FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 29

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:17am

CarlosAlberto said: "BrodyFosse123 said:

FUNNY GIRL the name is selling tickets - not Beanie’s or anyone else’s name above the title. Fans of the legendary 1968 film are why folks are excited about this revival and what is prompting folks to buy tickets. Everyone I know could care less about Beanie.



Well, those “folks” you speak of are in for a huge disappointment…from what I’ve read the Broadway stage version (or any stage version for that matter) of FUNNY GIRL and its 1968 film incarnation are vastly different.

I do hope they’ll understand that there will be no “Roller Skate Rag”, no “Second Hand Rose”, no “I’d Rather Be Blue”, no “Swan” number, no “My Man” and no damn tugboat!"

I’ve seen both the stage show (not this revival) and the film and while there are different scenes as you describe, the two are not “vastly different.”

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:30am

Synecdoche2 said: "Saw this tonight.

All I will say is somebody, somewhere, at some point in this process should have pulled the plug."

Was Jane really that bad? 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:41am

All I will say is somebody, somewhere, at some point in this process should have pulled the plug."

Dag.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 8:51am

Heard eerily similar remark from friend who texted, sans elaboration.

Confused why this wasn't workshopped, and then done in a stock house for the summer as a test run. At least to give everyone stage legs. This all or nothing, exposing the work in NY, feels odd.  And unfair to the company and leading lady.  

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 9:07am

She can't pull it off and it isn't just her singing. It's a community theater performance - and not "undiscovered superstar" community theater performance. If I saw this at a random community theater I might have left at intermission because of Beanie's singing.

 

​​​​​​Boy, they must love you at the local community center auditorium.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 10:55am

So, as many know, I saw the show last night (Monday March 28 - their 2nd preview).  Having heard an audio of the very first audience performance/preview, I can say it wasn't the same performance, which as expected, means this revival WILL get better in the following weeks.  The cast first-and-foremost, are fantastic actors so the book scenes land as do the jokes.  Jane Lynch will be getting a Tony Award for this.  She isn't spared and the Act 2 revisions are a gift for her.  A toss-away song for me: "Who Taught Her Everything She Knows" is a standout now thanks to her and Jared Grimes.  Jared's tap moments are  presented vaudevillian style so he plays with the audience, which adds that theatrical magic.  Don't know what notes Beanie was given on Sunday (their first day off), but her comic "Cornet Man" worked and I lost my s** with her "His Love Makes Me Beautiful."  She completely made it her own and her playful asides with the front row at the end of the number (she sitting on stage in front of the curtain) shows what FUNNY GIRL will become in the coming weeks.  Holy, sh** - she was hilarious.  

Now for the physical production.  Yes, the curtain is indeed painted but it IS (as I assumed) a scrim and is how Beanie's entrance is revealed.  The set design feels a bit claustrophic and narrow, but its the show's visual DNA and I loved it.  The 2 staircases on each side are used effectively - stage entrances, establishing terraces, etc. so those of you sitting in the rear orchestra underneath the mezzanine overhang will miss a few minutes of things when actors are at the top.  The "Henry Street" number was gorgeously done visually - Chinese lamps, huge hung hand-written banner, people leaning over the staircase like fire escapes, etc .  There is a turntable center stage so set pieces come in that way and there is full brick wall when center stage is "closed", so it creates a perfect background.  The Long Island mansion and its floor to ceiling window was effectively done with the view outside of the window establishing the change of seasons.  Also, Beanie's Act 2 stage entrance I will NOT spoil.  The orchestra, which sounds GLORIOUS, is under the stage, hence that circular opening for the conductor.  They use the original 1964 Broadway orchestrations for the Overture - the rest is new orchestrations by Chris Walker.  Still done like a traditional Broadway musical and nothing contemporary.  

