Funny Girl?- Page 3

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 3/22/05 at 11:50pm

wow thats the first negative thing I've heard about her. I hear Bean is wonderful!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/22/05 at 11:51pm

Her voice is very good but her acting leaves everything to be desired.

Edit - And this is the first bad thing you've heard??? You obviously haven't read ANY of the Shoshana posts here.

Updated On: 3/22/05 at 11:51 PM

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 12:06am

i guess i havent seen any negative ones, but all my theatre friends saw wicked last week and said nothing but good things about her. when i meant by not hearing i meant from my own friends.

[broadwaybaby_1983]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 12:56am

My thoughts on who would actually be able to pull off a show of that proportion is one name, Sutton Foster. I know many of you think that she's too pretty to it. And for some reason someone said that she is waspy which I completely disagree with. The things that people should look at is what an actress needs to make that show a hit revival. First, a voice that can knock your socks off. Next, so called 'chicken legs' as it says in the show. Most important, a 'name', a broadway star that people know will entertain them. Then, acting ability and comedic timing and actions. And last, do they have proof that (as an actress) they could 'pull it off'. Now I gotta tell you, Sutton Foster has all of those requirements. The voice, the look, the name, the talent, and the proof(TMM). And as far as I know, with talk of a revival of Funny Girl going around, Sutton's name is the one that most everyone thinks has what it takes to do it including without being a Barbara impersonator. I think that you would all agree to have someone that made the show their own and not just impersonate Barbara's character. Thanks for reading, enjoy he rest of the site.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 1:00am

Sutton Foster would in fact be my choice for the role if a revival were to happen anytime soon.

[Sporkie]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 1:05am

It seems to me that being less graceful would be acheivable- and even if all of us assosciate certain actresses with beauty and grace, not everyone has those associations, and so a graceful actress could play the part. I personally think acting is more imporant for Funny Girl than most other musicals because there is a lot of emotion and a ton of dialouge. There should totally be a revival!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 1:09am

At first when people kept saying Sutton Foster, I dismissed it because she doesn't "look" the part. When I actually thought about, I realized that only because Barbra looks VERY Jewish doesn't mean every Fanny has to have such distinct features. Sure, Brice herself was very outwardly Jewish-looking, but then again, Hugh Jackman looked NOTHING like Peter Allen. And perhaps she could use a prosthetic nose or something if it's that much of a concern. I think Sutton would be remarkable at the role, I really want to see her do something that is a challenge, acting wise. MILLIE and certainly LITTLE WOMEN are a piece of cake to act, I want to see her sink her teeth into something extraordinary. I think she would blow people away. My only hesitation is that she might start to get typecast as the young, timid, nobody girl who longs to be known and famous. Whatever, regardless, I think she would be sensational.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 1:44am

I would cast my vote for either Foster or Block.

Plz. no Bean, no Gasteyer.

[EternalJayJay]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 4:52am

I had the JOY to work with Stephanie Block on a production of "Funny Girl" in Thousand Oaks, CA (for which she won an L.A. Robby Award for Best Actress). She received rave reviews and got standing ovations EVERY night! She is a PHENOMENAL Fanny Brice and should be the ONLY one considered to revive the role.

Just so you all know, one of the reviews had this headline: "Barbara who?"

Now, that's pretty good in my opinion!

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 8:33am

wow...what did you do in the show?

[shameless]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 9:17am

Yeah, in a couple years they should get Mikalah Gordon from Idol. Some people say she reminds them of Fran Drescher from The Nanny, but she reminds me of a young Barbra.

Unfortunately, I think she's getting the boot tonight.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 9:33am

Julia would sing the hell out of it, but ten bucks says Sutton can pull it off too.

Am I the only person alive who thinks Barbra just isn't that fantastic?

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 9:59am

I seem to remember a Los Angeles production, what? 15 or 20 years back with Pia Zadora that got really positive notices.

I was a dancin' boy in a Summer Stock Funny Girl eons ago - what a mess of a script, despite many sublime songs, great dance music and one of the best overtures ever. In today's market it would cost a fortune to mount a full scale Broadway revival. The numbers of cast members - you need Ziegfeld girls and dancing boys and Henry Street denizens. You need, roughly, three complete decades of costume designs, including street clothes and on-stage Ziegfeld costumes. Plus, some of the original material was well done-away with for the film - Private Schwartz from Rockaway? Ugh.

