FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 47

[Bettyboy72]

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

I agree Bernhard would have been inspired as others have noted. Most notably because I think at that time she was fully grounded in her identity as a comedian, as a vocalist, an actress, a non-conventional beauty than many designers used as a muse and a performer. I think that makes a huge difference. Also, Bernhard has always been a sexy/sexual being. Chemistry wouldn't be an issue. She's alluring. 

I think Beanie is a fledgling to many realms and needs more experience to deliver the gravitas that Fanny had. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 4:52pm

They released a bunch of mezzanine seats for Tuesday, 4/26, the first performance after opening, starting at $79 with the PEOPLE code.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 4/11/22 at 4:55pm

JasonC3 said: "Really trying to wrap my head around what this casting would have been like."

I cringed when I read, “the ROLL of Fanny Brice.” Especially because Fanny’s a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 1:56am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNiG_4lodDM

[voiceanthliveth]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 8:41am

High School girl plays Fanny Brice!

https://youtu.be/MCpCsY7OO7o

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 9:04am

^That was terrific!

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 4/12/22 at 9:34am

Look at Heather command that stage! Now that’s what we need. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 9:44am

Anybody plan on being at the show this week? Thanks to everyone for their preview reports!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 9:56am

I'll be there next Weds.  (Along with POTUS and Strange Loop)

 

No covid cancellations,  no covid cancellations, no covid cancellations......is my constant mantra.

 

I'm also getting over pneumonia myself, and am praying to the gods that my cough has minimalized by then.  Getting a little better each day....so hopefully another week will do the trick!

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 10:03am

I'm going next Wednesday, as well. When I bought the ticket last October, I never imagined I'd have to worry about one of the main actors being out of a critics' preview, or having it cancelled altogether. I have a backup seat the following week, but I'm really hoping they can stick it out.

Updated On: 4/13/22 at 10:03 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 10:12am

dramamama611 said: "I'll be there next Weds. (Along with POTUS and Strange Loop)



No covid cancellations, no covid cancellations, no covid cancellations......is my constant mantra.



I'm also getting over pneumonia myself, and am praying to the gods that my cough has minimalized by then. Getting a little better each day....so hopefully another week will do the trick!"

Sending good luck and healing vibes your way! Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the three shows!

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 10:37am

I’ll be at today’s matinee and report back.

That Heather Headley clip was so good. We really need her back on the boards ASAP. I just love her.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 10:55am

I’ll be at today’s matinee too! Then, going to the Music Man tonight. Fingers crossed no Covid cancellations… ack! 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 10:56am

I REALLY wanted to love this. I did. But sadly, as others have reported, Beanie is just not cut out for this part. Of course we knew her vocals weren't going to match Streisand, and one need not match the original if you're giving a new take on the role. But the constant nasality in Beanie's singing leaves little to no room for emotion. And on top of any vocal limitations, she just does not know how to interpret a song. I think she's brilliantly funny on screen (Booksmart was one of my top films that year it came out) but it's all missing. Fanny is incredibly one note here, with the exception of the finale where she finally summons some depth and manages to unleash a powerful final belt. I wish that stuff was present in the rest of the show. Don't Rain on My Parade should be THE number of the season, but it barely registers here.

 

I also found some directorial and design choices to just completely miss the mark. Why don't we get extravagant follies costumes? Why is Rat Tat Tat Tat falling flat, and why are the dancers looking like tin men? Orchestrations are thin and underwhelming. The set is perhaps technically impressive with moving parts, and yet none of it (nor the direction) conveys any passage of time, which is a major issue with the book that a good director and designers need to address when doing this show. 

Audience response was pretty good. It was quite clear from the excitement and chatter around me that there's a big population of folks who just love this musical and were excited to see it live. So it's confusing then that they didn't go for a Broadway name that could knock these songs out of the park, or even a newcomer so they could build a "star is born" narrative for her in the press. The title alone (and the fact that its never been revived on Bway) is going to sell tickets. But this is one of the biggest disappointments of the season for me.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 11:11am

Thanks for sharing your review. It may be frustrating to people on the boards to know she isn't improving but it seems the majority of the audience is just stoked that this show is on Broadway again. I'm really looking forward to seeing Julie at the end of April and her take on it. The rest of the cast seems perfect.

