FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 52

joevitus said: "DAME said: "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."

Not germane ot the actual OP or my response. The question was whether there have been any reports of her voice improving, and there have been multiple such reports on this very thread. No one is saying she's turned into Barbra. But according to people who have actually been to multiple performances (not commenters with an ax to grind who haven't been to any), she has improved vocally."

And is this where our standards are these days? Let me use that as the quote in front of the theater. SHE HAS IMPROVED VOCALLY. -J.V.-



No qualm here with you... but look at the excuses that are being made. I get what you are saying about those with a ax to grind.. but after seeing this.. I am applauding the honesty by many.

¿Dónde está P. Murin? ¡Envía soporte Patti, por favor!

Caught the Wednesday matinee from one of the high row $49 seats in the mezzanine. Bought the ticket on the first day of public sales several months ago.

Overall, I liked it. The show plays well from an upstairs view.

I liked Fanny’s story arc, Eddie’s tap dancing, Nick’s voice, and the neighborhood ladies who played cards with the winning Mrs. Brice.

Fanny’s voice was a full head voice, and I would easily fall for it if wasn’t for all the remarks on this thread. It’s good enough. Fanny Brice is a comedy act, not a singing act. The show is called Funny Girl, not Singing Girl.

The musical comedy gold displayed in HIS LOVE MAKES ME BEAUTIFUL was swell.

Count me as a very pleased tourist.

BalconyClub said: "It’s good enough."

I can't wait for the reviews. "Feldstein's voice is good enough."

Thank you, Lorna! You made my day.

I also saw the matinee today, and I think "good enough" is acceptable when the characterization is strong (see Sheridan Smith), but, alas, Beanie's isn't. I thought she was out of her depth in the book scenes, and her portrayal, on the whole, never clicked for me. She had some good moments, but they were so few and far between that I wasn't able to connect with the character. I never really liked or cared about Fanny, and that's a problem.

Updated On: 4/21/22 at 09:49 PM

BrodyFosse123 said: "I’m amused with the few that keep suggesting FUNNY GIRL isn’t about the songs. The original Broadway production was structured around Barbra Streisand, who at the time was primarily known as a singer. She had 3 hit albums, an Emmy and Tony Award nomination and months after FUNNY GIRL opened, she was a multi-Grammy Award winner. The role was created FOR a singer and this casting note has always been a requirement not an exception. Mimi Hines who replaced Streisand WAS a singer and Marilyn Michaels who led the touring production was a renown comedian who specialized mimicking female vocalists, including Streisand, so even she had the vocals the role demands.

Beanie isn’t a singer. Never has been. She’s an actress who enjoys singing. The songs in FUNNY GIRL were written for strong vocalists who can interpret lyrics and melody. It’s not just about belting the notes. You have to be presentational in the soft moments up to the strong belting sections. Again… Beanie isn’t a singer. She doesn’t know how to use her vocals to interpret. She sings the songs, she doesn’t “act” them.

I saw the 2nd preview. I loved the show. Including Beanie but noticed, putting her head voice aside, I noticed she was singing the songs. There was no character interpretation of the lyrics. There was zero life to the lyrics. That’s when I noticed she has zero idea how to interpret a song. She just sings them. Glenn Close, though not equipped with the best sounding singing voice, understands how to interpret a song AND this is why those who saw her in SUNSET BLVD still rave about her live on stage performance."

It’s so damn refreshing to hear from someone who understands that merely standing there and singing doesn’t equate to an acting performance. It accomplishes the opposite.

It is this very quality about so many musical theater performers that keeps me from seeing lots of musicals. I’m reminded, by your crystal clear remarks, of so much mediocrity I’ve seen through the years.

One reason Sondheim is the master - god, was…it hurts to say was - is that his songs are so damn character specific that they either demand triple threat acting or force mediocre actors to rise to the material by design. You cannot stand and wait for your cue and sing over (as opposed to inside) the material with him.

Updated On: 4/21/22 at 03:13 AM

Rumpelstiltskin said: "TaffyDavenport said: " . . . Having said that, I have a backup seat for next Tuesday night 4/26 that I'm going to be returning, but, if anyone is interested in buying it, let me know. It's mezzanine A 14, $110.04 with fees, and I can transfer on SeatGeek."

@TaffyDavenport - I'm in a similar boat. Can you explain what you meant by a ticket that you are "going to be returning"? Is there a mechanism to request a refunds for tickets I purchased through the official channel (SeatGeek) and don't plan to use? I thought the only option was to attempt a resell on their site and hope for the best."

Tickets for performances through 4/30 can be returned up to 48 hours before:

https://www.jujamcyn.com/help/#refunds-exchanges

This is how you make up for not having a great singing voice: