FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 51

[DAME]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 7:35pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Are we really at the point where anyone who says they like this Funny Girl is either deluded or lying? I haven't seen it yet, but I certainly wouldn't tell someone they're wrong for enjoying any show, even if I totally disagree with them."

I am not telling anyone they are wrong.  I can only tell you what I saw and what I felt.

 

A few more things about this night out..  The mezzanine in this theater is not good for tall people.  We were all squished in with no leg space.  The lobby,  the staircases, and the bathrooms were all jam packed.  And they are all small spaces.  When I worked my way to the restroom at intermission I thought I was going to have a panic attack.   It felt very claustrophobic .  The gentleman who was working the assisted listening devices station was very kind and patient with the customers. He was also very excited about the show and informed us that all the creatives were there.  He was just a very sweet older gentleman and you could tell just loved being there and felt like a part of it.   He almost felt like a leftover version of the ushers that used to work in the early 80's.  He had a lot of personality and he added to my evening.   The gentleman working the Merch booth ... well lets just say his nerves pill might have been wearing off..  his yells at the end for "Last call for Merchandise "  had a little attitude to them.  He was also younger.  I just found the difference between the two amusing. 

Again;  we had a fun night out.  But I found the show to be a mess and its star a big reason for it.  

[fbueller]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 7:37pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Today marksFunny Girl’s freeze day. Here come the critics."

I'm not familiar with the concept of a freeze. I know 'FG' formally opens 4/24.  Are critics allowed to review the show from now until the 24th in advance and just not publish them until opening day?  Are freeze dates posted for new shows?

Updated On: 4/19/22 at 07:37 PM

[Trish2]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 7:42pm

CarlosAlberto said: "soxboy22 said:
The only time I’ve enjoyed an audience cheering and woo-hooing in the middle of a song was ‘And I am telling you I’m not Going’, sung by Jennifer Holliday in Dec. 1981, Dreamgirls. The three times I returned she was out."

Yes, but in the case of Miss Jennifer Holliday in the original 1981 production of "Dreamgirls", which coincidentally was my first ever Broadway show, all the cheering and woo-hooing was justified.

It was my 5th Broadway show--and I saw it in its 2nd month. I'll never forget that moment after she sang "And I'm Telling You.." and how the audience ( I was 8th row center) lept to its feet. I'd never experienced that type of reaction before, but I think I was one of the 1st ones up! The whole Michael Bennett conceptualization leading up to that point was thrilling enough, so we were more than primed to acknowledge her virtuosity. Nothing I've seen since has come close to that extraordinary night.

From what I'm reading on Facebook posts there certainly seems to be a big audience for Funny Girl outside seasoned theatre diehards. Many who've seen it are loving it for nostalgia sake or whatever, and many are making plans to see it this summer.

Personally, I'll wait it out. Though I love the score, I never cared for the book. It'll be interesting to see what the critics have to say--they may even give it a pass. We shall see.

 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 7:49pm

kurtal said: "From the above linked Ramin interview:

""Beanie is this generation's Fanny Brice," Karimloo, 43, tells PEOPLE ahead of the show's April 24 opening. "We talk about the importance of representation all the time, and Fanny was a trailblazer. She had no template, no path; she became the mold. She showed people, if you don't see something, become that. And Beanie followed Fanny's path and opened her own sets of doors for others to follow suit.""

I'm sorry no. Whatever you think about Beanie's performance, the whole bootstraps narrative that they're trying to shove down people's throats is just maddening. Beanie comes from a massively wealthy entertainment industry family. Every door that she has walked through has been held open for her by her family -- or by Ben Platt's family.

Which...fine! Life's all about taking advantage of the connections you have. No need to apologize for that.

But don't had me a crap sandwich and tell me it's Nutella."

Yeah no, her family has money and connections. There's no bootstraps involved. Didn't people say on here that she didn't even audition?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 8:04pm

fbueller said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Today marksFunny Girl’s freeze day. Here come the critics."

I'm not familiar with the concept of a freeze. I know 'FG' formally opens 4/24. Are critics allowed to review the show from now until the 24th in advance and just not publish them until opening day? Are freeze dates posted for new shows?"

 

Technically, when a show is frozen, there aren't anymore changes....but there isn't anything stopping more changes from happening. And yes, critics are usually invited after this point to give them time to craft their review. Long gone are the days of reporters rushing to meet a deadline that night.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 8:56pm

Yeah no, her family has money and connections. There's no bootstraps involved. Didn't people say on here that she didn't even audition?

