FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 23

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:12pm

I believe this is a critical note. She's young, she's been preparing for at least 6-9 months, but finally putting a show on its feet is a moment like no other.

Streisand was 22 when FUNNY GIRL opened on Broadway in March 1964.  Beanie is 28.  

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:12pm

songanddanceman2 said: "That audio clip of Parade is fine, the reactions on here are so damn dramatic. 90 percent of people on here for some reason want this young woman to fail, it's bizarre.

Her voice is younger sounding, deal with it, she can't help sounding young, thats her damn voice.

Her breath control needs work a little from that clip, but first might nerves and adrenaline will have been a factor there.

We lost theatre for two years, give the girl a damn chance to settle in."

While I generally agree with what you're saying, let's give her a chance, the singing can improve. Not many were kind to Katrina Lenk's singing in Company in the beginning, she was basically raked over the coals on here in a SONDHEIM role, a role that doesn't come close to the stamina and power needed for Fanny Brice. For a role that requires such a strong singer, I think it's fair for people to expect a strong and powerful vocal performance, like someone else said, we aren't talking about Desiree in Night Music. 

Luckily, Katrina Lenk worked hard on improving her vocal performance, and now the singing is where it needs to be. I would hope the same for Beanie, but she's not as accomplished and trained of a singer as Lenk is. Time will tell. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:16pm

 

[DAME]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:19pm

songanddanceman2 said: "That audio clip of Parade is fine, the reactions on here are so damn dramatic. 90 percent of people on here for some reason want this young woman to fail, it's bizarre.

Her voice is younger sounding, deal with it, she can't help sounding young, thats her damn voice.

Her breath control needs work a little from that clip, but first might nerves and adrenaline will have been a factor there.

We lost theatre for two years, give the girl a damn chance to settle in."

 

Again.  I do not get the excuses.  This is broadway.  This is the olympics of theater.  No one should be defending themselves for being over critical,  having high expectations, or wanting the absolute best.   I am so glad theater is back.  But I am slo glad we can express ourselves. 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:21pm

A lot of excuses being made.  Her vocal problems here are not something that someone can "settle into."

Oof Parade fell so flat for me.  I honestly felt like the crowd was giving her a lot last night and it was compensating for a really weak voice on stage.

I really wanted an actress who could play Fanny Brice and not play Barbara as Fanny Brice, that being said I do love how Barbara was able to differentiate between Fanny Brice the performer and Fanny Brice the person.  And she was able to do that with her voice.  I would've liked an actress that could've done something similar.  I kind of felt that Beanie sang the whole role as Fanny Brice the comedienne.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:21pm

I just listened to the clip and WHAT?!?! This is what people are so upset about?!?!? She sounds fine. I'm not gonna pretend it's the best thing I've ever heard. I do think there's some work to be done, but it's not the unmitigated disaster that it's been made out to be. 

As Jordan suggested though, I'm not going to judge the whole show off of that clip. In the Sitzprobe clips, she sounded much better to me in Parade than the other bits and it is still very possible that performing this role 8 times a week (or 7 for the time being) is too much for her. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:24pm

I am not sure why anyone has to defend themselves for having high expectations. They even have signage in the front saying "It is the most anticipated musical" .. or something like that. 

That's really not what I'm talking about. Her fans refuse to criticize her in any way because they think that would be "mean". People excited about this revival can still enjoy everything else. But, when you take the word of a reviewer whose last five reviews are "oh my God it was WONDERFUL", that's more of just a general happiness that Broadway is back. Not a real review of the specific show. The real reviews have spoken and they are all saying very similar things about the leading lady. 

 

 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:25pm

DAME said: "songanddanceman2 said: "That audio clip of Parade is fine, the reactions on here are so damn dramatic. 90 percent of people on here for some reason want this young woman to fail, it's bizarre.

Her voice is younger sounding, deal with it, she can't help sounding young, thats her damn voice.

Her breath control needs work a little from that clip, but first might nerves and adrenaline will have been a factor there.

We lost theatre for two years, give the girl a damn chance to settle in."



Again. I do not get the excuses. This is broadway. This is the olympics of theater. No one should be defending themselves for being over critical, having high expectations, or wanting the absolute best. I am so glad theater is back. But I am slo glad we can express ourselves."

It's her first damn performance. 

[Miserent]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:26pm

Can someone direct me towards this audio clip you all speak of?  My internet sleuthing skills must be dwindling.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:28pm

Oof Parade fell so flat for me. I honestly felt like the crowd was giving her a lot last night and it was compensating for a really weak voice on stage.

Yeah, first previews are full of friends and people super excited to see the thing first. Let's see a review on a random Thursday in August. 

[Tag]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:29pm

dshnookie said: "Tag said: "eeeeeesh just listened to her Parade, and..."

Speaking of which - and I’m sure it’s been discussed on this board in the past - but WHY do people insist on clapping mid-note and drowning out the performer? What a bunch of very untrained seals."

