FUNNY GIRL - cinemas

Surprised there hasn't been a thread about this yet

Got the chance to see FUNNY GIRL in a Cinema last night. Throughly impressed with the production. Truth be told, I had never seen the show on a stage and its been forever since I saw the film

I found Sheridan engaging. She really grew on me. Sure some of the accents were all over the map but it was highly entertaining with great music and a wonderful show biz story. Production design and direction were great. My one quibble would be that when the stage wasn't fully lit - the screen looked grainy and not super sharp which I would imagine was part of the challenge of filming on HD

Certainly can see how this was such a hit at that wonderful tiny Menier Chocolate Factory - that must have been magical.

I have no idea if they are doing this again but I would def go see another live broadcast (seems like the NT Live ones have slowed down considerably)

I loved Sheridan in the production when I saw it in 2016. I look forward to seeing it again in the broadcast. The only real complaint I had about the production was including Temporary Arrangement. The number really doesn't add anything and it was only weakened by the staging and choreography. I was surprised they decided to keep it.

It didn't seem to be showing very widely Only offered at one theater in the DC area. Hopefully it will come around again or to BroadwayHD / Netflix / PBS before too long.

Wildcard said: "Where did you watch it at, Vernon? I saw it in Glendale, CA and the theater had a decent amount of people in it. I thought Sheridan was great. I have never seen the movie but after seeing Sheridan, I couldn't imagine Barbra in the role (though I'm sure she was fantastic in it). Sheridan made me think of Melissa McCarthy while someone in the audience blurted out that the mom was Harvey Fierstein in drag."

You've never seen the movie yet you can't imagine Barbra Streisand, the person who made the show and film the hit it was, in the role. I just scratch my head. It's not hard to see the movie, you know. They have this thing called DVD and Blu-ray.

Barbra is a hard act to follow- can anyone but her really do it justice?

To BK, iPic is a chain of movie theatres that have luxury seats where they serve food to you during the movie.

I had plans to see the presentation at my local iPic (I think one of four or five cinemas that were showing it my area in Seattle), but after watching a few clips of it that they put up on Facebook, I decided not to go. The accents bothered me a bit (and I'm usually pretty lenient), and (not to pass judgement on Ms. Smith personally), they seemed to make her look too dumpy with the clothing and wig choices. And working in the medical field, looking at her face I wonder if shes been using too much prednisone, as her face looks different than in the promo pictures for "Funny Girl" (and from her "Legally Blonde" days) (again not passing judgement on her, just noting that she looks different to me from what I have seen of her prior to seeing the clips).



I also saw that 2014 Village Theatre production, and I liked Sarah Rose Davis' take on Fanny, but this does seem like a show that entirely hinges on the actress' performance.

Skip23 said: "The clips looked horrific. How could she be any good? "



Midler sounded terrible on the Hello Dolly recording! How could she be any good?

Because it’s theatre darling, the very essence of live performance, stage presence.

Why do people think there’s only one way to play a role? It’s so reductive.

Would Annleigh Ashford be any good?

IloveNYC2 said: "Would Annleigh Ashford be any good?

"

Good is not the issue. Lauren Ambrose was announced as Fanny for the revival that didn't happen several years ago. Ambrose in Funny Girl Cancelled I recall concern that Ambrose wouldn't sell tickets.

I've seen the Lillias White clip from the 2002 Actors Equity Concert but no others: How many Fanny Brices do you need?

Then there's this future Tony Winner as Fanny Brice in High School: "Who Are You Now?"