FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 56

[alovingfan]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:38pm

MichelleCraig said: "Lorna Joe wrote:And I am sticking to my prediction that Beanie will be the Toast of the Town!

...or just toast."

...or eating toast around town."

[alovingfan]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:45pm

Harvey is going to be a guest on Andy Cohens show on opening night. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 5:50pm

MichelleCraig said: "Lorna Joe wrote:And I am sticking to my prediction that Beanie will be the Toast of the Town!

...or just toast."

oh, the shaaaade 

Updated On: 4/22/22 at 05:50 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:05pm

alovingfan said: "Harvey is going to be a guest on Andy Cohens show on opening night."

Pre-taped. WWHL is pre-taped now a day or so in advance.

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:20pm

alovingfan said: "MichelleCraig said: "Lorna Joe wrote:And I am sticking to my prediction that Beanie will be the Toast of the Town!

...or just toast."

...or eating toast around town.""

Well it is a form of fun I suppose to make fun of many things.... but i find it nonproductive. At first, I too was skeptical and a bit of a naysayer but then I realized my POV was generated mostly from a place of jealousy. So, I changed the lens through which I was viewing some clips and expressed more positive reactions.... 

And guess what? Better energy began to flow in my direction. I kid you not. A famous actor is making a video in which he is going to review one of my recently published books and a friend who cut me off a long time ago just sent me a note today which I see as a window through which I can make amends and repair the friendship. 

So I do not see the value in sarcasm here such as "she will be toast" etc. Apparently audiences are loving this and it will be enjoyable for them and they will evaluate it with a different barometer. 

How does that impact you? You wanted a "better singer?" Well that may not matter to many... and going back to what I first said, I think jealousy fuels many opinions. So go spread shade, but don't spill the tea if that is your cup of tea. But I say this revival will do well and I am sticking to that. I am going by audience reactions, not a personal opinion. My opinions would not matter anyway, I hated MY FAIR LADY with Lauren Ambrose. 

 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:26pm

I hated MY FAIR LADY with Lauren Ambrose.

Ironically, the last attempt at a FUNNY GIRL Broadway revival was in 2012 and was to star Lauren Ambrose, a casting choice Streisand herself endorsed.  Bobby Canavale was cast as Nick Arnstein.  

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:40pm

I didn’t know they’d gotten as far as Canavale for Nick. Damn, he and Ambrose might’ve been a hot couple. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:45pm

Auggie27 said: "I didn’t know they’d gotten as far as Canavale for Nick. Damn, he and Ambrose might’ve been a hot couple."

Ambrose's Eliza Doolittle was a revelation. One of my all time favorite performances I have ever seen by an actor. She was simply EXQUISITE. I think her Fanny would have been just as great.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 6:54pm

From an August 2011 interview for USA TODAY:

Streisand also plans to revisit her theater roots in 2012, albeit as an observer. The first Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL, the 1964 musical that helped secure her stardom, is due next spring. Lauren Ambrose of Six Feet Under fame will step into Streisand's shoes, playing comedian/actress Fanny Brice.

Streisand hadn't been familiar with Ambrose, but she's curious: "I saw a clip on YouTube of her singing “My Man", delivered by Streisand's Fanny in the 1968 film adaptation. "But it was uptempo, so I couldn't judge it. It doesn't matter because she doesn't sing it in the show."

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 7:25pm

And no, Barbra will not be attending the FUNNY GIRL Opening Night performance.  Not only is it her 80th birthday but…



 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 7:50pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "And no, Barbra will not be attending the FUNNY GIRL Opening Night performance. Not only is it her 80th birthday but…



"

I don't think Babs will want to see this production at all if all this negative word of mouth continues. 

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/22/22 at 11:51pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "And no, Barbra will not be attending the FUNNY GIRL Opening Night performance. Not only is it her 80th birthday but…



"

I don't think Babs will want to see this production at all if all this negative word of mouth continues."

I do not think she would give 2 hoots about "word of mouth" if she wanted to go.  I do not think she cares at all about this revival.... she has said she never looks back. 

She is busy all day involved in politics: the Ukraine, women's health issues, and many liberal causes. Her priorities have changed. 

I believe she would not see a revival regardless of who was Fanny... time moves on. 

