Funny Girl — Page 2

"But I want you all to actually put up a good fight. "

No one is looking to start a fight. Others and myself have given you our reasons as to why we don't think she, or a revival would work.

"People thinking negatively but never going into detail as to why."

We have given you details as to why.
1. Stephanie does not have the look. She's too pretty. She just doesn't embody Fanny. She doesn't have the "goofy" quality.
2. Stephanie has a great voice, but a good voice is not enough to carry a show.
3. The book has problems. Sure they can be fixed, but it could also require new songs, and since Jule and Bob are not around to do it, a producer would have to hire a new set of writers. In addition, a new book writer would need to be found. Even more money.
4. There are other people who are more fitting for the role, such as Kritzer.
5. Producers would need to find a star who can make audiences forget about Streisand and pay attention to the new star. I don't know if Block could do that.
6. Block doesn't have that innocent quality that Fanny always embodies.
7. It is believable that Streisand, who was not the most beautiful woman, could get into the Follies because of her amazing voice. It is not believable that Block could get into the Follies just because of her voice. She wouldn't need the powerhouse voice because she is already pretty enough to get in.
8. The screenplay from the film could be used, but Columbia Pictures probably won't allow it without many costs.

"Here is the question I pose:
Why is this board filled with Stephanie-haters?"

Oh, simply because I do not agree that Stephanie could work in the role, I am a Stephanie hater? Grow up. I am a fan of hers. I think she has a great voice, and I would love to see her in more shows, just not Funny Girl. But because I do not agree with you, I must hate her, and all of her past performances.

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xluckystar2107x -- I can't respond to your PM. You have your PMs blocked.

BrodyFosse123:
ok i'll fix it.
thanks.

Updated On: 6/17/08 at 06:10 PM

Here's Mimi Hines performing songs from "Funny Girl" on The Ed Sullivan show.

http://www.bluegobo.com/production.php?var=10103&mode=P&vid=0

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Thanks Sondheimboy, even if your screen name is scarey.
I saw Barbra as a teenager and she blew the roof off, then later I saw Mimi and she was so different but still took the part and ran with it.
Whoever said the book is terrible is clearly the book God of Broadway, NOT.
The book can work perfecly if the show is cast, designed, choreographed and directed well.
Block has the Star Power, Leslie has the chops and timing if not the stature, but the show and score is certainly ready for a Revival.

"I'd Rather Be Blue" only appeared in the film-version of FUNNY GIRL.

It is not part of the Broadway score.

BrodyFosse123, I'm aware. I was just citing an example from within the arena of the show to compare to Plimpton's vocal range.

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Diana DeGarmo doesn't have anywhere near the maturity to pull off a role like Fanny Brice, nor does she have the right look. Are you telling me she'd be believable as a Jewish girl who is compared to "a bagel on a tray full of onion rolls"?

Just because she has solid comedic abilities and a stellar voice doesn't maker her right for something on this grand of a scale. Penny Pingleton and Fanny Brice are in two completely different ballparks.

Leslie Kritzer seems to be the best choice of the crop of actresses who could actually do the role today. Some of the reviews from when she did it at Papermill almost ten years ago said she even eclipsed Streisand in her performance, but September 11th killed any hopes of a transfer for that production.

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Updated On: 12/21/08 at 07:41 PM

I love the idea of Martha Plimptom in the role, but one of the thrills of FUNNY GIRL is to hear the exciting vocals during songs like "Cornet Man" (one of my favorite showtunes ever written), "Don't Rain On My Parade," and those big exciting numbers.
I do agree that Plimptom has the looks, acting skills, and comedic chops for the role. Then again that's why the role is so hard to cast, who has the looks, acting, comedy, presence, AND vocals down that can actually carry this show?
I'm all about Kritzer. Now that she did ON THE TOWN, maybe City Center can bring her back for FUNNY GIRL.

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You all ARE aware that Barbra was almost 22 years old when she did FUNNY GIRL, right?

Barbra with Sydney Chaplin's abrupt replacement, Johnny Desmond:

"Diana DeGarmo doesn't have anywhere near the maturity to pull off a role like Fanny Brice, nor does she have the right look. Are you telling me she'd be believable as a Jewish girl who is compared to "a bagel on a tray full of onion rolls"?"

Oh brother.

madbrian, Gasteyer has played Fanny.

She starred in FUNNY GIRL for Pittsburgh CLO back in 2003 opposite Robert Cuccioli, who was also Nick Arnstein in the Papermill Playhouse production with Leslie Kritzer as Fanny in 2001.

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Updated On: 12/22/08 at 11:25 AM