FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 43

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:14am

The number is effective in the show, because the show was all about showcasing the talents, and especially the vocal talents of the original performer for whom every decision ultimately was tailored. That's the reputation this show has. 

Of course, JoeVitus, you are bringing up the main issue involved in this revival which is "Why" revive something that isn't a very good property to begin with if you don't have a talent at the middle of it to justify all the original decisions that went into the show's creation.  It would be sort of like deciding to do a revival of "New Girl in Town" but not really casting a dancer in the Gwen Verdon role and then trying to make the show work independent of that.  What is the ultimate point?

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 3:51pm

QueenAlice said: "The number is effective in the show, because the show was all about showcasing the talents, and especially the vocal talents of the original performer for whom every decision ultimately was tailored. That's the reputation this show has.

Of course, JoeVitus, you are bringing up the main issue involved in this revival which is "Why" revive something that isn't a very good property to begin with if you don't have a talent at the middle of it to justify all the original decisions that went into the show's creation. It would be sort of like deciding to do a revival of "New Girl in Town" but not really casting a dancer in the Gwen Verdon role and then trying to make the show work independent of that. What is the ultimate point?"

Pretty much, yes.

Plus, while I appreciate the comments of anyone who has attended previews, negative or positive, I'm getting sick of people who haven't seen this production, and maybe have never seen the show onstage anywhere, go on and on about how miscast and awful Beanie is and how this ruins "wonderful" Funny Girl. Those of us who haven't actually seen the performance (and don't even have a cast recording to go by) have probably voiced our complaints as much as we need to or are capable of, and maybe need to stop hogging the space for comments here, pushing our narrative in the face of some pretty strong reviews overall.

Updated On: 4/5/22 at 03:51 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 3:52pm

Thanks to the members on this board who have shared links and photos to past productions of FUNNY GIRL, including from the show's original Broadway run. It's all very interesting. Although I do love some of the show's score, the show as a whole is not in my personal top 10. However, it has one of my favorite overtures ever written for a Broadway musical. 

For the past couple of days I've been doing a deep dive on Fanny Brice. her life and her relationship with Nick Arnstein. Boy, did they take liberties with her story a lot of her story and her relationship with Nick was really glossed over - but then again when the producer is married to the subject's daughter he's not going to risk marital bliss for the sake of reality. 

I watched the film last night and was quite surprised that I made it through the whole thing without getting impatient. I often find the second half tough to sit through, but this time I was actually invested in Fanny's relationship with Nick and how his shady dealings led to their whole relationship unravelling. 

I just got through watching its sequel "Funny Lady" this afternoon - which although not on par with "Funny Girl" has its moments. As I mentioned before I do realize a lot of the reality was glossed over, but was the real "Fanny Brice" as glamorous as Barbra Streisand portrays her in these films or was that just another case of dramatic license?

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:30pm

CarlosAlberto said: " I just got through watching its sequel "Funny Lady" this afternoon - which although not on par with "Funny Girl" has its moments. As I mentioned before I do realize a lot of the reality was glossed over, but was the real "Fanny Brice" as glamorous as Barbra Streisand portrays her in these films or was that just another case of dramatic license?

"

I think that depends on what you mean by glamour. By all accounts Fanny loved the finer things in life. However Barbra brings a certain sensuality to the role that likely wasn't present in Fanny. The truth of it is, part of the reason Barbra was pushed so hard to get a nose job is because without her extremely ethnic nose she'd be quite a  traditional sex symbol. Even with her nose job that was never Fanny. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:46pm

Of note, young Streisand had no idea who Fanny Brice was prior to being cast in FUNNY GIRL.  She was aware of the name as many critics compared her to Brice in their reviews of her night club appearances.  Harold Arlen’s back cover liner notes on her first album (1963’s THE BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM), he compares Streisand to Brice.

Streisand also adamantly stated in interviews at the time that FUNNY GIRL was loosely based on the life of Fanny Brice, and that it wasn’t a documentary.  Liberties were taken in the storytelling.  She also mentioned she didn’t listen to any of Brice’s recordings or watched any of her films and said she was approaching the role as a character.  She didn’t want to imitate her, etc.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:48pm

Reportedly, Brice had a definite glamour about her. Brice's daughter, Frances was married to FUNNY GIRL Producer, Ray Stark and was initially aghast at the idea of a young Barbra Streisand playing her mother, because young Streisand with her thrift store clothing and meeskite demeanor seemed like a "kook."  Isobel Lennart, who scripted the book to the musical FUNNY GIRL wrote about Streisand's transformation from the time she was cast, as a homely Brooklyn girl, to the time she opened on Broadway, arriving as she put it, unexpectedly as one of the 'great beautifies of all time.'