And by the way.... Lainie Kazan was Barbra's understudy. She still sings. Here is her latest version of THE MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwR4mstKqKA

HELLO, GORGEOUS! 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 12:14am

Fine tuning fascinates me.

At the Wednesday matinee, Fanny was not wearing a hat during RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT. But Friday night, she was wearing a garrison cap. (Maybe the hat was inadvertently missing on Wednesday.)

Nick has improved his shower of money into the audience. At the Wednesday matinee, nearly 20 bills didn’t make it into the audience but instead fell on the stage. At the Friday performance, his pitch of cash was much more on target - into the main floor audience - with only 2 bills falling onto the stage.

Bravo, Nick!

[kmac23]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 12:40am

Just left the theatre and can’t shake how disappointed I feel. Such a miscast role. I really really wanted to like this. What a bummer. 

[soxboy22]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 2:08pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Yes, believe it or not, we know who the hell Lainie Kazan is and that she was Barbra’s original standby. She went on twice (a 2-show day), and Barbra had her ass fired by the end of the week. Lainie claims she was bombarded with tons of offers after she filled in for Barbra so she chose to leave. Nope. Streisand had her let go. I got more scoops on the original FUNNY GIRL production than you’ll EVER know.

 

 


I’ve heard Lanie speak out about Barbra (and Seesaw and Michelle Lee, for that matter), over time.  But have you caught any of Lanie’s interviews in the past couple of years with friends, YouTube stars, etc.? She seems to have softened on Barbra.  ‘She had incredible responsibility, I didn’t realize what she went through at the time, I really can’t blame her….’ and such. Interesting.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 2:13pm

It’s a documented fact that Lainie Kazan was no longer part of FUNNY GIRL immediately after going on for Streisand for those 2 performances on Wednesday February 3, 1965.  Early on Tuesday February 2, 1965, Kazan was notified Streisand would be out that night and she would be playing Fanny.  Kazan had her agent reach out to all the NY press to let them know.  Streisand got news of this and showed up and performed that night.  Wednesday morning, Streisand was totally out of it so Kazan would indeed be going on for both performances that Wednesday.  Press was alerted, and the rave reviews on Kazan changed her career overnight.  She claims she left FUNNY GIRL days later due to the overwhelming amount of offers (including her Colpix Records contract), but those with the show say Streisand was furious and had her fired.  Linda Gerard became the new standby but now had a clause in her contract stipulating that she could not notify the press or anyone when she was going on. These are documented facts and not hearsay info.  

[DAME]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 2:42pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It’s a documented fact that Lainie Kazan was no longer part of FUNNY GIRL immediately after going on for Streisand for those 2 performances on Wednesday February 3, 1965. Early on Tuesday February 2, 1965, Kazan was notified Streisand would be out that night and she would be playing Fanny. Kazan had her agent reach out to all the NY press to let them know. Streisand got news of this and showed up and performed that night. Wednesday morning, Streisand was totally out of it so Kazan would indeed be going on for both performances that Wednesday. Press was alerted, and the rave reviews on Kazan changed her career overnight. She claims she left FUNNY GIRL days later due to the overwhelming amount of offers (including her Colpix Records contract), but those with the show say Streisand was furious and had her fired. Linda Gerard became the new standby but now had a clause in her contract stipulating that she could not notify the press or anyone when she was going on. These are documented facts and not hearsay info."

Thank you for all this Brody.  Very cool stuff to know.  Lainie lives in my neighborhood and is very nice.  A few years ago she was involved in a shop lifting incident.  Now occasionally she will host drag bingo at Hamburger Marys.  Very talented lady. 

https://www.tmz.com/2017/12/29/lainie-kazan-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-mom-shoplifting-for-days/

Updated On: 4/23/22 at 02:42 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 3:11pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It’s a documented fact that Lainie Kazan was no longer part of FUNNY GIRL immediately after going on for Streisand for those 2 performances on Wednesday February 3, 1965. Early on Tuesday February 2, 1965, Kazan was notified Streisand would be out that night and she would be playing Fanny. Kazan had her agent reach out to all the NY press to let them know. Streisand got news of this and showed up and performed that night. Wednesday morning, Streisand was totally out of it so Kazan would indeed be going on for both performances that Wednesday. Press was alerted, and the rave reviews on Kazan changed her career overnight. She claims she left FUNNY GIRL days later due to the overwhelming amount of offers (including her Colpix Records contract), but those with the show say Streisand was furious and had her fired. Linda Gerard became the new standby but now had a clause in her contract stipulating that she could not notify the press or anyone when she was going on. These are documented facts and not hearsay info."

