Julie Benko as Fanny - Funny Girl- Page 5

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 6:08pm

The same person also posted 1 glorious minute of "People," which is even better than "Parade."

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 6:08pm

There's also a minute of "People" from the same poster. There's no screaming in that one.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 6:12pm

Absolutely. I concur with both appraisals, Taffy.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 6:28pm

I respect the Skip23 reservations about Benko’s take, but can we compare a second ever performance in front of an audience with that of someone who had singular focus in a long rehearsal process and nearly a month of previews?   Maybe. But issues of timing and pacing come with playing an entire arc repeatedly, learning where to catch your breath, regroup, focus energy. I would think that less than a week after opening, the production is still carving out precious time for a put in. Just learning how to handle the wig and costume changes takes drills. 

Updated On: 4/30/22 at 06:28 PM

[Skip23]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 6:37pm

Auggie27 said: "I respect the Skip23 reservations about Benko’s take, but can we compare a second ever performance in front of an audience with that of someone who had singular focus in a long rehearsal process and nearly a month of previews? Maybe. But issues of timing and pacing come with playing an entire arc repeatedly, learning where to catch your breath, regroup, focus energy. I would think that less than a week after opening, the production is still carving out precious time for a put in. Just learning how to handle the wig and costume changes takes drills."


As I said - she’s a perfectly good understudy. They usually don’t get a lot of stage time to hone a performance. 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 7:08pm

She sounds just fine in those sound clips.  Quite a relief from what I witnessed two weeks ago.   I wish I had seen her.    But  I struggle with contributing any more money to this production.

 

Money talks.

 

Also getting bored with the excuses being given to lead performances.  Stars or understudies.  THIS IS BROADWAY!

Updated On: 4/30/22 at 07:08 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 7:49pm

Anyone care to share please where I can hear this clip of Julie?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 7:59pm

Robbie2 said: "Anyone care to share please where I can hear this clip of Julie?"

Geez.  As mentioned numerous times, both clips are on Twitter!  We can’t share the direct link but they’re easy to find.  

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 8:25pm

Finally got around to listening to her audio. That's how it should be sung. I hope she gets more dates. Beanie could taken a month hiatus if the Broadway Gods have listened to both of them sing the score.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 8:44pm

I was there this Afternoon. The show really clicks into high gear once Nick arrives on the scene. Julie really gave a star turn this afternoon, and her performance for the last third of the show… share perfection. I did have some quibbles with some of the production choices, the Ziegfeld follies costumes look cheap, and the it was totally impassable to understand the lyrics during the big tap number in act two. That having been said the role of Fanny Brice is in good hands with Julie takes to the stage.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 8:57pm

These raves for Julie and the mixed to negative for Beanie. Have to imagine Julie would snag a Tony nomination if she were the lead instead of Beanie.

[Idinamenzel18]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 9:44pm

It’s intermission currently, and WOW. Julie is absolutely astounding as Fanny. I saw the show with Beanie on Easter, and was underwhelmed, but this is an entirely different show. It feels like Julie’s performance is really elevating the material. And she’s HILARIOUS. Not to mention pitch perfect. 
 

I feel like I’m finally seeing how this show was meant to be. Somehow the set doesn’t feel as dreary. The show just clicks with Julie. It makes so much sense, and so does Fanny’s character arch. 

[Idinamenzel18]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 11:08pm

Following up since my last message…

Julie is a star. She takes the entire show to a new level. They might as well change the marquee now…that’s how good she is. If she was the lead of this show, it would’ve gotten rave reviews. She’s that good. Her voice is stellar as talked about, but even acting wise, she blows Beanie out of the water. There’s just no comparison. She’s the type of performer needed to catapult this show into a successful run. I’m speechless! 

Updated On: 4/30/22 at 11:08 PM

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 11:47pm

After reading the reviews and this board, I exchanged my tickets from last Tuesday for tonight, and while I'm sorry I ended up missing Ramin as a result, I'm overall so glad I did. From the first scenes there was an electricity in the audience, as everyone knew they were watching a star-making performance. Julie's vocals were perfection (in both technique and interpretation), her comedy skills top-notch, and her dramatic scenes utterly real and heartbreaking. No need for excuses or "well at least she can..." compromises; THIS is a Fanny Brice, THIS is what Funny Girl should be, and I have no doubt that if this production had opened with Julie and Ramin it would have gotten raves. (And her parents were sitting beaming in the second row!)

