The Greatest Star? She’s certainly one of them. With a trailblazing career spanning six decades across stage and screen, Barbra Streisand is a living legend – singer, actor, songwriter, director, producer and one of the world’s most revered divas.

Keen to present a show about her, Hayes Theatre Co Artistic Directors Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer approached Brittanie Shipway, who agreed to come on board as director and one of four performers.

Laura Murphy, Stellar Perry and Brittanie Shipway in Barbra The Greatest Star. Photo © John McRae

Barbra The Greatest Star is a concert rather than a bio-drama. It doesn’t pay tribute to Streisand’s life and career as much as celebrate her music.

With a luminous, instantly recognisable voice, and a gift for musical storytelling, Streisand has produced a remarkable songbook from which Shipway and Musical Director Nicholas Gentile have selected a well-chosen program.

Shipway is joined by three other singers – Tana Laga’aia, Laura Murphy and Stellar Perry. Accompanied by a four-piece band, led by Gentile, they don’t attempt to imitate Streisand, but bring their own personality and musical style to the numbers.

The production, which is designed by Brendan de la Hay, looks gorgeous. The lavish, extravagant set features mauve drapes, a profusion of floral arrangements and three huge photographs of Streisand on the back wall, framed by archways, with the four-piece band on stage.

The costumes range from black outfits with sparkly jewellery to brightly coloured frocks and jackets with feather boas thrown in, while Peter Rubie’s luscious lighting is stunning.

All the performers are impressive vocalists. Perry brings a rock star dynamism, Shipway and Murphy perform with musical theatre energy, while Laga’aia offers softer, bluesy vocals. When they combine forces in group numbers, their voices harmonise well.

Highlights include a gorgeous rendition of You Don’t Bring Me Flowers by Shipway and Gentile; Laga’aia accompanying himself on piano for The Way We Were; Murphy, Perry and Shipway singing Don’t Rain On My Parade; and all four performing Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again – the famous duet Streisand sang with Judy Garland on The Judy Garland Show in 1963.

The patter between songs, which includes how they became aware of Streisand, could be honed at times (especially a section about working in independent theatre), though the dash of cheeky humour, from Murphy in particular, adds a fun touch.

Running 75 minutes, Barbra The Greatest Star offers Babs’ fans the chance to indulge in the music she’s made famous. As the show concludes with No More Tears (Enough is Enough), it is clear that is more than enough for most of the audience.

Barbra The Greatest Star plays at the Hayes Theatre Co, Potts Point, Sydney until 21 February and at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, 26–28 February.