I finally saw Funny Girl last night (there had been two abandoned efforts to see it on Broadway last year when Lea Michele called out).
Ironically, our rush seats were in almost the same location as our August seats in New York, except we were in Row G house right, instead of house left, at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. For $45, we got some good luck and an incredible bargain.
Katerina McCrimmon was a wonderful, winning Fanny Brice, as she did the two things an actress in that role must do. She was funny, delivering her comic lines with aplomb, and she brought the vocal goods. McCrimmon held the audience’s attention from the opening framing device, which reminded me a lot of Follies, to her spectacular finish.
Neither my wife nor I had seen Funny Girl before, not even the film, so I don’t have the history with this show - or this production - that most of you do. The much-derided second act isn’t particularly good, but it doesn’t waste much time either. Melissa Manchester does a nice job as Mrs. Brice. Stephen Lukas does what he needs to do as Nick, which is to be handsome, charming and pathetic as the script requires and play off McCrimmon. My wife, in particular, enjoyed Izaiah Montaque Harris and his excellent tapping. The ensemble was fine.
But show is about its leading lady, and McCrimmon had the audience in the palm of her hand. This was my kind of crowd. We applauded enthusiastically, but seated, for everyone else and then stood and roared for her.
Updated On: 5/20/24 at 03:13 PM