FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 77

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 1:25am

BrodyFosse123 said: "There was talk about Lauren Ambrose doing it at one time.

Ambrose was announced to lead the 2012 Broadway revival that was to be directed by Bartlett Sher. Bobby Cannavale was confirmed as Nick Arnstein. This Broadway revival was scheduled to begin it’s pre-Broadway start at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles then cancelled when investors pulled out."

Thanks for the clarification, I don't know that much about the background of the show tbh, just Ramin's part in it based on different interviews. Do you happen to know who they had in mind for Fanny? In addition to Ambrose, I read that Idina Menzel was close to signing, but that fell through. I realize she's 50 now, but not sure how terrible that would have been. Two powerful voices together would have been amazing. Sutton Foster is 47 and looks great as Marion.

[bk]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 3:48am

BrodyFosse123 said: "This revival of FUNNY GIRL and its non-traditional casting of Beanie has created this fan girl following that has followed many similar shows that feature outcast, underdog characters like WICKED, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, BE MORE CHILL, etc. Many young girls resemble Beanie therefore they identify with her and follow her career and her successes. This is where that “Twilight Zone” scenario exists at each performance. Even if Beanie’s voice cracks twenty times, those young girls still scream and go crazy like they’re at a Backstreet Boys concert circa 1990s. Beanie is their idol. If she can star in a Broadway musical, they can achieve this as well. Nothing is impossible. They see themselves in Beanie Feldstein."

This is, to my mind, a very astute post. I call them Beanie babies. :) It is a very curious phenomenon that didn't really exist in quite this fashion pre-Wicked.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:13am

I saw this on Saturday with the lowest of expectations. Most of the issues I had were of the show itself, not the production. I feel most are being mean for not reason, I do not think the set or the costumers were cheap. 
 

As for Beanie, again, I think people are being mean for no reason. Is she giving the best performance of the year? Well, no. But not everything needs to be a life changing performance. She was charming and hilarious. Her voice was a bit strange during some of the songs, BUT she also has a nice belt, it is FAR from the travesty that many are saying. 
 

The show itself was.. fine. Act II was dull, the first act was traditional musical comedy. The cast looks like they’re having a blast. The theatre was eating out of the palm of Beanie’s hand. While I didn’t think she was THAT amazing, there is a clear disconnect between mainstream audiences and reviewers or people like us.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 7:18am

It's not a disconnect, it's knowledge and standards. 

Note: I didn't HATE the show, I didn't even HATE Beanie - but she was totally miscast - NOT because of her size.   SOME of it is directorial, but  she just doesn't have the goods for THIS role, and for this show, if your Fanny doesn't have it, the show cannot soar.  

 

 

[Deedee23]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 7:27am

n2nbaby said: "As for Beanie, again, I think people are being mean for no reason."

I don't think people are being mean. They just don't like her in the role. No one is blaming Beanie for taking the role, or calling her names. People just have different levels of standards and are holding Beanie to that. For some people, she misses the mark. Other people really enjoy her. And that's okay!

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 8:26am

Deedee23 said: "n2nbaby said: "As for Beanie, again, I think people are being mean for no reason."

I don't think people are being mean. They just don't like her in the role. No one is blaming Beanie for taking the role, or calling her names. People just have different levels of standards and are holding Beanie to that. For some people, she misses the mark. Other people really enjoy her. And that's okay!"

IF this is how everyone was acting, that would be solid but it isn’t. I’ve read comments on her weight and everything under the sun (just take a glance at her reviews). 
 

Everyone won’t like everything and people should be honest and transparent about what they like and don’t like, but the SUPER nasty comments are not necessary. 
 

Who knows, maybe she has improved over the last month but the performance on Saturday wasn’t at all community theatre, which is exactly what I was expecting. I was pleasantly surprised.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 10:03am

Lots of us who hate her in the role could care less what she looks like. Her voice is painful to listen to. And her acting, when I saw it, was amateur at best. That's not being mean. That's called having an opinion. 