And I completely agree with your opinion on the whole newcomer thing. Could have been beautiful to watch. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 1:48pm

It's really interesting to read the great disparity of responses, almost all at one end of the spectrum or the other: "her vocals aren't perfect, but she nails the role and has star quality" vs. "her voice is abysmal and she is hopeless in the role." Have to say not one video or audio clip I've encountered makes me think she's any good in this, but so many people commenting here are really wowed--as many as are unhappy with the performance. I don't know how to assess it.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 2:27pm

joevitus said: "It's really interesting to read the great disparity of responses, almost all at one end of the spectrum or the other: "her vocals aren't perfect, but she nails the role and has star quality" vs. "her voice is abysmal and she is hopeless in the role." Have to say not one video or audio clip I've encountered makes me think she's any good in this, but so many people commenting here are really wowed--as many as are unhappy with the performance. I don't know how to assess it."

by seeing it for yourself. 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 2:38pm

WldKingdomHM said: "Look at Heather command that stage! Now that’s what we need."

Heather Headley--Into the Woods, announced.

 

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 2:56pm

I haven't posted on these boards in god knows how long...at least a decade. Anyway, I saw the show last night. If you haven't seen it, you'll most likely have a fun time  - and I'm REALLY grateful I came to this messageboard first before seeing it! Everyone's voices here, even when they were dissenting, really helped me not set my expectations too high. 

Obviously, Beanie's voice is very mediocre with a few hopeful/glinting moments that hint at what you HOPE a vocal coach could help her improve, but at a certain point watching (maybe 20 minutes in) I was just persistently and unfortunately annoyed with her extended singing numbers because of how pedestrian and nasal she sounded. Her singing voice actually reminded me a lot of Vanessa Bayer's character on SNL of a child actor lol. seriously. 


I saw the show with a friend who isn't really into theater at all, and I'm sorry to say that during "Don't Rain On My Parade" my friend actually turned to me and let out an embarrassed giggle at the unmet expectation of some of the supposed-to-be climactic points in the song...BUT Beanie's acting was, often, pretty spectacular. Genuinely and truly. I was laughing a lot throughout the show and many of her acting choices put a unique stamp on the character, making it an overall enjoyable performance, despite her serious vocal misgivings. But I don't think that should really be tossed off as an aside - without a dynamic Broadway voice to carry through the songbook, it left me with very complicated feelings. I had a great time and it was enjoyable to watch but...Broadway musicals need singers and CERTAINLY Funny Girl does. I think after last night, what I'm walking away from the experience with most is gratitude that Beanie took on the Herculean task of ripping off the seal of this Broadway revival for an overwhelming role and now I'm excited to see all the stars that are definitely going to be hungry to become replacements....sad to say, but it's not like there is a very high bar to meet at this point, which might make it a lot easier for other stars to take it on.

Beanie will have an incredible film and tv career and I think she did her best here. But the show itself is already a historically mediocre production that Barbra elevated, so without that kind of a star....idk what else there is to say. Fun show, a bit of a let down, but looking forward to future takes on the role.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:00pm

The renown Liz Caplan is Beanie’s vocal coach and was working with her as she prepared for FUNNY GIRL.  This speaks volumes about Ms. Caplan’s work.  Boo-yah! 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:06pm

Her singing voice actually reminded me a lot of Vanessa Bayer's character on SNL of a child actor lol. seriously.

Wow, you are the 9th person who has stated this here and among my friends who have seen this. Dag. 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:11pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "The renown Liz Caplan is Beanie’s vocal coach and was working with her as she prepared for FUNNY GIRL. This speaks volumes about Ms. Caplan’s work. Boo-yah!"

I cant tell if you're being sarcastic or not but I've always thought most of Liz's students sounded weak and very much without solid technique lol. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:13pm

Sutton Ross said: "Her singing voice actually reminded me a lot of Vanessa Bayer's character on SNL of a child actor lol. seriously.

Wow, you are the 9th person who has stated this here and among my friends who have seen this. Dag."

I also compared Beanie to this character: Laura Parsons. This truly is how Beanie performs and sings in FUNNY GIRL: 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:19pm

Hahahahaha. Are you serious? I JUST CAN'T. 

Love it Brody 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/13/22 at 3:24pm

Sutton Ross said: "Hahahahaha. Are you serious? I JUST CAN'T.

Love it Brody"
 

That’s the nasal/back of the throat/head voice singing everyone is commenting on.