FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 81

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 11:47pm

The Bean is definitely not losing sleep. She had a Broadway production mounted around her when she wasn’t suited for the role. She’ll continue to get jobs after this and she comes from money. Her privilege will buffer her. She won’t be on the unemployment line like a struggling performer. People in her circle will continue to blow smoke. It’s how show business works. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 11:59pm

I saw this tonight, and first and foremost, BCfitasafiddle is not joking about the Playbill inserts with a QR code asking you to vote for the Broadway.com audience choice awards. Easily one of the tackiest things I have ever seen.

As for the show itself, what can I possibly say that hasn't already been said by the masses? It's a colossal failure on every level. What we have is an all around bad production of a bad show with a hummable score. The direction is stagnant (and to think I thought Jerry Zaks work was slightly uninspired at The Music Man last night...), the design is dark, dank, dingy, and cheap cheap cheap, and the less said about the performances, the better.

Beanie Feldstein is so incredibly wrong for Fanny in literally every way under the sun. I have to hand it Michael Mayer who has managed to singlehandedly deliver the three all-time most embarrassing stage performances I have seen - Taye is Hedwig, Tammy in Little Shop, and now Beanie in Funny Girl completes the trifecta as his "crowning jewel". Mayer has done some good work in the past, but his pattern of going with untraditional casting choices is just not working out.

[soxboy22]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 12:51pm

During previews, Beanie made several appearances on a.m. talk shows and Colbert, at least, at night. She was asked on Good Morning America to return with the cast and perform a number from the show. Has this happened? What is customary for a full blown musical?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 12:57pm

As of today, the revival of FUNNY GIRL has not performed nor released any promotional highlights reel.  The only performance clips ever shown anywhere was on the CBS Sunday Morning profile on Beanie and the revival.  Disregard the mention of her “asked to audition.” We all know otherwise now.

 

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 3:06pm

I know that when Phantom reopened, they did GMA. Excerpts with the principals doing the theme, then with cast members in production number to Masquerade - costumes, the whole nine yards. I don't follow GMA, but I do believe they make this available for  most musicals. Win-Win. They have the NYC audience in person and then the TV audience for people to fly in. Great advertising.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 5:38pm

If the press is bought out these days, I guess FUNNY GIRL’s people had the wrong Venmo accounts based on the almost across-the-board terrible reviews the show received.  The Tony Awards completely ignoring the revival didn’t help (one nomination is an insult).  

[soxboy22]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 6:26pm

What kind of insurance is a Broadway production required to have in place especially Re possible injury to the actors and stage personnel, creative differences resulting in firings, etc. For ex, if you contract an actor to open your show on Broadway and fire them prior,  and they sue successfully, does insurance cover any loss to the production?

I ponder whether a lead actor can leave a production because they didn’t like their critical reception/don’t think they’re doing well. Would the actor have any financial culpability?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 6:26pm

I heard earlier this week that several producers asked to scale down the revival from the original budget after an early presentation by the principal cast.  This was before ensemble casting took place. This reduced the size of the orchestra, the costumes, the sets, and the size of the cast.  A show curtain was being created before it was cancelled, hence the projection curtain used now.  The 2 staircases were originally going to be on hydraulics and create a huge staircase for the Ziegfeld Follies numbers.  This idea was scrapped when the budget was reduced. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 6:54pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "I heard earlier this week that several producers asked to scale down the revival from the original budget after an early presentation by the principal cast. This was before ensemble casting took place. This reduced the size of the orchestra, the costumes, the sets, and the size of the cast. A show curtain was being created before it was cancelled, hence the projection curtain used now. The 2 staircases were originally going to be on hydraulics and create a huge staircase for the Ziegfeld Follies numbers. This idea was scrapped when the budget was reduced."

Hm. Interesting. It begs the question of why even go through with it if you're cutting the budget if you didn't think the thing had legs? 

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 6:57pm

RuthLipschitz said: "Penna2 said: "I was referring to the fact that none of the rumors were being published."

They can't publish rumors... as I said it is libel to even engage in hearsay and give legs to the rumor."

It would appear any mention of the "n" word is being removed here. (My earlier response to you has been removed, along with the original  post referring to YouTube). However, libel is very hard to prove if there are damages, i.e., Johnny Depp/Amber Heard. Without damages, there is likely no case.

[yonexguy]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 7:11pm

The moral of the story/ endeavor... 2nd or 3rd bananas( gasp ) should know their limitations. Miss Marmelstein became Fanny on the back of 2 very special vocal chords( plus courage brains and soul ) and a bit of the wonderful Alan Miller. See... this thing was SPECIFIC to Streisand. Revive it with inferior talent...good luck. I see this closing mid summer.

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 2:37pm

Looks like Beanie has her next role set up - this was in the announcement about Platt in PARADE.

Platt recently started in Universal's film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen and will be starring with Beanie Feldstein in Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater.

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 2:38pm

Penna2 said: "Looks like Beanie has her next role set up - this was in the announcement about Platt in PARADE.

Platt recently started in Universal's film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen and will be starring with Beanie Feldstein in Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater."

