FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 67

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 3:53pm

Dolly80 said: "She should NEVER have taken this role on. Yes the producers are massively to blame- but everyone should know their own limitations and she should have said no. I wouldn’t play Hamlet if I was asked."

Why not? I played Mame Dennis in Mame years ago and then played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof... it was in a school auditorium. Ver vais. It was fun. 

And at HB Studio I played Hamlet in a Bill Hickey class. If you have confidence, you can do anything. 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 3:56pm

OhHiii said: "Duckie4 said: ""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."

The way this board gets, you'd think Jessie Mueller could play any single role ever written for any musical under the sun. Glad the majority of posters aren't in casting."

I happen to think Jessie Mueller is not right for a lot of things, but I do think she would have been great as Fanny. 

 

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:06pm

Sutton Ross said: "theatregoer3 said: "Beanie Feldstein must really be going through a lot today. I've never seen so many reviews specifically call out a lead for not being up to par for a role. Even a significant portion of the headlines themselves are about how she can't hack it.

"Beanie Feldstein attempts to scale 'Funny Girl.' She almost makes it."

"Beanie Feldstein can't fill Barbara Streisand's shoes"

"Beanie Feldstein's Broadway show falls flat"

"Beanie Feldstein struggles in Broadway revival"

I'm sure she has a great support system around her, but these kind of hurt to read."

She earned these reviews. Every single one of them."

Lord the hate is absurd. And from someone who HASN'T SEEN THE SHOW! but totes knows what a given performer (and I'm sure everyone on the planet individually) "deserves." 

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 04:06 PM

[joevitus]

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

BroadwayGirl107 said: "Dolly80 said: "She should NEVER have taken this role on. Yes the producers are massively to blame- but everyone should know their own limitations and she should have said no. I wouldn’t play Hamlet if I was asked."

I agree. I think even the most talented performers have to know when to turn something down because it isn't right for them. Just because you love a piece doesn't mean you have the unique talents for it. I happen to think Feldstein is charming and talented, but she should definitely have had the self awareness to turn this down. You live, you learn, I hope!

"

If the show is playing to near capacity or sold out (and so far that's been the situation), what exactly is she supposed to "learn"? It's like saying you hope ALW "learned" something after the reviews for Phantom.

[Shari 2]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:28pm

Yes, sadly it must be but after seeing the show, I'm sorry to say that she is in over her head. Fanny Brice is the main character in this show and she was weak. 

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:32pm

Beanie to Ben Platt: “They’re saying it was a mistake to step into the shoes of a legendary performance!”

Ben to Beanie: “Tell me about it. Now imagine if the performance you were being compared to was your own from 4 years ago.”

Beanie: “At least these jaded golden age critics will be dead in 20 years when our Merrily movie comes out!”

Marc Platt: “That was always the plan!”

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:41pm

Yeah, we don't know her personally. Maybe she THINKS she has the best voice in the world? Maybe the producers/director pitched the show to her and that they would make it work with her vocals? Who knows. We don't know. 

Now I just want Block to play Fannie. Age doesn't matter. She'd be so masterful. 

[Shari 2]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:50pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Kudos to the social media manager of the FUNNY GIRL Instagram. They truly know how to do their s**t. Their pull quotes are truly a Master Class. A quick glimpse at their new Insta Stories you’d believe the revival is the next HAMILTON. Wow! I’m truly impressed and no snark on my end. This social media manager is a genius."

What they didn't post this one?

“Feldstein seems flummoxed by the transition to more adult scenes in part two, however, and Karimloo winds up playing those almost as if he’s alone.”

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:51pm

Haley Reinhart.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipXA9lJzc0

She could bring it. 

[east side story]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 4:52pm

Michelle Pfeiffer was allegedly learning and rehearsing the score for a potential Rudin-backed revival of MAME for ages.  When it came time, Pfeiffer had the self awareness to pass because she simply couldn’t do it.  Feldstein should have been so fortunate, as these notices are saccharine pans. 

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 04:52 PM

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:00pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "I think the missed opportunity casting if they were gonna go with big-



is Rachel Bloom. That would’ve been ingenious"

I think Annaleigh Ashford would’ve crushed this part. 

[Shari 2]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:00pm

MemorableUserName said: "NY Post:

‘Funny Girl’ review: Beanie Feldstein’s Broadway show falls flat

https://nypost.com/2022/04/24/funny-girl-review-beanie-feldstein-falls-flat-on-broadway/"

 

Having seen it already, I couldn't agree more. Beanie was weak. Jared, Ramin and Jane just aren't big enough roles to sweep her poor performance under the curtain. 

 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:28pm

joevitus said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "Dolly80 said: "She should NEVER have taken this role on. Yes the producers are massively to blame- but everyone should know their own limitations and she should have said no. I wouldn’t play Hamlet if I was asked."

I agree. I think even the most talented performers have to know when to turn something down because it isn't right for them. Just because you love a piece doesn't mean you have the unique talents for it. I happen to think Feldstein is charming and talented, but she should definitely have had the self awareness to turn this down. You live, you learn, I hope!

"

If the show is playing to near capacity or sold out (and so far that's been the situation), what exactly is she supposed to "learn"? It's like saying you hope ALW "learned" something after the reviews for Phantom."