[Alecohanian]

Posted: 4/30/22 at 11:50pm

I exchanged my ticket to see Julie tomorrow for another seat. Would anyone like to buy it? I paid 135 for it. Row F center mezzanine. PM me!

Updated On: 4/30/22 at 11:50 PM

[daisybeetle]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 12:32am

https://t2conline.com/could-a-star-be-being-born-on-broadway/

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 7:34am

I bought a ticket for this weekend (last night's performance actually) when they first went on sale. This was before it was announced that Beanie Feldstein would be out this particular weekend. When it was announced that she would be out this weekend (this was long before performances began), I changed the dates of my trip to a couple weeks from now so I could see Feldstein as Funny Girl was the only show I had booked so far and I hadn't booked airfare/hotel yet... well... needless to say I am KICKING myself so hard right now for changing my dates to see Feldstein. I would much rather see Julie Benko.

[BJR]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 8:28am

Idinamenzel18 said: "I feel like I’m finally seeing how this show was meant to be. Somehow the set doesn’t feel as dreary. The show just clicks with Julie. It makes so much sense, and so does Fanny’s character arch."

I agree. The show still has major Act 2 problems. But for the first time, I was even able to see those so clearly, since everything else clicked into gear and Fanny's rise has a drive and a reason beyond the lead's charm. I had forgotten just how much Cornet Man or even "..Greatest Star" are really just about blowing the roof off the place, with moments of comedy in between. Without stellar vocals, the numbers simply aren't funny enough  to justify the story.

And I disagree it was an understudy performance. I admit Nick played that way. And there's nothing wrong with that. He was solid, competent. Her performance carried the show, full of nuance and depth.

I'll be curious to see where she goes after this, because I think word will get out in town.

[gregnyc2]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 8:44am

I know it’ll never happen, but what a story if Beanie came out with something like, “look, I couldn’t say no to this role, I’m so glad to have opened the show, I’ve loved every minute, but I’m stepping aside, Julie Benko is taking over, and I ask the Tony committee to consider Julie for the Tony nom. I’ll be back soon on Broadway, etc etc etc”.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 9:59am

If Beanie does step down it'll be with "a previous commitment" excuse or "artistic differences". Maybe she'll pull a Raquel Welch and claim she's suddenly pregnant.

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 10:44am

Caught the show with Julie after seeing Beanie early in the run and it's insane how much better this show is when you have someone who can really SING those songs.  Her voice is much more mature and richer in tone much like the real Fanny Brice.  I can't wait to see her grow into the role more.

At this point, this is extremely embarrassing for Beanie and she should really step away from the show.

[smidge]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 12:39pm

gregnyc2 said: "I know it’ll never happen, but what a story if Beanie came out with something like, “look, I couldn’t say no to this role, I’m so glad to have opened the show, I’ve loved every minute, but I’m stepping aside, Julie Benko is taking over, and I ask the Tony committee to consider Julie for the Tony nom. I’ll be back soon on Broadway, etc etc etc”."

What if, when Beanie returns, Julie jumps up on stage, slaps Beanie and yells “This is my role!  Everyone on BroadwayWorld says so!!!”

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 1:43pm

She's not going to step down, nor should she. (And I didn't care for her performance.) It's her role and LOTS of people (here and beyond) think she's doing just fine and are happy).  It's her role, regardless of what any of us think.

[Azúcar!]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 2:36pm

dramamama611 said: "She's not going to step down, nor should she. (And I didn't care for her performance.) It's her role and LOTS of people (here and beyond) think she's doing just fine and are happy). It's her role, regardless of what any of us think."

I agree.  She won’t step down .  Let’s hope she zones in on enjoying herself and gets thru her contracted time.  I can’t imagine the mental anguish she most be going thru after her brutal reviews.  I wish her well.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/1/22 at 2:47pm

A lucrative film role might pop up.