Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl - Page 25

[DAME]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 8:49pm

CatLady3 said: "DAME said: "The LA Times review is up.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-11/review-lea-michele-funny-girl-broadway-revival-review

"Michele’s performance in “Funny Girl” is one of the top five musical theater performances I’ve seen in my lifetime. The last time I was this overcome at a curtain call was after Patti LuPone turned “Rose’s Turn” into a gloriously harrowing nervous breakdown in the 2008 Broadway revival of“Gypsy.”""

Beat me to it! Very clickbaity but well-deserved title."

 

"I wasn’t particularly excited by the prospect of sitting through this revival again. But I left understanding why tickets are going for a king’s ransom. Lea Michele is delivering a tour de force for the ages."

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 9:38pm

This doesn't have to do with Lea, but I was searching on youtube for funny girl stuff, and all of a sudden there's all of these videos from the Funny Girl movie.  Complete numbers, and even scenes that were completely cut from the film or edited. I never found anything like this before.  Maybe it's because of the success of the show on Broadway.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 9:56pm

Those FUNNY GIRL deleted scenes were posted about a year ago BEFORE this revival opened on Broadway.  They were posted by the fabulous Matt Howe who runs the unauthorized ultimate Barbra Streisand Archives website. It’s so comprehensive and detailed that Barbra herself has used it to fact-check her own autobiography when her memory was spotty on details.  She has acknowledged him and his website several times.

https://www.barbra-archives.info/funny-girl-1968

Updated On: 10/11/22 at 09:56 PM

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 10:02pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Those FUNNY GIRL deleted scenes were posted about a year ago BEFORE this revival opened on Broadway. They were posted by the fabulous Matt Howe who runs the unauthorized ultimate Barbra Streisand Archives website. It’s so comprehensive and detailed that Barbra herself has used it to fact-check her own autobiography when her memory was spotty on details. She has acknowledged him and his website several times.

https://www.barbra-archives.info/funny-girl-1968"

 

Opened the link and saving it to read later.  Looks like it's full of interesting trivia, right up my alley, thanks for posting!

 

[Penna2]

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

ManOfLaMuncha said: "This doesn't have to do with Lea, but I was searching on youtube for funny girl stuff, and all of a sudden there's all of these videos from the Funny Girl movie. Complete numbers, and even scenes that were completely cut from the film or edited. I never found anything like this before. Maybe it's because of the success of the show on Broadway."

Yes, and, heretical as it may be and there will likely be some disagreement, but I think the staging in the show is better than the film. At least in the two videos I watched last night - People and You Are Woman, I Am Man. This comment is coming from a very, very long time Streisand fan - 60 years. Fanny, as presented in this show, is more like a real to me for the times and the person herself. No overblown hairdos or expensive (gorgeous) dresses. In the film, People is sung with Nicky standing half a block away as Barbra belts (they cut the conversation with the cute tap dance). On stage, Fanny/Michele, in her simple dress and hair hanging down her back with Nicky sitting quietly at a table...talking...then her rendition of the song is so much more intimate and touching. Same with You Are Woman, I Am Man. The was funnier than in the film - I loved the physical comedy of both Lea and Ramin and their interactions with one another. Mainly, though, there are actually two people in each of these scenes, but you lose that to some extent in the movie because the focus is almost entirely on Barbra.

There are also a lot of old Beanie audios and Beanie/Lea comparision videos/audios showing up.

[The Pesky Pescatarian]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 10:48pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Where ya been, boo? Especially back in 2017?!

https://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-musical-starring-kristin-chenoweth-in-meryl-streep-role-in-the-works

"

Well aren't I just late to the party.To be fair my popculture obsession at the time was more than likely Westworld so that's probably why this one slipped by me. LOL! Well whoever gets to star it it, I hope it does happen one day.

From the Times review:

"The timing was especially crucial. Had Michele originally been cast in this revival instead of Feldstein, the critics would have raved and she almost certainly would have won the Tony Award. As a replacement, she’s not eligible for a Tony. But I don’t think the performance would have had the same resonance had her past not thrown up roadblocks."

I thoroughly agree with this part. I'll just keep saying it, I really hope someone someday writes a book about the Funny Girl saga from the OBC to revival. I would be first in line to buy it.

