FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 79

Auggie27 said: ""Funnily enough, I thought she performed a lot of the songs fine, but in a tragic irony, not the main three we know and love."

This is a recurring comment, the bifurcated score with -- in practice if not intention, obviously -- two sets of vocal demands. Or perhaps more fairly, expectations. I've heard several people say the Feldstein Fanny is mostly successful in her performance numbers, but, as a friend said, "unable to to just stand on a stage and deliver a song.."

This last report from everythingtaboo, like the best, really explains where and how the production disappoints, beyond generic thumbs up/thumbs down. There's widespread misconception in social media that theater board chatter on this show has been brutally cruel, when most of it is actually quite thoughtful, like this last post. I read posters trying hard to express this feeling of root-for from the top, and then a slide into accepting the areas the production falters. The resulting let-down. So little of it has been marked by abject bitchery, yet that's the reputation the boards seem to generate. But they always have."

Yes.  I saw this in some of the Tik Toks.. and I was thinking there must be some secret BWW Board.. because it did not reflect what I have been reading here. 

banned

Updated On: 5/13/22 at 08:52 PM

“Mrs. White, or is it Mrs. Black, may I speak to Jane?”

^What did you actually leave out from your first 2 paragraphs?  Seemed pretty complete to me!

 

Yes, your point about the weakness of the book getting more attention is spot on.

dramamama611 said: "^What did you actually leave out from your first 2 paragraphs? Seemed pretty complete to me!"

I guess I mean maybe act two could’ve turned it all around? I doubt it, and my friend assured me it didn’t, but who knows.

ColorTheHours048 said: "dramamama611 said: "^What did you actually leave out from your first 2 paragraphs? Seemed pretty complete to me!"

I guess I mean maybe act two could’ve turned it all around? I doubt it, and my friend assured me it didn’t, but who knows."

I love having theater-going friends.  A couple know exactly what I like and have rarely made a bad recommendation for years.  Some other friends, not so much.  No one, however, has urged me to see this production.

 

Sally Durant Plummer said: "Ok, before I went to bed last night. I saw that Lorna had written a pretty legendary post in response to my comment. Now it's gone and I'm wondering if it was a fever dream..."

A little bit of it remains on the page before this.  She is just trolling.  

ColorTheHours048 said: "I caught the first act of this last night and bailed at intermission. I’m one of the folks who wanted so badly for this to be good, because I have genuinely found Beanie charming in the things I’ve seen her in up til now, but boy am I eating my hat.

I’ve never felt so much secondhand embarrassment in a Broadway theater before. Who greenlit this? Who cast not just Beanie, but every single person in this cast? It’s bad from top to bottom - a lead who’s incapable of meeting the demands of the role, supporting leads who all feel like they’re in different shows, and an ensemble that looks ashamed to be there. That choreography… woof. Some of the worst, most unappealing groups numbers I’ve ever seen.

I can’t give my full opinion on the show, but it was truly amateur hour. I’m baffled how this made it to the stage. Also, Funny Girl is not that great a show, so all the flaws of the score and (revised) book are on glaring display. Rough."

The only thing I would have to say about your missing Act II, was Ramin. Even though A Temporary Arrangement was thrown in and didn't make much sense, it was a show stopper. Also, the duet to Who Are You Now gave some indication of what the love story could have been with a better female lead. His voice is glorious and the short bit of People he sang almost makes the show worth it. 

My comments about Beanie were made early on - seems nothing changed. You can't buy talent - or at least the talent this show needed to succeed. It will linger for awhile because her fan base is very large.

I feel sorry for all involved. Jordan Catalano posted just after yours that some in the ensemble were trashing Beanie in public. I'm not surprised. She seems oblivious to what is going on with this show and how this is actively affecting the careers of everyone involved. I find that the most offensive element of this whole thing - the hubris.

Sally Durant Plummer said: "Ok, before I went to bed last night. I saw that Lorna had written a pretty legendary post in response to my comment. Now it's gone and I'm wondering if it was a fever dream..."

It was there. Kind of a hoot, actually. On the mark, IMO - although no diplomacy. LOL. I had to laugh when she said she could have really made something of the part 50 years ago. I think she might have done. 

Penna2 - Exactly "how this is actively affecting the careers of everyone involved"?   And even if that's so, what do you REALLY think Beanie can or should do about it?

 

And to Jordan's post: so much for the talk that everyone "adored" her.

Jordan Catalano said: "At a VERY public place in the theater district the other night, two ensemble members were very loudly trashing Beanie and the show, itself."

This certainly lends some credence to why the ensemble looked so “over it” last night. They really did look like they were there to collect their paycheck and not much else.

dramamama611 said: "Penna2 - Exactly "how this is actively affecting the careers of everyone involved"? And even if that's so, what do you REALLY think Beanie can or should do about it?

And to Jordan's post: so much for the talk that everyone "adored" her."

Also to Bette's Turban and JasonC3

Having a lead who could sing and act the role would have elevated the entire production, particularly the love story - which, to me, was always the center of her life. However much a jerk he may have been in real life, they loved each other. The most recent comment refers to the lack of chemistry between Beanie and Ramin as a black hole, I believe. He was cast almost 3 years ago, so they must have seen something besides his singing in him (most of his fans will agree). This is a hot guy. If anything they came across as friends. 

My point here is he lost out on a Tony nomination (I don't know about a win - the character is weirdly written - not Featured, but not exactly Lead, but definitely a nomination). The same for the role of Fanny - another possible nomination because the new lead would be able to carry the role in its entirely, not just in part. Maybe even Jane - who some feel was robbed, I have no real opinion on that. The show might have gotten a nomination - which means any box office lost by Beanie pulling out would be made up because a great show was being put on - instead of what most here have talked about, not to mention the critics...and the Tony nominating committees. Being in a hit show is much stronger on a resume than a dud - for anyone involved in the show.

As to the question of there being no show without Beanie and what could she do?

True, I'm sure we are all aware that some financing was thanks to Beanie's influence as well as her name having the ability to bring in a new type of audience to Broadway and a large fan base.

This would involve Beanie realizing she wasn't cutting the mustard. This was likely known early on - even before formal rehearsals began. Okay, fine go ahead with rehearsals. Continue with the coaching and directing and working around obvious problems with both singing and acting skills for this type of production - see how that goes. Once the previews opened, there were still major problems, which haven't been resolved because Beanie is Beanie and she will not "grow" into the role at this point. It is what it is.

While it certainly didn't happen and isn't likely to happen even now, would have been for her to say: To the great producers and those who have had such faith in me, I cannot do this. I thought I could and I have been working very hard (no one is arguing she is working hard because you can see it), but I can see I am not the right person for the role and the show deserves a lead who can really become Fanny. This is something I really wanted, a dream I've had, but for the good of the show, I am bowing out. 

But, of course, that requires humility and a strong inner guide. Frankly, I don't know if someone leaving a show for knowing they weren't cutting it has ever happened on Broadway, but this show is different from most Broadway productions. I do know it has happened on smaller stages, in local venues. Takes courage, especially when it is something you really want.

So, that is my answer to how the failings of the lead has affected the careers of others in the show, as well as what she could have done. 

For the record, when I saw the first promo - I was rooting for her - thought she was sharp and I loved her attitude. No one wants someone else to fail, at least I hope not.

Updated On: 5/13/22 at 08:17 PM