[Shower Singer]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 10:52am

It seems the Tony Nominations fairly echo the majority of comments on the board.  One nomination for Jared, which was well deserved.  It will be interesting to see how this impacts the box office.  I'm wondering how the creatives who made the reviews all look glowing will spin one nomination (for featured actor), but I'm sure they'll figure something out!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 11:08am

Updated On: 5/9/22 at 11:08 AM

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 11:48am

iluvtheatertrash said: "Lots of us who hate her in the role could care less what she looks like. Her voice is painful to listen to. And her acting, when I saw it, was amateur at best. That's not being mean. That's called having an opinion."

Cool - I was not talking about you in the slightest. I was SPECIFICALLY SINGLING out the NASTY reviews she got - not ones that just didn't care for her. I promise the world doesn't revolve around you or your opinions.

It's totally cool to have a different opinion than someone else. I didn't think she was extraordinary, but she was better than the reviews, in my opinion. People can share their opinions (see what I said above), but when you are ATTACKING, it's gross.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 11:50am

n2nbaby said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Lots of us who hate her in the role could care less what she looks like. Her voice is painful to listen to. And her acting, when I saw it, was amateur at best. That's not being mean. That's called having an opinion."

Cool - I was not talking about you in the slightest. I was SPECIFICALLY SINGLING out the NASTY reviews she got - not ones that just didn't care for her. I promise the world doesn't revolve around you or your opinions.

It's totally cool to have a different opinion than someone else. I didn't think she was extraordinary, but she was better than the reviews, in my opinion. People can share their opinions (see what I said above), but when you are ATTACKING, it's gross."

If a review doesn’t mention her physical appearance, it’s not mean. It’s not “just about me”. You keep carrying on that reviews are mean. People pay a fortune to see a show. If they think she sucks, they can express it however they like. Just as they would if the food at a restaurant is undercooked. So, keep whining that people are being “mean”. It’s a tough industry. Life sucks sometimes. And so does her performance. 👋 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 12:01pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "n2nbaby said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Lots of us who hate her in the role could care less what she looks like. Her voice is painful to listen to. And her acting, when I saw it, was amateur at best. That's not being mean. That's called having an opinion."

Cool - I was not talking about you in the slightest. I was SPECIFICALLY SINGLING out the NASTY reviews she got - not ones that just didn't care for her. I promise the world doesn't revolve around you or your opinions.

It's totally cool to have a different opinion than someone else. I didn't think she was extraordinary, but she was better than the reviews, in my opinion. People can share their opinions (see what I said above), but when you are ATTACKING, it's gross."

If a review doesn’t mention her physical appearance, it’s not mean. It’s not “just about me”. You keep carrying on that reviews are mean. People pay a fortune to see a show. If they think she sucks, they can express it however they like. Just as they would if the food at a restaurant is undercooked. So, keep whining that people are being “mean”. It’s a tough industry. Life sucks sometimes. And so does her performance. ?"

I do see you are having with reading my above comments, so I will even more plainly state it for you.

Opinions and critiquing of shows/performance = good

Being nasty and comments on appearance = bad

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 12:17pm

Considering you just failed to write a proper sentence, you might wanna avoid making jokes about reading comprehension. Keep whining because people disagree with you. 

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 12:36pm

iluvtheatertrash said: "n2nbaby said: "iluvtheatertrash said: "Lots of us who hate her in the role could care less what she looks like. Her voice is painful to listen to. And her acting, when I saw it, was amateur at best. That's not being mean. That's called having an opinion."

Cool - I was not talking about you in the slightest. I was SPECIFICALLY SINGLING out the NASTY reviews she got - not ones that just didn't care for her. I promise the world doesn't revolve around you or your opinions.

It's totally cool to have a different opinion than someone else. I didn't think she was extraordinary, but she was better than the reviews, in my opinion. People can share their opinions (see what I said above), but when you are ATTACKING, it's gross."

If a review doesn’t mention her physical appearance, it’s not mean. It’s not “just about me”. You keep carrying on that reviews are mean. People pay a fortune to see a show. If they think she sucks, they can express it however they like. Just as they would if the food at a restaurant is undercooked. So, keep whining that people are being “mean”. It’s a tough industry. Life sucks sometimes. And so does her performance. ?"