What I found most interesting about this scenario is that even before Kazan went on for Streisand she and her agents were publicizing the fact that she was Streisand's understudy and there was an article written where it explicitly attributed Kazan wishing and hoping for the day that Streisand could not perform so that she could go on, which is in extremely poor taste and rightfully angered Streisand.

Kazan also started a relationship with the show's musical director Peter Daniels, who had been Streisand's musical accompanist from her early nightclub dates. 

Streisand not only had Kazan fired but Daniels as well.

Updated On: 4/23/22 at 03:11 PM

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 4:02pm

CarlosAlberto said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "It’s a documented fact that Lainie Kazan was no longer part of FUNNY GIRL immediately after going on for Streisand for those 2 performances on Wednesday February 3, 1965."

I remember living on LI at that time and NEWSDAY published a review of Lainie Kazan's performance. It was GLOWING! They said she "knocked them dead." I wish I could find that article in the NYPL archives....

 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 5:51pm

Way back when re Lainie some up and coming promoter decided to bring Lainie to tour Australia and of course no-one had heard of her except us young pretentious theatre queens. We trotted off to cavernous Festival Hall[where I saw the Beatles-saw but couldn't hear for the screaming] and Lainie walked out, did her opening number then looked out at a practically empty space. She said,'this won't do, everyone move on down close and we'll have an intimate evening together'. She was magnificent and gave us 100% and we screamed louder than that capacity crowd for the Beatles.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 6:49pm

Does anyone who's seen the show recently know if they've been doing Red Buckets, if they have any merchandise to go with it, and if how much said stuff costs! Thanks!

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 6:58pm

SweetLips22 said: "Way back when re Lainie some up and coming promoter decided to bring Lainie to tour Australia and of course no-one had heard of her except us young pretentious theatre queens. We trotted off to cavernous Festival Hall[where I saw the Beatles-saw but couldn't hear for the screaming] and Lainie walked out, did her opening number then looked out at a practically empty space. She said,'this won't do, everyone move on down close and we'll have an intimate evening together'. She was magnificent and gave us 100% and we screamed louder than that capacity crowd for the Beatles."

 

As a personal aside, I experienced the same situation in 1965-ish when I took my parents to see Ray Bolger in concert at a theater-in-the-round.  The theater was less than full.  Mr. Bolger invited those in back to move to the front.  We had rather nice seats, so we stayed where we were.  I remember almost nothing of his show (although we thoroughly enjoyed it), but I have always remembered his grace and good humor that evening.  

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 6:58pm

Shows do red buckets after opening so I’m curious if they’ll have anything next week for the last week of collections. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 8:21pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Shows do red buckets after opening so I’m curious if they’ll have anything next week for the last week of collections."

Interesting! I had no idea! I guess I need to stop seeing things in previews then!

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/23/22 at 9:14pm

Highland Guy said: "SweetLips22 said: "Way back when re Lainie some up and coming promoter decided to bring Lainie to tour Australia and of course no-one had heard of her except us young pretentious theatre queens. We trotted off to cavernous Festival Hall[where I saw the Beatles-saw but couldn't hear for the screaming] and Lainie walked out, did her opening number then looked out at a practically empty space. She said,'this won't do, everyone move on down close and we'll have an intimate evening together'. She was magnificent and gave us 100% and we screamed louder than that capacity crowd for the Beatles."



As a personal aside, I experienced the same situation in 1965-ish when I took my parents to see Ray Bolger in concert at a theater-in-the-round. The theater was less than full. Mr. Bolger invited those in back to move to the front. We had rather nice seats, so we stayed where we were. I remember almost nothing of his show (although we thoroughly enjoyed it), but I have always remembered his grace and good humor that evening."

Any chance this was Westbury Music Fair?