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

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/14/22 at 2:08pm

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 4/14/22 at 2:58pm

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.' 

[beechmi2]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 9:01pm

My experience is with entertainment financing. What I can add is the producers went with a Hollywood 'star' who could help 'open' the show, and train people to think of Funny Girl outside of Streisand. If/when it's up and running and successful, Beanie will go back to making movies (I would guess her contract will run through the end of the year) and the new lead will be someone who can really sing (or possibly another movie star). So far the producers strategy has worked....lots of people on here, and elsewhere are buying tickets. Reviews will not be great....but producers always knew that. No one can fill Streisand's shoes, and that comparison is inevitable. Ramin is fabulous, but he doesn't sell tickets. The goal here from the producers position is to change the perception/narrative of this property from being a Streisand only show back to a Broadway classic. That's a very hard challenge. No other show in the history of Broadway has catapulted a star into the type of success that Streisand had after Funny Girl, and most likely, none ever will again. The process now is just too different, and the finances just don't allow that any more (at least on Broadway).

Not to take anything away from Streisand.....she has a once in a million years voice, and deserves all she has achieved.

For what it's worth, I would not see this show with Beanie. I enjoy her on film, but she does not have a voice, and there does not appear to be any chemistry between her and Ramin. And that's the key to the show....more so than the singing. That a stud like Ramin would fall for Beanie. I just don't see it...

But for those that are going....enjoy!

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 10:13pm

Beanie Feldstein is a Hollywood star?!?!?! 

Since when? 

She’s not even a household name.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 10:14pm

beechmi2 said: "My experience is with entertainment financing. What I can add is the producers went with a Hollywood 'star' who could help 'open' the show, and train people to think of Funny Girl outside of Streisand."

Just for argument's sake, I think Alison Brie, Kat Dennings, and Ashley Tisdale are more famous. Jenny Slate and Rachel Bloom are debatable. But it doesn't sound like they ever approached anyone else. Anneliese van der Pol could be a fun replacement.

 

[Observation]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 10:49pm

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! 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/15/22 at 11:17pm

Bwaygurl2 said: 
At any rate, the dictionary says that both of you are correct in your use of 'crescendo.'"

So only one of them is wrong and owes the other an amends?

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/16/22 at 2:44pm

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

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/16/22 at 4:35pm

MCfan2 said: "The Washington Posthas 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"

Thank you kindly!

 

[Trish2]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 12:20am

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

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 12:44am

Saw it tonight and mostly hated it. I thought Ramin was the best thing, doing some of his finest work yet. I found the sets mostly dreary, except for the mansion on Long Island. Jane Lynch doesn’t seem remotely Jewish to me, and I kept wishing the terrific Mrs Straycosh was Mrs Brice. Some lovely dancing and Grimes (forgive me if name is wrong, don’t have playbill right now) as Eddie was a highlight. Though Beanie has some funny bits, the singing is painful. It’s a role that requires a great singer. And she ain’t that. She is talented, but seems incredibly miscast to me. 
 

ah, well. 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 11:41am

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.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 11:55am

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. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 12:26pm

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]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 12:38pm

I think this what choreographer Ellenore Scott evisioned in her head for Beanie’s WTF? twirls:

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 12:55pm

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

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 2:43pm

BarnabyTucker said: "I returned last night for the first time since the first week of previews. Some 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, "

Funny Girl as they know it, what exactly is that? I’m 65 and I know it as the film and a show that is packed with great songs. Some younger folk know it from its use in Glee. Historians and those who saw the original seem to agree it was not a great show but delivered a star vehicle for Streisand. If ever there were a book that could have been completely re-written it was this one. Harvey could have kept the memorable moments and made the show viable once again - and tailored it to the personality of Beanie. Shocked that Harvey learned no lessons from his previous London re-write. The director also bares much responsibility here. I guess in the end it’s on the producers for the creative team they chose. 

 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 7:47pm

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

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 7:52pm

Diana Agron?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 7:57pm

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"?

[bdboston]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 8:07pm

Hi all-- to those who've see the show, what is the approximate run time?

Thanks!

 

Updated On: 4/18/22 at 08:07 PM

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 4/17/22 at 8:21pm

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

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/18/22 at 10:18am

bdboston said: "Hi all-- to those who've see the show, what is the approximate run time?

Thanks!"

 

I have not been to the show, but according to the show's official website: funnygirlonbroadway.com the show's approximate running time is: 2 hours and 40 minutes with one intermission. 

Or, as people who I know who have seen this have stated, "Too long..."

 



 

 

[pollster2]

Posted: 4/18/22 at 12:44pm

Any idea if Ramin will be petitioned for Best Leading Actor instead of Featured Actor?

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/18/22 at 1:27pm

No need to petition. Ramin Karimloo's already billed above the title. Sydney Chaplin, who originated the role of Nick in ''Funny Girl'' in 1964, got a Tony nomination for Leading Actor. (If anything, the show will need to petition the Tonys to put Jane Lynch and Jared Grimes, who are also above the title, in Featured.)

Meantime, for people who read People, here's a new interview with Karimloo ...

https://people.com/theater/ramin-karimloo-on-funny-girl-family-and-beanie-feldstein/

Updated On: 4/18/22 at 01:27 PM