FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 37

Auggie27 said: ""I actually happen to have an understudy slip from the summer you're referring to. Terri Klausner did evenings and Nancy Opel did the matinees that week."

Phew. Thanks, Fire and Music. Memory is dangerous. And this is seemingly off topic, for a one joke quip, but ultimately may prove relevant. The LuPone memoir details not dissimilar experiences on the road, when she blew out her voice multiple times -- including at the sitzprobe -- and Klausner went on, even with critics attending. The cast posted Klausner reviews right in the building. We know the ending in that case; LuPone triumphed, and her career trajectory turned her into a B'way legend. But LuPone's blistering honesty about what it's like to work on a role with another singing actor waiting in the wings is quite a context. Had Evita opened in LA and SF in the days of social media, what would the impact have been, with another performance available for comparison to LuPone's (Note, fans: I'm in no way comparing the iconic LuPone Eva to Feldstein's Fanny. I saw the first NYC performance, 9/10/79 -- day I signed a lease on my first apartment here -- and can state Patti was superb, vocally and otherwise; it's only the circumstances that are worth noting).

Since Funny Girl will lose Feldstein next month for a handful of performances, comparisons will be made, and fairly early in this show's new history.
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I've noticed this more post-COVID than ever. It isn't always the COVID absences, but feels especially icky when it is and they have to be away for an extended leave. Curiosity is one thing, and cheering on an understudy is another, but when it becomes a game of The Understudy is Better it just feels so inappropriate.

BrodyFosse123 said: "See what I mean? The mainstream masses are enjoying Beanie and this revival. Baffling they truly can’t see the hiccups.

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They can't even spell FANNY correctly! Gurl bye!

"WE" are not the masses. And that's fine. If it's working for people then maybe the cast will get to keep their jobs for a good while.

Those of us here do have a tendency to be hyper critical - and I don't mean that in a bad way.

BrodyFosse123 said: "The way the audiences are responding after Beanie’s songs, you’d think Streisand was performing. The analyzing chatter/talk is with the savvy Broadway bunch. The mainstream masses are LOVING every single moment. Oddly, they even are cheering when Beanie is painfully reaching the final sections of “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” Their excitement is completely clouding their little heads. Even on social media, you’d think Jennifer Hudson had played Fanny at their performance. No one is walking out, not a single cell phone went off and not even random coughers. They were engulfed in the show. Creepy, but true."

Oh you f'ing people, I swear.

Why, why, WHY would that be "creepy"???

The "mainstream masses" are the people they are doing the show for! Not for or the elitists who supposedly know Beanie is doing it "wrong"-- not for the people posting here on Broadway World. Especially not for the people posting here on Broadway world!

This is a hard role. To absolutely kill, one has to be a clown, a serious dramatic actress, and I great singer--all-in-one! From her work in Dolly, and what I've seen of her film and TV work, Beanie seems quite capable of the first two. Making people laugh and then turning around and making them cry is what the audience responds to (and seemingly why audiences are cheering for Beanie). Great singing isn't necessary. (Now, If one can do all three in the role, then you become a legend!) But what you need for Fanny most is the clown part. And she is obviously quite capable, as was Sheridan Smith.

Bettyboy72 said: "RippedMan said: "i did a deep dive tonight on the show. I read all the glowing reviews of the Sheridan Smith / Mayer directed West End show. And then watched it on YouTube. Not sure I get the hype. She's fine, but - and maybe it's lost in a West End thing and maybe that's why they didn't feel the need to bring her over - I didn't get the hype. But then I stumbled across Ms. Stephanie j. Block doing the show in 2001 and THIS (!!!) is what I expect from a Fanny. Sorry not sorry. She's perfection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcLURceSkbs



This seems to be the same year as Kritzer! How fun. I KNOW the talent is out there. So why did we get this?"

I saw SJB in concert with Seth. She said she thought she had the last proposed revival in the bag. Then it was announced Lauren Ambrose was attached after she had pretty much been told it was a done deal. She was really upset about how she was treated. She was not upset when the financing went belly up."

SJB sang Don't Rain on My Parade a few weeks ago at the Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Broadway concert and she dazzled the audience. Talk about a tease.

QueenAlice said: "I have sat next to audience members who hoot and holler and 'woo-hoo' after each song, only to rip every element to shreds as they walk out of the theatre. Audiences today are largely in it for themselves and their exaggerated experience rather than their authentic enthusiasm for anything on stage."

I was at a nice, not great, ballet performance last night and it seemed that every time the ballerina got on point or the male dancer jumped there was thunderous whooping and hollering and applause. Yep, audiences seem to feel like they too have to perform and have been trained to over-react to everything by years of watching AI and SYTYCD. My question is, do performers who receive this extreme form of adulation flattered/grateful or do they realize it's way over the top?

Would producers risk so much money by going with an average talent? It sounds like audiences are loving her. I think they should have had an audition process, but whatever...

I saw Barbra Streisand in it in 1964, I still have that Playbill! I was not blown away. I remember thinking: where's the spark? I was however blown away by her TV special: My Name Is Barbra.

I will tell you this: the best show I ever saw in my entire life was Hello Dolly, in 1964?, with Carol Channing. it was exhilarating. There were others who did it and were fantastic: Pearl Bailey, Bette Midler...

So let's see how Beanie does... She may surprise everyone and win a Tony. I guarantee she is nominated.

eta: Most audience members do not analyze a "vocal instrument." They sit and enjoy the excitement of the show.

YettaTelebenda2 said: "Would producers risk so much money by going with an average talent?It sounds like audiences are loving her. I think they should have had an audition process, but whatever...

I saw Barbra Streisand in it in 1964, I still have that Playbill! I was not blown away. I remember thinking: where's the spark? I was however blown away by her TV special: My Name Is Barbra.

I will tell you this: the best show I ever saw in my entire life was Hello Dolly, in 1964?, with Carol Channing. it was exhilarating. There were others who did it and were fantastic: Pearl Bailey, Bette Midler...

So let's see how Beanie does... She may surprise everyone and win a Tony. I guarantee she is nominated.

eta: Most audience members do not analyze a "vocal instrument." They sit and enjoy the excitement of the show."

Streisand HATED being on Broadway. After opening night, she was bored. She fiddled with her performance all the time, and it's been said that unless one saw her opening or closing night, one likely as not saw a sub-par Barbra.

Mimi Hines also did the 3 different versions of the show. No matter, they were both superb vocalists.

BrodyFosse123 said: "Also, Streisand had 3 different versions of the show she’d perform: Version A (full show) — Version B (2nd verses cut from songs), and Version C (shorter scenes) were generally done at matinees. The half-hour backstage announcement would state which version so the cast knew which one they were about to perform. The late Bob Avian was a swing in the dance ensemble and confirmed all this."

So basically matinee audiences at that time got gipped and got to see an abridged show and not the full show they paid for because the poor, poor star was bored?. How very, very deceitful, selfish and unprofessional.

If that was attempted today, I’d guess more than half the people here would scream how it’s their right to do it that way and how dare we assault them for doing what they feel they’re able to do and all that jazz you hear as excuses.