FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 69

[bk]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:53am

I don't believe there was a casting process for the leading lady. 

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:55am

RippedMan said: "Honestly Patti would SLAY this role her at current age and probably sell out that theater."

And Ben Platt could play Nicky!  <he said with perfect sarcasm>

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:07am

Georgeanddot2 said: "The way I'm seeing people bend over backwards to defend this casting is very weird.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdVLQJmv/

https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdVLUGQG/

https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdVLXyMP/

Describing Beanie's dad as a "tour account for musicians" is the downplay of the century in that third titok."

Unlike some of you (and admittedly, myself until this Thursday), Kate has actually seen this show. Not sure why she's not allowed to have an opinion on it, but ok. 

And I think it's completely forgivable for people to think Beanie's dad is a Tour Accountant considering that's what Wikipedia and Google say he is. You do have to do some more digging to discover what NKSFB is and how much bigger his role is than just being a tour accountant. I guess you can be upset that Katherine didn't do that research, but she was making a TikTok, not writing a research paper. 

[fbueller]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:33am

At this point, producers should ‘pull a Lainie’ and invite critics back over the weekend when Julie takes over to review the show a second time.

[Lorna Joe]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:38am

Wow this delight over some bad reviews is just loshen hara. My rabbi is not happy. 

There are enough good reviews to fill seats until the end of Beanie's contract. And the joy over the bad reviews is pathetic. The jealousy of wannabes because Beanie got this role is transparent... it's the butthurt anger from those who never make it out of the chorus. 

And then there are those who mention other singers such as Julie Benko or Sheridan Smith or Lauren Ambrose and they are better than a Sominex.  Bland and boring. Patti Lupone? Seriously? Maybe as Mrs. Strakosh. 

Computer courage is easy at message boards. It's easy to make fun of others and become a lemming for the approbation of others. it's obnoxious. Within all the comments, I have not read anything significant. It's gibberish and some of the reviews look like they were written by those with IQs that match room temperature. 

I do not think Beanie is batting an eyelash. She wanted to play Fanny and she is in FUNNY GIRL. I am sure she was counseled about how to handle the possibility of bad reviews. I am sure she was advised not to read the reviews. She will be fine. 

It's all these disgruntled posters at message boards I am worried about. They have reached entelechy. Sad. 

 

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 02:38 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 4:03am

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 5:55am

How does one block a user on here? We do have that feature, right? I'm dead serious. I have never had a use for this feature before, but I've had it with Lorna Joe. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 6:08am

bwayphreak234 said: "How does one block a user on here? We do have that feature, right? I'm dead serious. I have never had a use for this feature before, but I've had it with Lorna Joe."

I actually learned to use this feature to block Lorna Joe as well (as have a few others).  Go to your account, then Settings, then enter user screen name. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 6:43am

^ THANK YOU, BrodyFosse123! I appreciate you!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 7:23am

It's a great feature - but sadly, you'll see see the posts when you are in the "post a reply" mode or, naturally, if someone else quotes the poster.  It is more pleasant however.

 

 

[BJR]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:11am

BarnabyTucker said: "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?"

What's to know? They're going to have a hellish week.

A friend in the show says they adore Beanie. Obviously everyone is aware they went with a character actress direction for the part, and my friend noted her singing got stronger and more confident through previews. But also, that she's a doll to the company and they adore her.

So, yeah, always rough to get these kind of notices (and the glee and snark that was notably absent from many of the bad reviews was picked up by posters here), then go play 8 shows.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 8:54am

Lorna Joe said: "Wow this delight over some bad reviews is just loshen hara. My rabbi is not happy.

There are enough good reviews to fill seats until the end of Beanie's contract. And the joy over the bad reviews is pathetic. The jealousy of wannabes because Beanie got this role is transparent... it's the butthurt anger from those who never make it out of the chorus.

And then there are those who mention other singers such as Julie Benko or Sheridan Smith or Lauren Ambrose and they are better than a Sominex. Bland and boring. Patti Lupone? Seriously? Maybe as Mrs. Strakosh.

Computer courage is easy at message boards. It's easy to make fun of others and become a lemming for the approbation of others. it's obnoxious. Within all the comments, I have not read anything significant. It's gibberish and some of the reviews look like they were written by those with IQs that match room temperature.

I do not think Beanie is batting an eyelash. She wanted to play Fanny and she is in FUNNY GIRL. I am sure she was counseled about how to handle the possibility of bad reviews. I am sure she was advised not to read the reviews. She will be fine.

It's all these disgruntled posters at message boards I am worried about. They have reached entelechy. Sad.

"

Some of us who thought Beanie was awful do not want to be Broadway performers. So nah, I’m not jealous. I’m just annoyed I had to sit through her painful singing and mediocre performance. But nice try. 