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:52pm

Here’s the real Fanny Brice.  Her comedy encompassed this Yiddish humor and character voice.  Streisand does have a resemblance to her, which merited those early 60s critics comparing her to Brice.  Streisand did emulate this Brice in the 1975 film sequel FUNNY LADY.  She obviously became quite familiar with Brice’s work post-FUNNY GIRL.

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 5:27pm

Thanks so much for the responses and the linked video of Brice. I kind of figured Streisand portrayed her much sexier than she was in reality - especially in "Funny Lady" when she comes out in that drop dead gorgeous beaded Bob Mackie/Ray Aghayan creation that had a plunging neck and backline for the "How Lucky Can You Get Number".  

I hadn't seen "Funny Lady" in such a long time - that I completely forgot about this number. She was absolutely stunning in that number!

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 6:00pm

It’s interesting because a big reason why Funny Girl was very different from reality was because they were worried Nick Arnstein, who was still alive when the show premiered, would sue. He’s definitely portrayed pretty sympathetically in the show and he was, by no means, a “gorgeous” man. I wonder if they ever considered bringing the book closer to the truth since they were updating it anyway.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 6:31pm

Harvey Fierstein’s revisions expand Nick Arnstein and showcase him as the con man/gambler he was in real life. The Act 2 of this revival is quite different from the Streisand stage version.  

[Bigserver1]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:40pm

Here tonight - it’s intermission. For act one at least, the show works. People was a mess, but don’t rain on my parade far exceeded my expectations going in. Not sure if beanie is making changes, or if she’s rested from being off yesterday, but the ending of Parade was pretty solid, with a good, sustained belt, and the crowd went nuts. I heard a few different people talking about/googling Beanie while waiting in the bathroom line, so this isn’t a theatre full of Feldstein stans. 
 

She’s not Barbra, that’s for sure, but she’s funny and charming and doing just enough vocally to make it work. I’ve heard worse performances on a Broadway stage. Grimes is outstanding, and Lynch and Karimloo are doing good work as well. Curious to see what act 2 brings. 

[Theatrelover1975]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:45pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Thanks so much for the responses and the linked video of Brice. I kind of figured Streisand portrayed her much sexier than she was in reality - especially in "Funny Lady" when she comes out in that drop dead gorgeous beaded Bob Mackie/Ray Aghayan creation that had a plunging neck and backline for the "How Lucky Can You Get Number".

I hadn't seen "Funny Lady" in such a long time - that I completely forgot about this number. She was absolutely stunning in that number!"

Fanny Brice was a very beautiful woman who was known for her style. Her stage persona was clownish, but she wore all the best fashion from all over the world and was dressed by the top fashion designers of the time. The clothes she wore in Funny Lady is accurate. She was obsessed with style and having the best of everything. The narrative of her being homely is just false. She looked Jewish and people were mainly just antisemetic during the time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11424874@N03/10643846774
 

[Theatrelover1975]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:53pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Theatrelover1975 said: "Auggie27 said: "So this is where things are?

"'People' kills the momentum in act one and 'Music' kills it in act two. And unlike 'People' in act one you don’t need Music so cut it." Jimmyb1969

"People" is a liability? And "Music That Makes Me Dance," Fanny's eleven o'clock spot, needs to go?

Whatever the strengths of this production, and I accept that there are many, these comments alone are quite an indicator of challenges in the next two weeks. "


”Music That Makes Me Dance” is the best song in the show and one of the best songs in all musical theatre. If they need to cut that song, they just need to cut Beanie instead. She’s laughably wrong for this show."



I personally have never cared for "The Music That Makes Me Dance". It's very telling that it didn't matter when it was cut from the film version.





"

It actually DID matter when it was cut from the film. I’m assuming you weren’t around in the late 60’s when the film came out. The only reason it was cut is because they wanted to add one of Brice’s real songs into the film and Barbra was already singing “My Man” in one of her specials. What are you even talking about??? Can’t stand people who act like they know it all and weren’t even there. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:15pm

Streisand also sang “My Man” at her final Broadway performance curtain call:

 

[Bigserver1]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:08pm

Alright, show wrapped at 10:52 tonight. It’s definitely a long production, and it drags in moments. I am in agreement that “people” stalls act one, and “music that makes me dance” stalls act two. Beanie is very funny and acting it well, and both versions of “parade” are her strongest singing, so each act ends on a high. 
 

There’s full throated support out there for her. The audience loved her. I walked out more impressed than I expected going in, but there are a good handful of moments where her voice isn’t up to the standard of her peers on stage, and it shows. Ramin especially just mops the floor with her during their duets, and it doesn’t even seem like he’s trying to, it’s just a big skill gap. 
 

All that said, I think reviews will be positive, and I think this will be a success. In some ways, Beanie was a smart casting decision. If they’d gone with a big belter, people would say “well, she’s no Barbra”, and by going with Beanie it’s an entirely different direction. I get why some people might really dislike the direction, but I think ultimately it pays off. I see her getting nominated for a best actress Tony as well. The rest of the cast is really great. For me, it was overall a really enjoyable show, despite the handful of missteps.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:19pm

Two lush and beautiful ballads "stalling" both acts is irreconcilable and unforgivable. 

 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 12:15am

I was there this evening and count me in the camp of “this just doesn’t work”. It’s not a great show to begin with. It has a really solid score with lots of great songs but needs a captivating actress and singer to pull it off. I love Beanie but she just doesn’t have the chops for this big of a role. Her characterization of Fanny feels rather inconsistent. 

Jame Lynch is really landing all of her stuff. Ramin does a nice job and sounds glorious, a bit too contemporary for my taste but I’ll still take it. 
 

I never got on board with Fanny and Nick as a couple so the struggle throughout Act II fell completely flat.  Side note…the dress reveal at the end of Act II was less then stellar.

Also, Harvey’s pre-show announcement needs to go. It’s odd and doesn’t make sense. He revised the script…he didn’t pen the damn thing! 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 5:01am

Also, Harvey’s pre-show announcement needs to go. It’s odd and doesn’t make sense. He revised the script…he didn’t pen the damn thing!

Wait.  What?  Jane Lynch did the pre-show announcement at the 2nd preview I attended.  

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 6:17am

Question - do those spiral staircases on either side of the stage ever move? It looks like they would take up a great deal of space for some of the larger numbers...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 8:56am

Nope. The 2 staircases are permanent fixtures.  And yes, due to this, the full stage is never used.  All set changes are done between them in that confined center stage piece where the set pieces enter via a small turntable.  Mrs. Brice card table and the backstage dressing tables slide in from the wings.  This is why the set design feels tight, narrow, and claustrophobic.  Everything is basically staged and contained in that narrow space center stage.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 10:25am

Several posts back I posted Streisand performing “My Man” at the curtain call of her final Broadway performance in FUNNY GIRL.  And yes, she also sang it in her 1965 CBS TV Special MY NAME IS BARBRA and recorded it for its album release, which pretty much merited it’s inclusion in the 1968 film adaptation of FUNNY GIRL:

 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 10:53am

Jane or Beanie doing the pre-show would’ve made more sense but instead last night it was Harvey Fierstein telling us to turn off our cell phones. It was odd.

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 10:55am

Theatrelover1975 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Theatrelover1975 said: "Auggie27 said: "So this is where things are?

"'People' kills the momentum in act one and 'Music' kills it in act two. And unlike 'People' in act one you don’t need Music so cut it." Jimmyb1969

"People" is a liability? And "Music That Makes Me Dance," Fanny's eleven o'clock spot, needs to go?

Whatever the strengths of this production, and I accept that there are many, these comments alone are quite an indicator of challenges in the next two weeks. "


”Music That Makes Me Dance” is the best song in the show and one of the best songs in all musical theatre. If they need to cut that song, they just need to cut Beanie instead. She’s laughably wrong for this show."



I personally have never cared for "The Music That Makes Me Dance". It's very telling that it didn't matter when it was cut from the film version.





"

It actually DID matter when it was cut from the film. I’m assuming you weren’t around in the late 60’s when the film came out. The only reason it was cut is because they wanted to add one of Brice’s real songs into the film and Barbra was already singing “My Man” in one of her specials. What are you even talking about??? Can’t stand people who act like they know it all and weren’t even there."

Never read a single review from the time that cared. Never read that Barbra felt the movie was hurt by it. Have never, until now, heard a Broadway fan lament its absence. If you want to link examples of this negative buzz or disappointment, I'll be happy to read them.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 11:40am

The set design -- pulling in the focus, narrowing the implied proscenium framing 90% of the action -- seems to be in conceptual sync with the reduced size of the cast. Placing scenes and numbers in smaller spaces, creating an overall minimal aesthetic that accommodates the use of fewer performers and creates a  unifying production scale. I'm not arguing in its favor, but it has an inherent logic. From multiple posts, it seems to most hamper the suspension of disbelief about the theatrical world of the Ziegfeld Follies.  Any defenders?  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 11:51am

When I saw the initial set model, I assumed those 2 staircases would slide together and great a lush grand staircase to recreate the Ziegfeld Follies numbers.  This was Ziegfeld’s trademark.  Showgirls placed on different steps, etc.  Instead we had everything done stage-level.  I will say, thanks to Beanie’s hilarious moments in “His Love Makes Me Beautiful,” it did work effectively.  I truly was loosing my sh** with how funny she was.  She totally owned her version of this famous number.