Now, many on here have read my assessment of Beanie's voice and that head voice she has to use to sing the score.  No bueno.  This needs to be fixed as there is NO way around it and it is not a great sound on her.  When she's singing her comic numbers, she's fine as she's doing a character voice (even "Cornet Man" works), but when she's singing those classic songs like "People", ouch.  Painful.  She DOES have a strong voice so her last notes are good but the keys are not in her comfort zone and this needs to be fixed.  Audiences right now are being forgiving but they need to fix this.  Everyone else is fantastic vocally, so nothing to nick-pick.  Jane Lynch included.  

Thrilled "Temporary Arrangement" has been included and Ramin Karimloo kills it.  Does it become a dance number?  You bet'cha, and boy is it fabulous.  I LOVED IT!  He's so great as Nick Arnstein that this dancing addition just adds to how great he is.  He creates his own Nick Arnstein and doesn't play it like Omar Sharif's or as we normally would expect.  Yes, Beanie taps with the dancers in "Rat-Tat-Tat", and it was a nice unexpected addition. Also, there is a visually beautiful FOLLIES moment towards the end where we see the "ghosts" of Fanny's past with the staircases, landings, turntable all in full effect.   

For those of you who are planning on seeing this revival in the next few weeks or months, you are definitely in for a treat.  Beanie carries the show so she'll definitely get better once she gets more performances under her belt.  If she's holding her own right now with only 2 performances, no need to question she's not getting better.  I'll definitely be back in a few months as I know that performance will be a completely different performance from the one I saw last night.  Come on creative team, you guys need to reconfigure the score FOR Beanie.  She CAN sing it, just not in these keys.  Her "Music That Makes Me Dance" was torture seeing her TRYING to make it sound good.  Oh, and please cut those trance-like spins she does during the music interlude portion of the song.  No bueno.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:10am

That's a great report, Brody, but I guess my mind just keeps coming back to what others are saying here - why are we giving a pass - on Broadway - for a performer who is not up to the vocal demands of the role?  Is the show really strong enough in other ways to excuse that seemingly important aspect? Do you truly feel changing the keys will solve the issue? I ask that with no sarcasm. I just don't know how what appears to be a lack of true musicality and vocal expertise can ever successfully merge with a role that was written for one of the greatest singers of the last 50 years.  And why should we be okay with compromising the demands of a leading role in a Broadway production?

I also am baffled why this didn't do a pre Broadway engagement somewhere. Why did the producers subject this poor girl ,who has never carried a musical production before anywhere, to working her way into a role of this complexity cold in front of a New York audience.  Why? Why? Why?

[bwayplays]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:19am

I agree - great report Brody! 

While I am not a huge Beanie fan, I do wish her success with this role. And I wish the show does well too. We're only a few shows in so I hope, with time, the show makes the necessary changes for a healthy run. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:22am

This most definitely should have done a mini multi-city tryout prior to Broadway.  Why on hell they decided to open cold on Broadway is absolutely an idiotic idea.  Between first and second preview, Beanie has indeed gotten better so its obvious she needs to find her footing.  Had they done this, we can only wonder what kinda revival buzz this would have had.  The rest of the cast is already solid and they will only get better like Beanie has shown.  Beanie CAN sing the score.  You can hear it.  She's more than capable singing it IN the keys that fit her voice.  Her acting of the books scenes she fully merits the above the tile billing as she does have that 'star' vibe needed.  She can act.  She can command the stage.  She knows how to play to the audience.  Adjust the keys to fit in her voice range, and you got a fully rounded performance.  Who do I call to get my notes to?    

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:30am

I’m trying to think of other cases where they’ve gone in and completely changed the keys after performances have started. They did it for Marin in N2N after she began, didn’t they?

 

And I’m glad you had a great time, Brody. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:35am

She CAN sing it, just not in these keys

What a relief! It's like saying Jared can dance but NOT tap dance. What a hilarious review. Glad it was visually stunning. 

I look forward to more reports that don't try to justify a person who can't sing a score in a huge show in the best theater district in the country, though. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:42am

QueenAlice said: "That's a great report, Brody, but I guess my mind just keeps coming back to what others are saying here - why are we giving a pass - on Broadway - for a performer who is not up to the vocal demands of the role? Is the show really strong enough in other ways to excuse that seemingly important aspect? Do you truly feel changing the keys will solve the issue? I ask that with no sarcasm. I just don't know how what appears to be a lack of true musicality and vocal expertise can ever successfully merge with a role that was written for one of the greatest singers of the last 50 years. And why should we be okay with compromising the demands of a leading role in a Broadway production?