I blame the sound editors and producers of shows like The Voice, America's Got Talent, etc. who have promoted and normalized it.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:37pm

I'm not defending this casting, this actor, or the performance I have not seen. Yeah, Streisand was 22. But Streisand got to go out of town for weeks, to open in a 4-hour version of the show, and find her way as the piece was whittled around her, per Jerome Robbin's instructions. Yes, it was a remarkable moment, probably like no other. And this -- with footage of sitzprobes, curtain calls and speeches is very 2022. I am not sure the decision to open this iteration cold on B'way was wise (summer somewhere far away and a fall opening would make sense). When announced, I said it was not fair to the new version of the show or this young actor, and was shouted down: "She's experienced! She'll be great!"  Shaping a leading performance in a show with this reputation in front of NY audiences is no easy task. This board is proof.   

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:39pm

It's her first damn performance

So, that justifies her voice sounding poor? Weird. I was at the first preview of If/Then and even though the show was garbage, Idina managed to sing the hell out of it the entire show. Dame is right, Broadway is the Olympics of theater. 

[DAME]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:39pm

Sutton Ross said: "I am not sure why anyone has to defend themselves for having high expectations. They even have signage in the front saying "It is the most anticipated musical" .. or something like that.

That's really not what I'm talking about. Her fans refuse to criticize her in any way because they think that would be "mean". People excited about this revival can still enjoy everything else. But, when you take the word of a reviewer whose last five reviews are "oh my God it was WONDERFUL", that's more of just a general happiness that Broadway is back. Not a real review of the specific show. The real reviews have spoken and they are all saying very similar things about the leading lady.



"

I think we agree.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:42pm

Sutton Ross said: "It's her first damn performance

So, that justifies her voice sounding poor? Weird. I was at the first preview of If/Then and even though the show was garbage, Idina managed to sing the hell out of it the entire show. Dame is right, Broadway is the Olympics of theater."

Did you see the show last night? 

[DAME]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:48pm

songanddanceman2 said: "Sutton Ross said: "It's her first damn performance

So, that justifies her voice sounding poor? Weird. I was at the first preview of If/Then and even though the show was garbage, Idina managed to sing the hell out of it the entire show. Dame is right, Broadway is the Olympics of theater."

Did you see the show last night?"

Most people di not see the show last night.  That is a given.  But we are able to comment on what we have seen and what is being put out there.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:48pm

Very good point.  Streisand and FUNNY GIRL had an extensive multi-city tryout before it arrived to start previews at the Winter Garden on Broadway.  The first Broadway preview performance had over a month of extensive work done to it (reviews were not positive out-of-town but Streisand was raved upon), so Streisand and company had more than had a grasp on their characters by the time they did that first Broadway preview performance.  Lots of songs and scenes had been tried out and cut, so there was tons of work done out-of-town.  Last night was the revival’s very first public/out-of-town tryout/first Broadway preview performance all at once.  They are off today so lots of work is taking place today.  I’m sure the performance I’m seeing tomorrow: Monday March 28, will most definitely be a different performance from what was seen last night.  

[pmensky]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:53pm

I’ve seen dozens of early previews over the years, and I can’t recall ever being concerned about a lead being able to sing their role or needing to “settle in” as people put it. Am I just lucky?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 12:56pm

Most people did not see the show last night. That is a given. But we are able to comment on what we have seen and what is being put out there.

Thanks, Dame. And yes, we do agree and the majority of the real reviews are all similar. This casting was more about who she knew and anyone who thinks otherwise is missing something, in my opinion. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:00pm

pmensky said: "I’ve seen dozens of early previews over the years, and I can’t recall ever being concerned about a lead being able to sing their role or needing to “settle in” as people put it. Am I just lucky?"

No, it's Broadway. The most talented people in the world are there. Expecting greatness and gorgeous voices are perfectly normal. The justifications for a lead having poor vocals is really sad and very strange. 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:01pm

pmensky said: "I’ve seen dozens of early previews over the years, and I can’t recall ever being concerned about a lead being able to sing their role or needing to “settle in” as people put it. Am I just lucky?"

Apparently, anyone purchasing a future ticket for this production does so with the expectation/hope that the star will have "settled in" by then.  Better odds might be had by playing the slots in Vegas.

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:13pm

Specific questions, add SPOILERS if necessary:

How was "Music That Makes Me Dance"?  Was it still a Follies torch spot? Fanny alone on the Follies stage? Was she in "My Man" trappings, a simple black dress or the idea? 

Did the final reprise of "Parade" at her dressing table have the requisite dramatic impact? The film ends with a diegetic performance, Fanny singing to an audience.  This is a ruminative declaration of getting over the failure of her marriage. How does it work today as a satisfying resolution?

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:26pm

jkcohen626 said: "I just listened to the clip and WHAT?!?! This is what people are so upset about?!?!? She sounds fine. I'm not gonna pretend it's the best thing I've ever heard. I do think there's some work to be done, but it's not the unmitigated disaster that it's been made out to be.

As Jordan suggested though, I'm not going to judge the whole show off of that clip. In the Sitzprobe clips, she sounded much better to me in Parade than the other bits and it is still very possible that performing this role 8 times a week (or 7 for the time being) is too much for her."

 

Where's the clip of Parade that everyone is referencing???

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:41pm

This threads feels like Company and Lenk deja vu on some levels.

[musicalmermaid]

Posted: 3/27/22 at 1:45pm

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