FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 61

Jesse Green wrote a very fair review and basically said what some of us have felt: Feldstein is good, but not extraordinary, and a show this bad needs a performer and a surrounding production that IS extraordinary.

(I disagree about his comments about the set, tho –– I liked the design, and if anything I think the Ziegfeld sequences look too modern when it might have been more interesting to mirror what those shows actually looked like in the 1920s)

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jesse Green wrote a very fair review and basically said what some of us have felt: Feldstein is good, but not extraordinary, and a show this bad needs a performer and a surrounding production that IS extraordinary.

(I disagree about his comments about the set, tho –– I liked the design, and if anything I think the Ziegfeld sequences look too modern when it might have been more interesting to mirror what those shows actually looked like in the 1920s)"

I think he was right saying the costumes are the real tech achievement in this

I’m guessing these reviews would kill any chance of a cast recording that existed.

NY Stage Review has its usual two reviews:

Four stars: Funny Girl: Beanie Feldstein Easy-Peasy Proves She’s a Funny Girl

http://nystagereview.com/2022/04/24/funny-girl-beanie-feldstein-easy-peasy-proves-shes-a-funny-girl/

Two Stars: Funny Girl: Fanny Is Funny But ‘Funny’ Is Flat

https://nystagereview.com/2022/04/24/funny-girl-fanny-is-funny-but-funny-is-flat/

MadsonMelo said: "I think he was right saying the costumes are the real tech achievement in this"

Yes, I understood that.

This could be one of those shows like the revivals of Follies, My Fair Lady, and Cinderella that wins one Tony, Costume Design. Though SIX is probably ahead of it in the race rn.

Jordan Catalano said: "DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "The NY Times review …

barbra Streisman? What am I missing here?"



If you keep reading, you’ll see.

"



I think I need you to spell it out to me!!

DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "Jordan Catalano said: "DrMonicaDeMoneco said: "The NY Times review …

barbra Streisman? What am I missing here?"


If you keep reading, you’ll see.

"



I think I need you to spell it out to me!!"



"That I can answer in two words: Barbra Streisman.

Or so Jerome Robbins, who “supervised” the original production, misspelled the name of an exciting young singer, then about 20, on a list of possible Fannys he drew up around 1962. That list, which also included such established stars as Judy Holliday, Eydie Gormé and Tammy Grimes, put Streisand, as she was properly but barely known, in third place."

Theatrely really hoping for some big pull quote space with that review!

Very glad I didn’t cave on the expensive tix & hope they lower prices in a bit.

Ramin could be pushed to Featured, too. I doubt he'd make it into the crowded Lead field.

Streisand, as she was properly but barely known, in third place.

Streisand had 3 hit albums, a Tony and Emmy Award nomination plus countless national network TV appearances and press coverage before FUNNY GIRL opened on Broadway. Jerome Robbins restructured the show as THE BARBRA STREISAND SHOW to showcase this buzzing superstar. Her name was above the title. She wasn’t an unknown and FUNNY GIRL didn’t “discover” her. People were buying tickets to see Barbra Streisand THE superstar at that time. People have this assumption that FUNNY GIRL made her. She was in her 2nd year of an exploding career by the time she did FUNNY GIRL.

TaffyDavenport said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:Beanie Feldstein, us Broadway critics are the ones that must rain on your parade.

7 negative (including the NYT review), 7 mixed, 3 positive.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/funny-girl/"

It's 6 negative, 8 mixed, and 3 positive. Looks like NYT was bumped up to mixed."

Thank you for your correction, Taffy.

Well obviously Jane and Jared are going to be up for featured. I wasn't suggesting they are all in the lead category. But I still think Jared may just miss.

Matt Doyle and John-Andrew Morrison should definitely be in. And Jefferson Mays is likely pretty solid too, though I cant see him winning a third trophy for Music Man. But that leaves just 2 slots. And you have other options in both Company and A Strange Loop (Claybourne Elder, Chris Fitzgerlad, Antwayn Hooper) which are more well liked shows, so they could start just checking those boxes. There's also Marc Kudisch and Todd Almond for Girl From the North Country (another mostly well liked show), and AJ Shively and Sidney DuPont from Paradise Square (not going to be a huge Tony darling most likely, but both those men get more to do than Jared Grimes...and I would argue they are dance parts which have better choreo than what was created for Eddie). A nomination isn't impossible for Jared...I just think he's probably in 6th or 7th place at the moment.

BrodyFosse123 said: "Streisand, as she was properly but barely known, in third place.

Streisand had 3 hit albums, a Tony and Emmy Award nomination plus countless national network TV appearances and press coverage before FUNNY GIRL opened on Broadway. Jerome Robbins restructured the show as THE BARBRA STREISAND SHOW to showcase this buzzing superstar. Her name was above the title. She wasn’t an unknown and FUNNY GIRL didn’t “discover” her. People were buying tickets to see Barbra Streisand THE superstar at that time. People have this assumption that FUNNY GIRL made her. She was in her 2nd year of an exploding career by the time she did FUNNY GIRL."

He's talking about before she was hired, not when the show opened. The link Green provides claims that list with the misspelled name was from 1962--two years before Funny Girl's opening and predating the developments you mention.

"Jerome Robbins' papers reveal an early list (circa 1962) of actresses he considered to play Fanny Brice: Chita Rivera, Tammy Grimes, Judy Holliday, Paula Prentiss, Suzanne Pleshette, Mimi Hines, Kaye Stevens, Eydie Gormé/Steve Lawrence (assuming they came as a pair, i.e. Fanny/Nick). Third on Robbins' list: “Barbra Streisman.” "

Updated On: 4/24/22 at 11:05 PM