I'm thinking that, as a stage property, it is comperable to The Boy From Oz - others will play the role, but as time goes on, the legend will grow and it may just become impossible to even make the attempt.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 10:59am

Sutton Foster! She'll be incredibe!

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 11:24am

Sutton Foster works very hard...and it shows. It shows in spades. It is not effortless. You need to believe that Fanny Brice's comedy is effortless to her. Sutton sure can sing high and loud (not a HUGE fan of her voice, but I will never deny that the girl has talent).

Also, the brand of humor known to Brice is VERY specific. Very Lower East Side. It's a hard thing to fake and, if it doesn't come easily to a performer, it could sink the entire show.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 3:00pm

I love Sutton Foster as much as anyone, but I just think she's too all-American looking AND sounding. There's something refreshing about her voice and I'm sure she's capable of Fanny, I just don't think it would be the right role. I haven't seen her act, so who knows, my gut just feels she isn't right for it. I hope someone perfect is found though!

Updated On: 3/23/05 at 03:00 PM

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 3:02pm

At the risk of being attacked for my opinion, after seeing Sutton mug her way through the openings of Act 1 and 2 of Little Women, I don't think she can pull of Fanny Brice. She can sing the songs and sing them well, but can't do the schtick. She comes across as a poor man's Carol Burnett.

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 3:37pm

I thought she was absolutely wonderul in Little Women. Seeing her wonderful comedic timing in it I think she would be great as Fanny, but i could be wrong.

[EternalJayJay]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 4:53am

I was featured and in the ensemble of "Funny Girl." Watching her sing "Don't Rain on My Parade" from the wings every night, sent chills down my spine!

Stephanie is one of the sweetest, most giving actress I have worked with and I would come all the way to NYC (from Southern California) to see her in a big Broadway revival of "Funny Girl." She has the talent and deserves to headline a show and "Funny Girl" would be the perfect opportunity for that.

While I think Sutton Foster is incredibly talented, Fanny Brice just isn't the right role for her. It's like asking Barbara Streisand to play Eliza Doolittle. It just doesn't work.

If a Broadway revival comes to pass, Stephanie needs to play Fanny Brice.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 8:53am

Jackie Hoffman, Jackie Hoffman, Jackie Hoffman, age notwithstanding.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:41pm

PJ, I have cut what you wrote and pasted it below. Perhaps you should seek some help with your reading and writing skills.

"No one's ever had the balls, and excuse me for being so crass, to play Fanny on Broadway since Streisand in the 60's"

Additionally, there is nothing for YOU to forgive ME for. Anyone reading this thread knows that you are in error. Your original quote pasted above was wrong, and your response to it being pointed out is wrong. Sorry, YOU are simply wrong. Again, Happy Theatergoing!

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:41 PM

[jim]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:58pm

Stephanie J. Block!!!
Saw her play Fanny in Wichita in 2001 and she was amazing. Only other time I have seen a stage production of this show was in New York with Streisand...and believe me, Block was great and could do the role justice if they ever do a revival.

[PJ]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 2:54pm

WISHIHADATONY: What exactly is the point you are trying to make? I said that no one has had the balls to play Fanny on Broadway since th 60's. Not including whomever replaced Streisand after she left. Are you trying to say that I am wrong? Please, enlighten me.

I think you just got yourself all fired up over me saying that no one's had the balls to play the part in a revival as of yet. When any actress is asked if she'd ever do the show, she either replies with something referring to Barbra's stamp on the role or the fact that it must be played by a Jewish girl.

I said it a few days ago and I'll repeat it. NO ONE HAS HAD THE BALLS TO DO A REVIVAL OF THE SHOW. YET.

For God's sake man, you need the help.

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:32pm

I adore Sutton Foster but Fanny Brice she is not...not at all. "Funny Girl" is one of my favorite shows and Barbra one of my favorite performers so I admit is is hard for me to see ANYONE else in the role. But, I'd be game to give Stephanie Block, or Julia Murney a shot.
Ideally, they would give it to a young, fabulous unkown.

[EternalJayJay]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 5:41am

Stephanie Block all the way!