Yes, she was announced for the film of Merrily a while ago...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 2:47pm

Penna2 said: "Looks like Beanie has her next role set up - this was in the announcement about Platt in PARADE.

Platt recently started in Universal's film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen and will be starring with Beanie Feldstein in Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater."

Both were announced for this over 2 years ago so this isn’t brand-new news.  Also, seems you’re also unaware that the film is filming in real-time with a 20 year production schedule so it’s slated for release around 2040.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 4:25pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "I heard earlier this week that several producers asked to scale down the revival from the original budget after an early presentation by the principal cast. This was before ensemble casting took place. This reduced the size of the orchestra, the costumes, the sets, and the size of the cast. A show curtain was being created before it was cancelled, hence the projection curtain used now. The 2 staircases were originally going to be on hydraulics and create a huge staircase for the Ziegfeld Follies numbers. This idea was scrapped when the budget was reduced."

I don't know if I believe that it would have been a beautiful, lavish production if not for the budget. Look at Head Over Heels and the Menier production. The biggest show I can think of Mayer doing recently is La Traviata. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afhAqMeeQJk&ab_channel=MetropolitanOpera

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 5:00pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "I heard earlier this week that several producers asked to scale down the revival from the original budget after an early presentation by the principal cast. This was before ensemble casting took place. This reduced the size of the orchestra, the costumes, the sets, and the size of the cast. A show curtain was being created before it was cancelled, hence the projection curtain used now. The 2 staircases were originally going to be on hydraulics and create a huge staircase for the Ziegfeld Follies numbers. This idea was scrapped when the budget was reduced."

I don't know, I mean how many shows have had their budgets cut. I feel like it's easy to blame it on an early presentation. We've had cheaper versions of beloved shows, maybe they just thought they could get away with doing a cheaper version based solely on the name recognition. (Which obviously is working, nobody is seeing this show because of its star. They're seeing it because they want to hear those couple of songs.)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 5:00pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Penna2 said: "Looks like Beanie has her next role set up - this was in the announcement about Platt in PARADE.

Platt recently started in Universal's film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen and will be starring with Beanie Feldstein in Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater."

Both were announced for this over 2 years ago so this isn’t brand-new news. Also, seems you’re also unaware that the film is filming in real-time with a 20 year production schedule so it’s slated for release around 2040."

I wonder what happens if anyone happens to pass away before the film is completed. 20 years is quite a long time and anything can happen.

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 5:02pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Penna2 said: "Looks like Beanie has her next role set up - this was in the announcement about Platt in PARADE.

Platt recently started in Universal's film adaption of Dear Evan Hansen and will be starring with Beanie Feldstein in Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater."

Both were announced for this over 2 years ago so this isn’t brand-new news. Also, seems you’re also unaware that the film is filming in real-time with a 20 year production schedule so it’s slated for release around 2040."

I don't follow Broadway and just saw this, thought some people might be interested with all the family business talk. Not sure if your last sentence is sarcasm or not. One never knows about these things.

[A Director]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 3:21am

Eat your heart out Beanie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2zMTElJzQ

[Penna2]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 12:36pm

A Director said: "Eat your heart out Beanie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2zMTElJzQ"

What I noticed was he "acts" the song. That is the way to approach it, not just the singing. What are the words?

Just watched part of a video with Lainie Kazan - her voice was shot, but she talked about her debut as Fanny. One thing she said about Streisand was she had "courage." That at the time she saw it as being bossy, but looking back admires her. Streisand pretty much took control of the show - which was kind of how Fanny took control of her life. Got her a great career and ruined her marriage. Bottom line, that is what I found missing in Beanie's performance - not the comedy, she has confidence there, but the acting and singing don't show courage or control, so the main element of the character is lacking.

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 3:34pm

Penna2 said: "Streisand pretty much took control of the show - which was kind of how Fanny took control of her life. Got her a great career and ruined her marriage. Bottom line, that is what I found missing in Beanie's performance - not the comedy, she has confidence there, but the acting and singing don't show courage or control, so the main element of the character is lacking."

I completely agree with this. Feldstein's Fanny is very one dimensional. In Feldstein's hand, the character does not go on a journey or change at all over the course of the evening. It's just a flat performance with no moments of catharsis (even in the finales of both acts - where those moments should be especially cathartic). Her portrayal is not dynamic in any way.

 

[denali.fire]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 7:23pm

A Director said: "Eat your heart out Beanie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2zMTElJzQ"

Eat your heart out Barbra Streisand. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 7:43pm

denali.fire said: "A Director said: "Eat your heart out Beanie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2zMTElJzQ"

Eat your heart out Barbra Streisand."

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 11:51am

Perhaps Jeremy  Jordan can replace Beannie in Funny Girl .

That would be an improvement.

Can't believe the grosses are holding up with this poor word of mouth.

Can't believe the grosses are holding up with the not so good reviews.

 

 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 12:14pm

goldenboy said: "Perhaps Jeremy Jordan can replace Beannie in Funny Girl .

That would be an improvement.

Can't believe the grosses are holding up with this poor word of mouth.

Can't believe the grosses are holding up with the not so good reviews.



"

Before they even opened, they were well sold into mid-July. There won’t be an effect for awhile.