FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 49

joevitus said: "Auggie27 said: "
"It's a common misconception (as indicated by the people who liked your comment) but no: when it comes, to music and musical terms, a crescendo is a gradual increase in loudness, not the highest, loudest moment."

Except I'm not discussing music. My sentence that you cite says, musical comedy, meaning a show. The book scenes, the storytelling. The show itselffeatures builds to crescendos: "until the songs take over." A valid statement. My assertion is about structure of the dramatic form, the genre -- musical comedy -- its emotional crescendos are the moments where the songs occur. I'm not discussing the crescendo within, say "Don't Rain on My Parade" or in any way issues of volume. I'm speaking of the show proper. No misconception."

It's a weird use of vocabulary to talk about a show building to a crescendo."

I've seen people discuss a plot reaching a crescendo. I don't find that a weird usage.

At any rate, the dictionary says that both of you are correct in your use of 'crescendo.'

I most likely won't be able to see this, does someone mind messaging Fanny's second act entrance? I'm so curious to know!

The Washington Post has a nice piece about Ramin and his role in the show. I've gifted it so you all should be able to get past the paywall.

https://wapo.st/3M97KuZ

Lizzo for Fanny Brice! She's killing it tonight as host of SNL. A surprisingly natural comedienne.

I returned last night for the first time since the first week of previews. Some observations:

- Two sliding wall panels have been added to the set to cover stage hands/scene changes. It was highly distracting to see stage hands setting the next scene so I'm glad that they've fixed that. I did not see one stage hand.

- About 10 minutes has been cut off the running time. This is largely due to pacing as I didn't notice any cuts except, don't quote me, but if memory serves Mrs. Brice and Fanny exchanged more dialogue in the act two book scene where Mrs. Brice talks about Fanny's father. I'm still not a fan of this scene but I'm pretty sure it's been cut down some.

- The show is like a well oiled machine. It's ready to be frozen and for the critics to have at it. The second act DRAGS but that's large in part to the book being weak. I still appreciate that Fierstein didn't completely rewrite the show because audiences want to see FUNNY GIRL as they know it, but boy does the second act feel like The Iceman Cometh on tranquilizers.

- Jane Lynch is aggressively not Jewish to the point that it's weird. I echo a previous comment that I would have loved to have seen the actor playing Mrs. Strakosh in the role.

- Beanie has the money notes at the end of each of the big numbers but she's just so nasally and struggles to get through the rest of the songs. My sister is not a theater person and she pointed out unprompted what myself and most on this board have said which is that "People" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance" falls flat.

- Speaking of The Music That Makes Me Dance, can they just cut it? Yeah, it stinks that they have to, that they should just be able to do FUNNY GIRL, but it just flops like a dead fish and stops the show cold. Just go from Fannie finding out Nick is in jail to that FOLLIES like dream sequence.

- I also think alterations have been made to Beanie's costumes. They look like they've been tailored more to her build. My sister pointed out that she felt like her costumes are reminiscent of department stores clothes for plus sized people that were originally designed for thin people. Beanie is beautiful, they just need to give her outfits that show her off.

All in all, I'm meh about my return trip. It's a shame because I've always dreamed of seeing FUNNY GIRL on Broadway. I saw Shoshana Bean in MR. SATURDAY NIGHT the other night and her talents were wasted there. I'd kill to see her do this. Maybe she'll go out with the tour? Sigh.

I love “The Music That Makes Me Dance” but it could absolutely be cut in this production. The arrangement is an absolute atrocity, and Beanie rushes through it without even trying to bring any feeling or passion to it. She’s visibly uncomfortable during this number.
Plus they have the ballads of “Who Are You Now?” and the title song. It’s just too much. The original torch song arrangement wouldn’t work either in this production because Beanie wouldn’t be able to deliver it.

Updated On: 4/17/22 at 12:26 PM

BrodyFosse123 said: "Did they cut those hilarious trance-like twirls Beanie does during the musical interlude in “The Music That Makes Me Dance”? That truly was a WTF? moment for me. The blank trance-like look in her eyes as she twirls were priceless."

Yes, it's cut. lol

Apparently they cast the wrong actor from "glee" in this.

Jordan Catalano said: "Diana Agron?"

No, Naya Rivera, you silly Catalano you!!! Had she lived of course! Have you heard her slay "Don't Rain on My Parade"?

BrodyFosse123 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Apparently they cast the wrong actor from "glee" in this."

Without going into details (my more detailed post was deleted), let’s just say Beanie was the only person in this revival that didn’t need to audition, regardless what’s she saying on talk shows. Happy Easter/Passover."

I get it--completely. Even Katrina Lenk had to audition in front of Sondheim in order to book Company. The only person who didn't have to audition was Patti,obviously.

Happy Passover/Easter to you too.

Updated On: 4/18/22 at 08:21 PM