Those tickets were sold before reviews came out, or even word of mouth. She can learn to either up her game here or, more importantly, choose project moving forward that showcase her in her best light so she doesn’t leave a trail of negative reviews as her career and legacy. This is what every actor needs to do—choose the projects that challenge them just enough and showcase what they do well so their career can last decades, not sell out on brief run of a single show. 
 

I say this with love. I think Beanie is a lovely talent. I think she can build a solid career catering to what she does well. 

[daisybeetle]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:35pm

I'm sad that the revival is sub-par because I love Funny Girl ( or maybe I just love Barbra, duh). I went on YT to check out BF's singing voice and all I could think of is Annie voice. She could be an orphan in "Annie". 

The reviews seem to love Jane Lynch and I am wondering if she (DBO. don't be offended) put on a Jewish Brooklyn accent. Because you know, she looks Nordic almost and nothing like Beanie.

DBO

[DAME]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:36pm

We all deserve better.   

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:42pm

An actor knows when he or she is miscast. Their performances just "aren't working" for them.

Previously I shared my story about being cast as Gaetano Proclo in THE RITZ. I was horribly miscast and knew it after the first week of rehearsals. I asked to be replaced. I was told to hang on and  they'd "take care of it". They never did. 

I tried everything I could to make my performance work but I just wasn't right for the role. I dreaded going on stage every night because I knew the audience was 't buying me as a garbage collector from New Jersey.

I'm sure Beanie knows what I'm talking about here. If she doesn't now, she will in time.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:47pm

I feel like this is the end result of years of participation trophies, not keeping score in T ball, and basically telling every kid that nothing they do is less than wonderful. Did no one tell her "you have great talent, just not for this very specific type of role?"

The fact that I had to edit this comment for a very mild, and true, comment within in sort of proves my point. The end result of all of that is mediocrity.

I suppose if the backers don't mind losing money, no harm. But I really would love to have seen a breakout star who could carry the show, and kick it across the footlights. A la Streisand, or LuPone.

In the end, it's the audience that loses out.

[fbueller]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:52pm

east side story said: "Michelle Pfeiffer was allegedly learning and rehearsing the score for a potential Rudin-backedrevival of MAME for ages. When it came time, Pfeiffer had the self awareness to pass because she simply couldn’t do it. Feldstein should have been so fortunate, as these notices are saccharine pans."

Reading through your example, I couldn't help but think of the film version of 'Mame'.  Lucille Ball just wasn't a good fit for that role.  This isn't that different from Beanie in 'Funny Girl'.  Lucy bought the role rather than earning it.

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 05:52 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:53pm

Sadly those talents are few and far between. Now everyone looks and sounds the same. 

And producers want a talent but also a name and I guess this is where those lines met. Sadly, don't think it worked out for either party. 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:55pm

lovebwy said: "I feel like this is the end result of years of participation trophies, not keeping score in T ball, and basically telling every kid that nothing they do is less than wonderful. Did no one tell her "you have great talent, just not for this very specific type of role?"

The fact that I had to edit this comment for a very mild, and true, comment within in sort of proves my point. The end result of all of that is mediocrity.

I suppose if the backers don't mind losing money, no harm. But I really would love to have seen a breakout star who could carry the show, and kick it across the footlights. A la Streisand, or LuPone.

In the end, it's the audience that loses out."

I also had a post deleted by the mods for sharing my experience as a two-time ticket buyer for this disappointing production of FUNNY GIRL.  Here is the sanitized version of what I wrote: 

There are too many kids pounding the pavement who deserve a fair shake from an industry they have invested their lives in (college degrees, training, survival jobs, etc.). Broadway producers refuse to create stars anymore. Beanie Feldstein doesn't sell tickets beyond the demographic that was already going to see the show regardless of whether a name was playing Fanny. 

 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:57pm

Also, I never thought I'd say it, but I miss Michael Riedel. 

Maybe say his name three times and he'll give us the scoop on what's going on backstage?

[singer234]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 5:59pm

I can only hope it runs long enough to see someone like Hannah Solow play the part. She’s currently on the Oklahoma tour, big tiktok following for her COMEDY, and a serious voice. She is the type of person who should be playing this role. Jewish, laugh out loud effing hilarious with a voice to boot. Those girls exist-she is just one of many options. But the idea they “couldn’t find” anyone is ludicrous.

[smallworld]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 6:07pm

It should've been Christina Bianco this entire time, and I'll die on that hill. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 6:20pm

Anyone else see Jameela Jamil's ridiculous take yet?

[stlrod]

Posted: 4/25/22 at 6:24pm

FWIW, I put my tickets up for sale today for what I paid for them.  I wouldn't ordinarily allow reviews to influence my actions.  I loved TMM two days after opening and smiled ear-to-ear despite some negative comments about Hugh Jackman. TMM though had Sutton Foster (with mostly raves) and a lot of production value.  The fact the FG reviews barely mention the secondary leads or speak favorably about the production value made me throw in the towel.  It just wasn't "slot-worthy" any more.  

UPDATE:  I checked my email right after posting this and I sold the tickets and made $3.34.  I recouped!!!

Updated On: 4/25/22 at 06:24 PM