The revival was mounted for Beanie.  You don’t audition when you’re the sure thing.  Jane Lynch was offered the role of Mrs. Brice so she also didn’t audition.  

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/19/22 at 10:25pm

Whether mounted for Feldstein or Feldstein adjacent, the young star - and the revised vehicle - might’ve benefited from a tryout in a stock or regional venue where the hard work of finding a character and honing a performance could be accomplished away from the fishbowl of Broadway with its oppositional blend of rabid fan cheering and crepe hanging. Maybe Sunday will be a triumph. But why were these risks taken so publicly?  Looking at the stellar grosses, many will snicker at this post. Still, not an unfair question.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 7:32am

That’s a fair assessment Auggie. There is evidence of many Broadway shows in the past that while out of town looked like they didn’t stand a chance to make it on Broadway and that out of town period allowed the creatives to “work out the kinks” without much scrutiny before starting the Broadway preview period and be successful 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 8:37am

Because the target tourist audience does not care about kinks.  

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 8:48am

Melissa25 said: "Because the target tourist audience does not care about kinks."

...or good singing it seems... 

[BJR]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 9:41am

Auggie27 said: "Whether mounted for Feldstein or Feldstein adjacent, the young star - and the revised vehicle - might’ve benefited from a tryout in a stock or regional venue where the hard work of finding a character and honing a performance could be accomplished away from the fishbowl of Broadway with its oppositional blend of rabid fan cheering and crepe hanging. Maybe Sunday will be a triumph. But why were these risks taken so publicly? Looking at the stellar grosses, many will snicker at this post. Still, not an unfair question."

I wondered this, as well, since by many accounts, her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period. And doing it under the glare of Bway is hard. But then again, work would've traveled anyway. And technically, it's a transfer from London. So, the book got an out-of-town go.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 10:24am

Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 10:47am

QueenAlice said: "Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?"

Definitely not. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 10:51am

QueenAlice said: "Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?"

I have not seen any...

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 10:59am

I saw the production in early previews and have refrained from offering my thoughts on here because I didn’t want to publicly disparage a show I’ve been waiting so many years to see that early in the process. I’m returning later this week now that it’s frozen and will report if I’ve noticed any noteworthy changes in the production or Beanie’s performance. 

[fbueller]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 11:33am

Surprisingly, Liza Minelli has provided an early and brief review of the new ‘Funny Girl’ revival.  When asked her thoughts on the new production, Liza said “I hope [Feldstein] had a good time making it.”

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 11:58am

ljay889 said: "QueenAlice said: "Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?"
 

No.

 

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:05pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Melissa25 said: "Because the target tourist audience does not care about kinks."

...or good singing it seems..."

That is correct. Most of them are not connoisseurs. They don't sit and evaluate the "instrument." They internalize a general impression about how the show makes them feel: nostalgic, happy, or how it reminds them of their past.  

And that is why this show will get good reviews.. because it is back and the minutiae falls away. 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:07pm

Thanks so much Lorna, and welcome to BWW. 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:08pm

Lorna Joe said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Melissa25 said: "Because the target tourist audience does not care about kinks."

...or good singing it seems..."

That is correct. Most of them are notconnoisseurs. They don't sit and evaluate the "instrument." They internalize a general impression about how the show makes them feel: nostalgic, happy, or how it reminds them of their past.

And that is why this show will get good reviews.. because it is back and the minutiae falls away.

"

LMFPRAO ….stop! you’re killing me!!!

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:17pm

Sutton Ross said: "ljay889 said: "QueenAlice said: "Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?"


No.

"

The answer is actually yes, and you can scroll back and see that from people who have seen the show more than once, but some people are deep into throwing shade. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:25pm

Lolz. Two posters commented the same thing before I said anything. And it's 100% true. Thanks so much, though. 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 1:39pm

joevitus said: "Sutton Ross said: "ljay889 said: "QueenAlice said: "Are there many reports that her performance and voice have strengthened over the preview period?"


No.

"

The answer is actually yes, and you can scroll back and see that from people who have seen the show more than once, but some people are deep into throwing shade."

 

Was there a divine miracle in which the red sea parted and a change in voice was given to her?  Because that is what it would take.  

[Trish2]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 3:00pm

Lorna Joe? One of the Petticoat Junction Bradley sisters? Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, Bettie Jo, and now Lorna Joe? 

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/20/22 at 3:26pm

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Two posters commented the same thing before I said anything. And it's 100% true. Thanks so much, though."

LOLZ can't take ownership of what you wrote, but everyone on here who has seen the show more than once has said she's improved. So continue the denial/hate. Seems to be what you live for.