[bryan2]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 9:36am

I find it funny that everyone is coming to her defense as if they are her best friends. Her reviews were mixed to horrible (the worst being they would not cast her in a high school production or theater camp) but this is what is. I find it funny that they still talk and badmouth Melanie Griffin (an academy award nominee) and now Pam Anderson for playing Roxie and that is acceptable, and they were the 150th Roxes lol, but for some reason you can not bad mouth Beanie performance. She was miscast  and anyone who knows theater knows this .

This is a show that required a big beautiful voice and she has a small nasal voice with an ability to belt at times. The producers and the director made a calculated choice and  decided that funny and hammy was enough to compensate for the lack of singing and they designed the show for someone who was polar opposite of Barbra ..so this is what it is.

Stop ripping her apart/ stop defending her she will keep working as a character actress for years to come no matter what these reviews say , she is a talented actress  / buy a ticket , dont buy a ticket .. You have a choice

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 09:36 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 11:52am

You should watch some of the tik toks (especially from young ladies) coming to her defense. I believe they must have been part of the twilight zone audience I experienced. One goes on to defend her lack of voice by saying she is more of a story teller. As if you can't have both. And if you want vocals.. go to SIX. OY VEY!

[dank]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 12:39pm

I saw the show last Tuesday evening. Here are my thoughts.

1- Never believed Beanie was a Ziegfeld star. When you come out telling us you are the greatest star you better be.

2-The overture was thrilling to me.

3-Jane Lynch was about as Jewish as Eva Braun.

4-People and Music That Makes Me Dance were not sung or staged well at all.

5-Toni Dibuono was a fantastic Mrs. Strakosh.

6- Why was Beanie directed to upstage herself in all her book scenes in Act 2?

7- The lights chasing around the proscenium reminded me of the applause sign over at Mr Saturday Night.

8- Loved Mr. Karimloo as Nick but did not like his Act two number. It was like -lets give Nick a song so Beanie can dry off and have some water.

9- Jared Grimes did the best he could with a truly underwritten part.

10- The costumes did not impress- really did not care for the silver lame Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat  costumes at all.

11- Beanies Act 2 entrance was not my cup of tea- nor was I a fan of her curtain call .

This is just my opinion and I really wanted to enjoy it...but I was disapointed.

These were just some random thoughts 

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 12:39 PM

[White_Lotus]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:23pm

Thanks for posting Julie Benko’s performance dates.

I have now rescheduled my visit to Funny Girl to see Benko in the role.

If I’m going to risk a “crap shoot” I feel more confident in betting on someone who will be able to sing the role and give me my money’s worth. 

 

[dwirth]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:25pm

dank said: "I saw the show last Tuesday evening. Here are my thoughts.

4-People and Music That Me Dance were not sung or staged well at all.

 

Is "The Music That Makes Me Dance" now on Broadway the lilting, much faster-tempo version of the song from the West End production from a few years back - vs the slow-tempo, classic torch song that we all know? If so, inexcusable. 

Either way, I barely made it through that Michael Mayer-helmed London production back in 2016 - easily the worst show I've seen in decades. 

 

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 1:31pm

bryan2 said: "I find it funny that everyone is coming to her defense as if they are her best friends. Her reviews were mixed to horrible (the worst being they would not cast her in a high school production or theater camp) but this is what is. I find it funny that they still talk and badmouth Melanie Griffin (an academy award nominee) and now Pam Anderson for playing Roxie and that is acceptable, and they were the 150th Roxes lol, but for some reason you can not bad mouth Beanie performance. She was miscast and anyone who knows theater knows this .

This is a show that required a big beautiful voice and she has a small nasal voice with an ability to belt at times. The producers and the director made a calculated choice and decided that funny and hammy was enough to compensate for the lack of singing and they designed the show for someone who was polar opposite of Barbra ..so this is what it is.

Stop ripping her apart/ stop defending her she will keep working as a character actress for years to come no matter what these reviews say , she is a talented actress / buy a ticket , dont buy a ticket .. You have a choice"

I find it funnier that so many people are so vicious about it--as if they were forced to invest in the show or even purchase a ticket. 

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:17pm

I have seen a few incarnations of Funny Girl. From high school productions, to community theatre productions,  to Westbury Music Fair Productions and of course the movie. You tube clips of Leslie Kritzer  (who seems very good) and the full Funny Girl With Stephanie Block    Also clips of Mimi Hines and Barbra on Broadway.

The show is  clunky and not great. Barbara and Mimi Hines  made it her own --and even Barbara Cook were wonderful in the role.

But these shoes are hard  to fill. You need a killer singer and uniquely quirky girl.
Barbra and Mimi and Cook had it. 

So the following people dodged a bullet by not being cast in Funny Girl

Lauren Ambrose

A Young Patti Lupone

Idina Menzel

Stefanie Block (killer actress and singer wows me in everything but even in her Funny Girl on You tube.. you can't stop comparing her to Barbra.

Jessie Mueller

Leah Michelle

add most other actresses here.

 

You need someone uniquely quirky with a killer voice. That is hard to come by.

Barbara was one in a million.

Dare I say Mimi Hines was one in a million.

And even at 14 years old going to see the shicksa Barbara Cook as Fanny Brice was unexpected and strangely wonderful. The woman was a chameleon and a genius. Quirky heartfelt and sang like an angel. One in a million.

I have witnessed numerous high school productions  and Communiy theatre productions and of course the show fell flat on its Fanny. And its choppy book.  Some great songs and a choppy book don't make great musical theatre. You forget that with the movie because Barbra is perfect and incandescent.  .YOu also forget that in the movie because it was re written beautifully.  With a killer Fanny you don't notice the flaws

So there is probably someone out there who can do this role justice. But that person is very difficult if ot impossible to find. 

I haven't seen Beanie. Im sure she is funny and quirky.  But methinks they should have looked a lot harder for their Fanny . Being a hysterical sight gag as Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly  perhaps does not a Fanny Brice make. 

It sounds  from the reviews  Beannie is a Funny Girl. Just not THE Funny Girl.

She will go on to do better things more suited to her special talents.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:18pm

joevitus said: "bryan2 said: "I find it funny that everyone is coming to her defense as if they are her best friends. Her reviews were mixed to horrible (the worst being they would not cast her in a high school production or theater camp) but this is what is. I find it funny that they still talk and badmouth Melanie Griffin (an academy award nominee) and now Pam Anderson for playing Roxie and that is acceptable, and they were the 150th Roxes lol, but for some reason you can not bad mouth Beanie performance. She was miscast and anyone who knows theater knows this .

This is a show that required a big beautiful voice and she has a small nasal voice with an ability to belt at times. The producers and the director made a calculated choice and decided that funny and hammy was enough to compensate for the lack of singing and they designed the show for someone who was polar opposite of Barbra ..so this is what it is.

Stop ripping her apart/ stop defending her she will keep working as a character actress for years to come no matter what these reviews say , she is a talented actress / buy a ticket , dont buy a ticket .. You have a choice"

I find it funnier that so many people are so vicious about it--as if they were forced to invest in the show or even purchase a ticket."

I find it funnier that you have not seen the show.. yet you are here every day , stirring the pot, and getting people worked up to defend their right to their opinions.  

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:46pm

DAME said: "joevitus said: "bryan2 said: "I find it funny that everyone is coming to her defense as if they are her best friends. Her reviews were mixed to horrible (the worst being they would not cast her in a high school production or theater camp) but this is what is. I find it funny that they still talk and badmouth Melanie Griffin (an academy award nominee) and now Pam Anderson for playing Roxie and that is acceptable, and they were the 150th Roxes lol, but for some reason you can not bad mouth Beanie performance. She was miscast and anyone who knows theater knows this .

This is a show that required a big beautiful voice and she has a small nasal voice with an ability to belt at times. The producers and the director made a calculated choice and decided that funny and hammy was enough to compensate for the lack of singing and they designed the show for someone who was polar opposite of Barbra ..so this is what it is.

Stop ripping her apart/ stop defending her she will keep working as a character actress for years to come no matter what these reviews say , she is a talented actress / buy a ticket , dont buy a ticket .. You have a choice"

I find it funnier that so many people are so vicious about it--as if they were forced to invest in the show or even purchase a ticket."

I find it funnier that you have not seen the show.. yet you are here every day , stirring the pot, and getting people worked up to defend their right to their opinions."

The HUSSY has spoken!

**HUSSY Power!**

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 2:46pm

The HUSSY Power is so strong it created a double post!

Updated On: 4/26/22 at 02:46 PM

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 3:13pm

In December, when I received the email that Beanie wouldn’t be performing at the show I had 6 tickets to this Saturday, I exchanged them for tonight because despite my doubts, I wanted to give her a chance. After reading the reviews and the comments on this board, I just exchanged them back to Saturday to see Julie and am so relieved I did. At $200 a pop, I really don’t want to be wincing and digging my nails into the armrest for nearly three hours. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 3:45pm

Seeing the show tonight, and really looking forward to it.  Have done FG twice before, playing the tenor who sings "His Love Makes You Beautiful."  First time was in 1993 with a very young Stephanie Block as Fanny Brice.  

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 4/26/22 at 4:54pm

nealb1 said: "Seeing the show tonight, and really looking forward to it. Have done FG twice before, playing the tenor who sings "His Love Makes You Beautiful." First time was in 1993 with a very young Stephanie Block as Fanny Brice."

As a singer who has actually performed in this show on a professional level, it will be interesting to hear your take on this production after tonight.