I also am baffled why this didn't do a pre Broadway engagement somewhere. Why did the producers subject this poor girl ,who has never carried a musical production before anywhere, to working her way into a role of this complexity cold in front of a New York audience. Why? Why? Why?"

Because if they'd done that, it likely would never have made it to Broadway. And they REALLY wanted to be the first revival, and in time for the show's anniversary. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:46am

No one’s arguing if she can sing. It’s just not singing most of us like. Who wants a character voice for the whole show?! Oof. 
 

and I can’t think of any times they’ve changed the keys. They’ve had weeks of rehearsal and I’m sure beanie has been working on the songs for months now… so this is just what we are gonna get… 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:53am

Sidebar: these posts that mention hearing "audios."  I didn't know such recordings could be discussed here. Many have had posts removed for referencing bootlegs or the equivalent. It's unclear how a legal audio of this production is available. I'm not criticizing the posts, just unclear if there's a distinction or new regulations. 

[CCB5]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:07pm

My wife is a big Ramin fan... we've seen him in four shows, five if you include the virtual one from Japan last year.  We've taken a couple trips to the city just to see him... so is this show worth it?  We decided to skip Anastasia after buying the cast album, not enough Ramin.  I'd be very interested to hear about Julie Benko who is standby Fanny Brice on Sun/matinees, what's her first night, is she better than Beanie, as long as Ramin isn't off as well.  Anyone know a place to check which nights who is on?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:13pm

and I can’t think of any times they’ve changed the keys. 

They shouldn't have to, in my opinion. 

[unclevictor]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:21pm

I saw it and all I can say is…
Eeeeeeek!!! 
Oh Beanie, dear… Oh…. Beanie….bless your heart… girl can’t sing. Plain and simple. Good thing she’s cast as the lead. Makes total sense! 
Shame on the producers and Michael Mayer for agreeing to cast her. What a slap in the face for all the truly talented actresses that have studied voice, taken voice lessons, and dedicated their lives to their craft and dreamt of one day being on Broadway. 

 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:21pm

Sutton Ross said: "and I can’t think of any times they’ve changed the keys.

They shouldn't have to, in my opinion."

I’d agree with you there! But you think you’d want to set your cast up for success. Unless they’re all just drinking the same Kool Aid and can’t see that her vocals aren’t working. 

[Phillytheatreguy10]

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

Great review Brody, however I find it hard to believe Lynch will take the featured Tony from Patti. 

[unclevictor]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:33pm

I saw it and all I can say is…

Eeeeeeek!!!

Oh Beanie, dear… Oh…. Beanie….bless your heart… girl can’t sing. Plain and simple. Good thing she’s cast as the lead. Makes total sense!

Shame on the producers and Michael Mayer for agreeing to cast her. What a slap in the face for all the truly talented actresses that have studied voice, taken voice lessons, and dedicated their lives to their craft and dreamt of one day being on Broadway

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 12:56pm

Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Great review Brody, however I find it hard to believe Lynch will take the featured Tony from Patti."

Agreed. Patti is giving one of the best and most lauded performances of her career. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:03pm

ljay889 said: "Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Great review Brody, however I find it hard to believe Lynch will take the featured Tony from Patti."

Agreed. Patti is giving one of the best and most lauded performances of her career."

Whoopsie.  Forgot about LuPone this season.  Correction: Jane Lynch WILL get a nomination.  100%.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:22pm

A question -- purely academic, not suggesting or advocating or even insinuating this could happen  -- has there ever been a case of a major above the title star being replaced in previews prior to opening of a major Broadway musical or revival?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:31pm

Christian Hoff Pal Joey. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 1:40pm

I had forgotten about Christian Hoff / PAL JOEY. Was that a case of injury or something else?