FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 65

I don’t actually believe this show can work if the “star is phenomenal”

the star- was Barbra Streisand. She sold it cause she was lightning in a bottle.

it doesn’t even feel like it invests in making this really about Fanny Brice which if that was the original intention then you could probably have an interesting show. But it’s so old school in how it was brought to inception

They should’ve started this at New York City Encores so they could go “ohhh, this is kinda a flop that has been held up simply because of Barbra’s iconic turn” before investing in a Broadway production.

"I think Kathryn Hahn, Idina Menzel, Stephanie J Block are people who come to mind as to the type of talent who could sell this show."


I think Jessie Mueller would have been a good Fanny Brice.

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 09:39 AM

I, admittedly, was not thrilled with Beanie's casting from the get go. HOWEVER, there was a part of me that thought that she must have something extremely special and would be a delightful surprise to all and exceed our expectations. Why else would the producers and creatives choose her to lead the first every Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL? I think that in order for a revival of this show to work and be successful, you need a star who will exceed expectations, and what we got - and the reviews attest to this - is someone who is barely meeting expectations. Which is not to say she's terrible, but she's merely serviceable at best.

Kad just spoke truth to board. Like it or not, we’d be wise to listen. The respected critics provide a decided consensus. Anyone touting the Green Times appraisal should reread it, as I did when I got my print edition this morning. It’s one of the most strained and baffling opening night analyses I’ve read in 40 years. That bizarre lede and closer. He also says Feldstein’s voice is fine then ultimately indicts performances of her biggest numbers as "merely loud renditions of the big three hits." I guess we’ll see “She is good*” in some ad, but it sounds like a high school forensics tournament judge, not a critic from the paper of record.

*But also: "Her voice, though solid and sweet and clear, is not well suited to the music, and you feel her working as hard as she can to power through the gap. But working hard at what should be naturally extraordinary is not in Fanny’s DNA..."

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 10:13 AM

Remember when they announced a Lauren Ambrose Funny Girl Revival and it- never happened?

one has to wonder what that would’ve been like.

Bettyboy72 said: "songanddanceman2 said: "It's sad how gleeful people are about the negative response to the leading lady, yet seem to be missing the fact that critics really didn't like the SHOW. This is a bad musical with a bad book, and critics rightfully called it out. So yes, the leading lady may not be perfect, but the show itself is a naff dated show.

I hope shows like this don't clutter up Broadway again."

I don't think people are gleeful. What some people are is validated. You are dealing with theatre fans who want and demand appropriate talent on the stage. She was miscast and the production was called out on it. And the reason the show itself is standing out like a sore thumb is because the lead was miscast."

A lot of bitchiness and shade last night. Some people were LOVING the bad reviews. That kind of spite is sad. And I say this as one who has said, more than once, I don't like what I've seen of Beanie's performance and doubt I would enjoy the show. But the toxic personalities on display last night tell their own tale.

Loving the reviews because so many were accurate.

Had she nailed the performance, we'd be pissed if these were the reviews and would have celebrated raves.

songanddanceman2 said: "It's sad how gleeful people are about the negative response to the leading lady, yet seem to be missing the fact that critics really didn't like the SHOW. This is a bad musical with a bad book, and critics rightfully called it out. So yes, the leading lady may not be perfect, but the show itself is a naff dated show.

I am not sure who wrote this, but this comment nails it: "A lot of bitchiness and shade last night. Some people were LOVING the bad reviews. That kind of spite is sad. And I say this as one who has said, more than once, I don't like what I've seen of Beanie's performance and doubt I would enjoy the show. But the toxic personalities on display last night tell their own tale."

I can rip the mask off the defensive replies. They will say they love theater and they were protecting the fact that audiences deserve better. That is a transparent lie. They were bitchy not because they demand excellence. They were toxic because that is who they are.

Thank you for this. There is definitely a mean spirited happiness regarding the poor reviews. I hoped this show would get more positive reviews, and I bravely stood alone in my wishes and received many charientisms in replies that misconstrued my predictions and there were reactions that attempted to ridicule ME which I acknowledge was because of my position. Well, I am no lemming. And, so be it.

There is always jealousy involved when others want to see people fail. There may be many disgruntled wannabes here who are angry that fame came so easily to Beanie. I myself was at first guilty of sitting under that same umbrella but I changed because it is just as easy to hold good thoughts as it is to send out bad vibes.

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 11:18 AM

Very excited to have tickets for next Saturday.

I fee like I've aged 10 years following this thread.

Highland Guy said: "I, like others, have waited patiently for decades to see "Funny Girl" revived on the Broadway stage. And this is what we get. I feel cheated of what might have been, could have been. And that kinda pisses me off."

That's some major league entitlement, if you ask me. No one "owes" you a revival of Funny Girl, and it was never much of a show to begin with.