In a season of the covers’ triumph, I saw them in 9 out of 14 performances, it is worth noting how rarely this production honors its indefatigable standby, who has now played 9 performances in the early weeks of the run. It’s not conspiracy driven speculation; it’s now part of this show’s launch. And it’s a commercial success story, since the substitutions have not eroded box office. This production is a hit and seems to be able to sustain without the four stars playing. It’s good news for Funny Girl, good news for Broadway, an industry that learned to celebrate the value of standbys and understudies this challenging season. There’s clearly a healthy demand for this show, whoever is playing Brice.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling