Julie Benko as Fanny - Funny Girl- Page 9

[fbueller]

Posted: 5/28/22 at 1:06pm

Julie should lead the 'Funny Girl' performance at the Tony Awards.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/28/22 at 1:16pm

That would be marvelous, but not likely.  

[qafgenius122]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 12:36am

With Beanie out with COVID, and having still not seen Funny Girl, I decided to try my luck at the box office and managed to get an affordable ticket about 2 hours before curtain this past evening. I had heard Julie was great (not heard audio tho), but WOW! STUNNING. I honestly cant even imagine Beanie in the role tbh. I do still intend to see her at some point, but I truly felt like I saw a star making performance tonight. a Triple threat and funny as the name suggests she should be. If you can see Julie, you absolutely should.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 6:10am

I have been convinced-I’ll try to see the show this weekend. I need to see Julie! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 9:01am

The other day when they announced Beanie had Covid, I ran to the box office to get tix for last night. I just had to see Julie again and take a friend who needed to see her. I saw her in April and she’s only gotten better. She was cracking Ramin up and he was trying very hard a few times to keep it together. But it’s just a totally different show with Julie, who I really think is having a “Sutton Foster moment” and is going to be the next big thing. She’s just that good. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 9:26am

Updated On: 6/9/22 at 09:26 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 9:38am

Julie will be on through next Weds 6/15. Beanie returns 6/16.

Updated On: 6/9/22 at 09:38 AM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 10:16am

I saw the show yesterday. While I loved Benko, I was extremely disappointed in the show:

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2022/06/summer-diaries-funny-girl-how-i-learned.html

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/9/22 at 10:50am

poisonivy2 said: "I saw the show yesterday. While I loved Benko, I was extremely disappointed in the show:

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2022/06/summer-diaries-funny-girl-how-i-learned.html"

Fantastic and honest review.  On a side note, the reason for the white-washing of Fanny Brice’s story (especially Nick Arnstein’s) is that producer Ray Stark’s wife was Fanny and Nick’s daughter Frances, and she made sure both her parents were shown in a good light.  She shadowed the writing, especially the material covering her glorious daddy.  He was still alive at the time FUNNY GIRL was on Broadway, so they were careful to avoid any legal hiccups when the musical was being developed.  Even Frances had reservations regarding Streisand as when FUNNY GIRL was starting to get off the ground Streisand was still an unpolished kooky Greenwich Village night club singer singing bizarre songs to huge popularity.  Frances was not pleased and said “she is not playing my mother” (Fanny was known to be very elegant, chic, and sophisticated off stage).  Streisand’s career quickly exploded while FUNNY GIRL was being constructed so obviously Frances changed her tune.  By the time the musical started rehearsals, Streisand was already a semi-global phenomenon blooming at an unheard of rate.  

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/10/22 at 11:03pm

Reporting to you live having just gotten out of this evenings performance with Julie as Fanny.

 

I noticed during the end of “parade” that someone in the front row of the orchestra to the side gave her a standing ovation.

 

someone else near me said they had chills.

 

Never before have I thought this of a performer-Julie is having her (as I’ve seen people call it) “Sutton foster” moment. I have no doubt that after almost a week of performances, and such amazing word of mouth, she will definitely be promoted to alternate. I truly think she could carry the show if/when Beanie leaves and the show would still sell: absolutely incredible. 

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 12:38am

I saw the Wednesday evening performance on 6/8 - and when the show was over, both me and the women in front of me looked at one another and said "that was special."

Frankly, I could not imagine Beanie being better and am pretty confident doesn't sing it better. I hope Ms Benko gets more opportunities - in Funny Girl or in some new production. And from what I have been reading, she has been doing more performances with Beanie's absences and has been consistently excellent.

Very exciting to have seen her.

Updated On: 6/11/22 at 12:38 AM

[Penna2]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 1:13am

SFFrontRow said: "I saw the Wednesday evening performance on 6/8 - and when the show was over, both me and the women in front of me looked at one another and said "that was special."

Frankly, I could not imagine Beanie being better and am pretty confident doesn't sing it better. I hope Ms Benko gets more opportunities - in Funny Girl or in some new production. And from what I have been reading, she has been doing more performances with Beanie's absences and has been consistently excellent.

Very exciting to have seen her."

When you consider Beanie had months of prep time before rehearsals and then previews and then performing on and off for a month and a half - Julie with her, what is it now 16 shows? is infinitely better and definitely deserving of, at minimum, a bump up from standby to alternate. In fact, she deserves the lead. Would not like to be in Beanie's place. 

Hearthemsing22 - so happy you decided not to wait to see the show. Glad you had a great time. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 8:54am

I have no doubt that after almost a week of performances…

Julie Benko has been standing in for Beanie since April 29.  She’s performed 2 separate 4 performance weekends and some random dates as well.  By the time this COVID filling in happened, Julie already had about 2 weeks worth of performances under belt.  

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 9:57am

I think she had played 11 performances before the Covid replacement gig, going on a Tuesday night and two Wednesday shows in addition to the two 4-performance weekends. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 10:29am

Ah I’m sorry-a lot of people have also inquired about Benkos chemistry with Ramin—amazing. I got butterflies during the moment where they kiss before “Henry Street” (…right? It’s either before or after that song) 

Updated On: 6/11/22 at 10:29 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 10:30am

My prediction is that Beanie will leave the show and be replaced by Benko by September. This is such a strange, sad situation, but that’s showbiz, I guess.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 12:35pm

Not from FUNNY GIRL - but she sounds freaking incredible.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cen6zviujlb/

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 1:51pm

Funny Girl Makes Julie Benko a Star  

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

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 2:25pm

Robbie2 said: "Funny Girl Makes Julie Benko a Star

Only time will tell.  Right now no one outside of theatre chat boards knows who she is.

 

 

[Penna2]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 4:21pm

Updated On: 6/11/22 at 04:21 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 4:37pm

Penna2 said: "Silly, idealistic person that I am, I sent out a slew of tweets a few days ago to some of the critics who reviewed the show originally to check Julie out. Maybe they'll have a free evening/afternoon to revisit the show - especially https://t2conline.com/could-a-star-be-being-born-on-broadway/. With the Tonys this weekend, all the nominees have been interviewed and no new shows opening. Could happen."

That is indeed silly and idealistic. You will have ZERO impact but I hope inserting yourself into this situation made you feel good. It's all up to the press agent & producers to invite critics to return –– and likely would ruffle a lot of feathers on Team Beanie and set a dangerous precedent for other understudies/standbys/etc.

(As some of us have said, the show is much better with Julie but it still has major problems in the book/direction that no performer would ever be able to solve, as well as comedy numbers engineered for Beanie that don't land with Julie...so the producers probably don't want another round of middling reviews for this production. If Julie were to take over the role full-time or on a Donna Murphy-type situation, that might change.)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 6:03pm

For what it's worth I listen to a podcast called "Sloppy Seconds" - it's a drag queen and a queer pop artist - and they sometimes talk about Wicked, but this week they very quickly mentioned Funny Girl and that they heard Beanie isn't up to it and even with the understudy on it's still not a great show. 

Interesting to hear given they're both based in LA and aren't really "theater people" in that sense.  So, I guess word of mouth is getting around. 

But honestly I've got to blame the producers and the director. Sheridan Smith struggled with the role in London and she's a season professional. Beanie has never carried a show and this one is indeed a monster of a role. They should have realized their error. Also what's up with Mayer creating two terrible versions of Funny Girl. Both sets/costumes looked awful in London and on Broadway. 

[denali.fire]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 7:05pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "My prediction is that Beanie will leave the show and be replaced by Benko by September. This is such a strange, sad situation, but that’s showbiz, I guess."

I wouldn't be surprised if she just doesn't come back .   Covid can have lingering effects and can take a long time to fully heal.  I know of someone who took 8 months and still isn't up to par

 

[Penna2]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 7:10pm

denali.fire said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "My prediction is that Beanie will leave the show and be replaced by Benko by September. This is such a strange, sad situation, but that’s showbiz, I guess."

I wouldn't be surprised if she just doesn't come back . Covid can have lingering effects and can take a long time to fully heal. I know of someone who took 8 months and still isn't up to par

I was thinking that as well. Great excuse to bow out gracefully. I couldn't help but wonder how she was handling the feedback she must be getting about Julie, especially in light of her own reviews. Not an enviable position.

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/11/22 at 7:52pm

Penna2 said: "denali.fire said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "My prediction is that Beanie will leave the show and be replaced by Benko by September. This is such a strange, sad situation, but that’s showbiz, I guess."

I wouldn't be surprised if she just doesn't come back . Covid can have lingering effects and can take a long time to fully heal. I know of someone who took 8 months and still isn't up to par

I was thinking that as well. Great excuse to bow out gracefully. I couldn't help but wonder how she was handling the feedback she must be getting about Julie, especially in light of her own reviews. Not an enviable position.

"

Do you think that’s truly a possibility??