The Diva of Divas Tour, 2006: Thanks, Barbra...Not once but twice!

"Ms. Streisand requests you to silence your phones and Ms. Streisand reminds you that no cameras are allowed," a few ladies and gents identically clad addressed the now populating lines, trying their best not to make it sound like an order. On Nov. 20, the Staples Center, home to Kobe Bryant, got leased to Barbra Streisand (who had initially performed here Sept. 20 of 2000) to celebrate the last stop and final performance of her 20 city tour. Prices ranged from $100 (analogy: the Araneta Coliseum bleachers!) to $750, some patrons up to $1,000 (that’s more than a balikbayan fare!). Proceeds to go to charity. At 6:40 p.m., I was third from a line that passed one of those metallic detectors (installed after 9/11) but got stopped by a smiling black guard. "Miss, this is not right, you have to change your ticket!"

Almost panicky I responded, "Did I buy a fake one?" (weeks ago there was a scandal regarding some Barbra tickets that were bought on the Net using a stolen card).

"Naaah," he muttered, "it’s not fair to you, you can’t see her properly, go back to the box-office and they will give you a better one." Holding on to my $100 ticket, I called out to the people behind me, "Hey guys, I need a trip to the box-office." Didn’t want them to think I was going to cut in later. In seconds, they handed me another ticket – but labeled $0, no price indicated. Where would they sit me? Now inside the Staples, I ran briskly to the nearest McDonald’s kiosk, grabbed a combo costing a whopping $10 as opposed to their regular $3.50. Earlier, I paid $25 for my parking – the fee goes cheaper if you walk further two, three or four blocks away.

At 7:20 p.m., I was being escorted to my seat. Lo and behold, my lips still open, my eyes unbelieving, my location was only a section away from the main stage! Love, soft as an easy chair... Miracle of miracles! I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I told myself in a low whisper, "Thanks, Barbra, not once, but twice, to borrow a line from my dear friend SR. Twice because I had been a recipient of her generosity, way back in 1994 when Barbra decided to stage a comeback concert, at Anaheim’s Pond. Barbra got sick of laryngitis and her May dates concert canceled (two re-scheduled June 2 and 4). The ticket dates I had bought for my Mom and brother were moved to July. How could they wait until summer when their return PAL tickets for Pinas were early June dates? Frantic, I called Rick Dees in the morning, KISS station, also turned to Mark and Kim of Kost 103.5. They were apologetic when they returned my calls. "So sorry, you are among a thousand others with the same problem, and yes, the others have also traveled far – from Europe, Hong Kong, etc. " Mark said he even went a step further by talking to the promoter. A friend in the office advised, write to Barbra, she will listen, write a tearjerker. I started pounding the keys in my usual two finger-hunt and peck style at 90 words per. But how do I send it to Barbra? An idea perked: hey, why not to her publicist? Yes, Dick Guttman! He’s listed! Eureka, it’s in Beverly Hills, a mile from me.

"May I talk to Dick please, it’s personal." I asked his secretary.

"He’s in a closed door meeting, incommunicado as they’re meeting regarding last-minute changes to Streisand’s concert." I asked for his direct fax number (e-mails weren’t as popular yet) and sent my letter. Dear Barbra... No response till that late afternoon.

The following day, June 2, first day of Barbra’s concert, our fax person came to me as soon as I got in. "Hey, girl, someone called you earlier. Maybe playing pranks, from the office of Barbra Streisand? Trying to be funny huh. Anyway, here’s the number." My heart hammering, I said this better be a good joke. "Oh yes, your mom and your brother can see Barbra tonight, will fedex you the tickets as I speak!" the lady said. I had never seen Mom and brod so happy – and too bad they’re no longer around to reminisce with me. Memories may be beautiful and yet…so it’s the laughter we will remember, whenever we remember, the way we were.

Okay, back to the Staples, it’s almost 8 p.m. A lot of celebs had just walked in to the first row and thereabouts: Kenny G, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Meg Ryan, Rob Lowe, daughter-in-law Diane Lane (married to Josh Brolin), Elizabeth Perkins, her film son-in-law (Meet the Fockers) Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Fran Drescher, Seal and Heidi Klum, Bob Daly and Carole Bayer Sager, Brenda Vacarro, Sydney Pollack, Sidney Poitier, Mimi Rogers, ex hubby Elliott Gould, another ex Jon Peters, and current Jim Brolin, Cheech Marin, Quincy Jones, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Jeff Bridges and mom Dorothy, Leonardo di Caprio and his mom Irmalin, David Hyde Pierce, Shirley MacLaine, Bill Maher, Barry Manilow and Rosie O’Donell (who followed all of Barbra’s tour concerts this year).

Now the guy on the stage informed us, "Letting you know all the lights would go any minute now.." Bill Ross and his 55-piece orchestra started playing the Funny Girl Broadway Overture – a part I love best that brought me back to that scene when Barbra sang, "I’m the greatest star, I am by far but no one knows it." Well, Barbra, everyone knows it now.

