Montreal and in concert at the Harold Green Jewish Theatre in Toronto.
Gabi opens her show with the Miss Marmelstein song from I Can Get it For You Wholesale, for which Streisand received a Tony nomination on Broadway. Gabi explains that she is a Dora Award winner as she continues with the comparisons and a tongue-in-cheek nod to her idol.
Of course, she sings favourites from Funny Girl, including “Don’t Rain on my Parade” and the ever-popular “People”. She has great fun with Fanny Brice’s song “Second-hand Rose” which Streisand has included in past concerts. Gabi also sings a selection from Yentl, with the well-known “Papa, can you hear me?”. Another audience favourite is “Memories” from Streisand’s movie, The Way We Were.
But trying too hard to be Babs led Gabs to wondering who she really was. She returns to her parents’ home in a journey of self-discovery. A touching moment comes when the performer’s dressing table turns around and becomes little Gabi’s dresser in her childhood bedroom. She also gives the audience a dose of reality when she talks about being reluctant to use her last name in some situations. Obviously, faith and family are so important to her, yet we are poignantly reminded that these are such difficult times.
Gabi has, in the past, impersonated Barbra on stage. But for the conclusion of this production she makes it clear that she is Gabs, not Babs. She has found herself, and she is comfortable making Babs’ songs her own.
She and her musical director and accompanist Mark Camilleri planned the set list together, developing new arrangements. Some of Streisand’s familiar tunes are even put together in medleys. Camilleri’s expertise on the piano is evident throughout, which allows Gabi, herself, to shine on stage.
Gabi’s husband Jeremy Lapalme directed this production, and assisted her in adding to the show to make a full-length performance out of a cabaret. She credits him with challenging her to go further. In 2013 I saw both Gabi and Jeremy in a production of Fiddler on the Roof at the fondly-remembered Stage West dinner theatre in Mississauga. I think I had a front row seat to a sweet couple falling in love for real, surrounded by the stories of Jewish tradition and family.
If there is one concern about Gabs Sings Babs, it’s that we want more of it. She knows all those great Funny Girl songs – we want to hear them all!
Gabs Sings Babs continues on the Sculthorpe Stage at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope until August 11, 2024. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 905-885-1071 or visiting https://capitoltheatre.com/
Photo: Gabir returns to her childhood bedroom and accompanies herself on her ukelele.
Babs Sings Gabs
Conceived and performed by Gabi Epstein
Pianist/co-arranger Mark Camilleri
Directed by Jeremy Lapalme
Sculthorpe Stage, Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen St., Port Hope
August 1 to 11, 2024
Reviewed by Mary Alderson