Her performance affected everyone in the show - from producers to all the creatives - and, the audience and the life of the show - at some point her fan base will peter out. Jared's dancing, which is magnificent, was definitely worthy of the nom wherever he might have danced it. I would say others, like Ramin and Jane, might have also captured a nom if the lead had given them more to work with. This was noted in the reviews as well, particularly about Nicky. An actor can only do so much on his/her own. Makes me sad.

[Amos Hart2]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 12:50pm

Shower Singer said: "It will be interesting to see how this impacts the box office.

I'm curious about that, too.  I imagine that not being nominated can hurt a show in terms of the show missing out on the Tony Awards program as a great promotional platform, but I wonder how much the nominations or lack thereof impact a more casual theatergoer's decision whether or not to see a certain show.

 

[soxboy22]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 1:06pm

Amos Hart2 said: "Shower Singer said: "It will be interesting to see how this impacts the box office.

I'm curious about that, too. I imagine that not being nominated can hurt a show in terms of the show missing out on the Tony Awards program as a great promotional platform, but I wonder how much the nominations or lack thereof impact a more casual theatergoer's decision whether or not to see a certain show.

Who knows?  Maybe the box office will rise if the Tony committee is perceived as being “mean”.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 1:08pm

I’m glad the Tony committee recognized that although Ramin is a fabulous singer and shows great emotion in his singing voice, he cannot act his way out of a paper bag when speaking. 
This has been the case for a long time. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 1:52pm

I think Jane Lynch didn’t get nominated because — despite some good reviews — more than a few critics / people on this board pointed out that her Jewish mother became more Jane Lynch as previews progressed.  
 

Re Ramon, (1) the list of actors nominated was pretty solid and (2) even with a built-up role, I can’t imagine that it is still a great role.  He may be a very talented person (I have only seen him twice and he was excellent both times), but it’s the thankless role of Nicky Arnstein we are talking about.
 

I admit that I have t see this revival (and probably won’t).

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 4:38pm

I wonder if the snub will really hurt it. It doesn't really look like the bad reviews hurt it, at least short term. The grosses seem to show it doing better than almost everything else on Broadway at the moment. Of course, that could always lead to a steep drop off, but right now, they can crow pretty well. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 5:34pm

everythingtaboo said: "I wonder if the snub will really hurt it. It doesn't really look like the bad reviews hurt it, at least short term. The grosses seem to show it doing better than almost everything else on Broadway at the moment. Of course, that could always lead to a steep drop off, but right now, they can crow pretty well."

I think the absence of nominations will ultimately hurt.  I am betting this show's business will be good for a while, based on its advance sales, and that it will peter out as its advance gets thinner, as it has to sell 'new' tickets.  I would be surprised if its advance doesn't peter out mis-summer, and that it doesn't close by the end of the summer, unless of course that advance is more front-ended than I assume...in which case it could be sooner.

[Deedee23]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:12pm

As quick-witted as the social team was for taking snippets of bad reviews to make good sounding sentences to put on their twitter, even they unfortunately can't turn one tony nom into multiple. It sucks but when the show isn't good, the tony noms go elsewhere. I'd say this show closes at the latest by the end of summer.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:20pm

I would counter that the reviews - which live forever in cyberspace - are potentially more box office determinative than Tony nominations. Word of mouth is linked to buzz and this show’s previews buzz was codified in the critics’ take. But we can’t fairly evaluate their impact since the first week after the opening the star’s contractual out for half the performances and leading man’s Covid status happened simultaneously. A month from now will be a more typical window. 

Updated On: 5/9/22 at 06:20 PM

[soxboy22]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:32pm

Will FG be invited to perform a number on the Tony broadcast, or is that reserved for nominees only?

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:34pm

Usually nominees unless the FG producers are willing to pony up a lot of money.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/9/22 at 6:36pm

soxboy22 said: "Will FG be invited to perform a number on the Tony broadcast, or is that reserved for nominees only?"

Shows have to absorb the cost of their performance (the Tony Awards doesn’t cover those costs), so if FUNNY GIRL’s producers want to spend the money, you will see a performance from FUNNY GIRL.  ON YOUR FEET! also was completely snubbed at the Tony Awards (only nomination was for Best Choreography), and they performed on the Tony Awards.