Then it’s pitch black! Some light gradually revealed a familiar silhouette at the center of the stage singing Starting here, Starting now to a euphoric 20,000 audience that roared into a cacophonic approval. The Diva of Divas! Indeed no one like Barbra! The star seemingly was reborn again at age 64, gifted with vocal cords still purely resonant at any given crescendo. Half a dozen teleprompters showed facing her on the stage base and one teleprompter up center she could catch if she moved her head up. A proof of a goddess’ mortality even if she appeared celestial.

"Hello, Los Angeles!" Barbra spoke to an adoring cult who all clapped wildly, one mightily screamed, "I love you!" and Barbra retorted, "I love you, too."

"After 438 songs, and performing for 238,111 people, it’s great to be home!" she said, making each Los Angeleno proud because we know she was born in New York before getting adopted here in Hollywood. "Finally I can sleep in my own bed!" and enjoyed the 90º weather in November. "Went to Malibu to get some clams and stopped by at Il Pastaio and Sprinkles to get cupcakes."

Garbed in a Donna Karan gold trimmed jacket and sequined pantsuit with a slit that bared her legs, Barbra went on to dedicate this show to her late friend Evelyn Ostin. She smilingly looked at the front row, quipped "Hello, Q!" to Quincy Jones and "Hi Barry" to Manilow.

Act One took us to her glorious past and as she tinkered with the ivory keys to do Ma Premiere Chanson, drawing some repressed chuckles as she fished for her reading glasses and recalled, "I was 22 when I first composed this song." In all of her 48 years of music career, "I have written 10 songs, that sums about 2.38 per decade!"

Forgotten in her home frontier was the heckler in Madison Garden and the drunk who threw a drink in South Florida. The good-looking IL DIVO happened when Barbra started Evergreen, though her voice easily dominated the young hunks who later did Unchained Melody, Unbreak My Heart and My Way. Giving ample time for Babs to change her attire, not missing out to say "I love Domino’s pizza, thin crust, two for $10.99" on her gracious exit.

In a simple black pantsuit, she returned to play solo again. "The Music that makes me dance," she said was "the part in the play where I was waiting for Nick Arnstein," she detailed this song from the Broadway play of Funny Girl (which she topbilled with Sydney Chaplin, son of Charlie) was replaced by My Man in the film version. When Streisand did the two sentimental favorites, My Man and People, you’re completely amazed and loving her more, in awe of her voice that sounded like an edited cut of a primetime TV special.

The intermission for 20 minutes found me struggling in a crowd to buy all her mementos out in the lobby: a T-shirt for $35; a program for $30, a coffee mug for $20. Gosh, was I being a fanatic – but hey, I owe her, remember?

Act 2 included a medley of Funny Girl, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Yentl and The Prince of Tides. She came back with the youthful pop-operatic IL DIVO in Music of the Night in her black Donna Karan gold trim "What are you doing the rest of your life?" continued her passionate affair with listeners that wallowed in a romance they did not want to stop.

The part with Steve Bridges ("He is a Republican in real life," Barbra volunteered) impersonating George Bush appeared to have been edited to a more pleasant short skit. She proudly acknowledged from the second row no less than Nancy Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the house, second in the line of succession to Presidency and Senator Barbara Boxer. To Nancy, she dedicated Woman in the Moon.

In the Q and A portion, she answered a fan’s query about a possibility to do concerts in Europe. And when everyone’s so concerned worried this might be her swan song, Babs teased,"Oh, this is the last time... I will wear this dress!" This was met by cheers.

Her next number was lilting, Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair? Barbra knows she could stay as long as she wished. Followed by Somewhere, with IL Divo reappearing for the last time, their blend of voices did not clash and despite the four male voices, it was Streisand’s clear interpretation that rose insurmountable, the top notes inaccessible by the rest. Smoothly reaching the apogee of a long glorious climb,Barbra did the inimitable My Shining Hour. The crowd was now on its feet with David Hye Pierce, leading the celebs to give Barbra a rousing standing ovation. Barbra came back with her best number for the evening: Don’t Rain on My Parade. Tossing off her high heels, now on her bare feet, she moved and sang like it’s the grand ultimate contest of a lifetime with the imperative determination to win! She ran towards the stairs that led down to an exit but the devotees didn’t stop begging and clamoring for more! It was a beautiful noise, more of a harmony, the reverb waning temporarily as she rushed back to do encore 2.

"This 1929 song I cannot do without in my concerts.." "Happy Days are here again..." No one remained seated and no one complained if some heads obstructed their view of the Queen of them all. The thunderous acclaim rang until Barbra dished out the last line. What an iconic presence! Such impeccable royalty! She was jubilant, truly overjoyed and grateful not only to her devotees but because this ditty that rose to popularity after the Great Depression is again America’s favorite hit, the Democrats are back, and Barbra is one of the inspirational leaders. Barbra blew kisses, thanked everyone – focused on the least paying patrons holding binoculars, and did a universal goodbye that spoke of warmth, sincerity and love. As she retreated from the stage, she hugged Sam, her favorite dog, that met her halfway.

At 10:40 p.m., it’s a wrap: what a slam dunk, a terrific touchdown, a hole in one! A lot of limos started to come for the VIPs. As I crossed Figueroa to get to the 11th St. parking, I wondered if I would get lucky again with Barbra – I found myself singing and extremely joyous to be one of the luckiest people in the world!