'Buyer & Cellar' features Michael Urie, inspired by Streisand book
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The talented Michael Urie takes the stage in "Buyer & Cellar," a celebrated one-man show that is set in a basement, and somehow involves Barbra Streisand.
The inspiration for the play is a book Streisand wrote herself. "My Passion for Design" talks about the lengths Streisand went to to take care of her collectibles. She built her own version of a mall.
Urie plays the role of the make-believe shop keeper in the play. He first gained fame in the TV comedy "Ugly Betty," and actually plays several characters in this one-man show, including Streisand.
"The mall is real and a lot of the references are very, very real. But the guy is fake, the story is totally fake as far as we know, Barbra doesn't have a man working in her basement keeping the shops," Urie said.
The main character is Alex, an unemployed actor who simply needs a job. Southland audiences will enjoy many of the play's local references.
"The guy used to work at Disneyland. There are all of these very L.A. things. We talk about the 405, you talk about KCRW we talk about all that great stuff," said Urie.
And while viewers think they will know where the story goes, they'll probably have to think again.
"It's filled with surprises. You have an idea of where it's going to go, and it doesn't go that way, and every time it goes the other way you think, 'Well of course, that's the only way it could have gone.' And that is a thrilling feeling to make a group of people gasp in delight and make people laugh uncontrollably because the story is so funny," said Urie.
Streisand has yet to see the play. But many famous friends have, and they've verified the basis of this story.
"A lot of people have come to see the show and come back and said, 'I've been in that mall.' Jane Fonda, 'I've been in that mall!' And I've never been there. I've only seen the pictures. But maybe I'll get an invite. Is she watching?" Urie said.
"Buyer & Cellar" plays at the Mark Taper Forum through Aug. 17.