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/11/22 at 10:57pm

The Pesky Pescatarian said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Where ya been, boo? Especially back in 2017?!

https://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-musical-starring-kristin-chenoweth-in-meryl-streep-role-in-the-works

"

Well aren't I just late to the party.To be fair my popculture obsession at the time was more than likely Westworld so that's probably why this one slipped by me. LOL! Well whoever gets to star it it, I hope it does happen one day.

From the Times review:

"The timing was especially crucial. Had Michele originally been cast in this revival instead of Feldstein, the critics would have raved and she almost certainly would have won the Tony Award. As a replacement, she’s not eligible for a Tony. But I don’t think the performance would have had the same resonance had her past not thrown up roadblocks."

I thoroughly agree with this part. I'll just keep saying it, I really hope someone someday writes a book about the Funny Girl saga from the OBC to revival. I would be first in line to buy it."

I wonder which perspective would be more interesting - Beanie's or Lea's? 

I definitely think Beanie will talk about this in an op-ed sometime in the future, about how this experience helped her grow as a person and performer etc. 

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 9:13am

DAME said: "The LA Times review is up.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-11/review-lea-michele-funny-girl-broadway-revival-review

"Michele’s performance in “Funny Girl” is one of the top five musical theater performances I’ve seen in my lifetime. The last time I was this overcome at a curtain call was after Patti LuPone turned “Rose’s Turn” into a gloriously harrowing nervous breakdown in the 2008 Broadway revival of“Gypsy.”""

Fantastic review.  Only only one I can think of missing now is Adam Feldman from Time Out. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 10:37am

SmokeyLady said: "DAME said: "The LA Times review is up.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-11/review-lea-michele-funny-girl-broadway-revival-review

"Michele’s performance in “Funny Girl” is one of the top five musical theater performances I’ve seen in my lifetime. The last time I was this overcome at a curtain call was after Patti LuPone turned “Rose’s Turn” into a gloriously harrowing nervous breakdown in the 2008 Broadway revival of“Gypsy.”""

Fantastic review. Only only one I can think of missing now is Adam Feldman from Time Out."

WOW! That's a complete love letter (and a great review). I look forward to seeing Michele for myself next month.

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:03pm

SmokeyLady said: "DAME said: "The LA Times review is up.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-11/review-lea-michele-funny-girl-broadway-revival-review

"Michele’s performance in “Funny Girl” is one of the top five musical theater performances I’ve seen in my lifetime. The last time I was this overcome at a curtain call was after Patti LuPone turned “Rose’s Turn” into a gloriously harrowing nervous breakdown in the 2008 Broadway revival of“Gypsy.”""

Fantastic review. Only only one I can think of missing now is Adam Feldman from Time Out."

Wasn't his headline for Beanie one of the most brutal? There are still a bunch of smaller publications that haven't released reviews (The Daily Beast comes to mind), but maybe they won't even be reviewing it again. 

In other news, Funny Girl will have gossip exposure this week since one of Lea's former Glee co-stars said he will NOT be watching the show with her in it. His loss tbh. Any publicity is good publicity!
 

[Penna2]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:08pm

CatLady3 said: "SmokeyLady said: "DAME said: "The LA Times review is up.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-11/review-lea-michele-funny-girl-broadway-revival-review

"Michele’s performance in “Funny Girl” is one of the top five musical theater performances I’ve seen in my lifetime. The last time I was this overcome at a curtain call was after Patti LuPone turned “Rose’s Turn” into a gloriously harrowing nervous breakdown in the 2008 Broadway revival of“Gypsy.”""

Fantastic review. Only only one I can think of missing now is Adam Feldman from Time Out."

Wasn't his headline for Beanie one of the most brutal? There are still a bunch of smaller publications that haven't released reviews (The Daily Beast comes to mind), but maybe they won't even be reviewing it again.

In other news, Funny Girl will have gossip exposure this week since one of Lea's former Glee co-stars said he will NOT be watching the show with her in it. His loss tbh.Any publicity is good publicity!
"

Looking for work, no doubt. He should write Lea a love letter thanking her for giving him the opportunity to give an interview and get his name out there. Soooo tired of these people.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:19pm

Lolz. Could not be more correct. An unemployed man gets to state he WONT see her in Funny Girl. Nobody cares, dude. But go OFF. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:22pm

So much for it all "going away"...

 

https://deadline.com/2022/10/glee-controversies-discovery-docuseries-ample-entertainment-1235142448/#recipient_hashed=58c3f317269bed0a2f02cf7c7efecca4333b1ccf9dcbc6d57dad1e7afec53832&recipient_salt=2b5a7ad782ac2e9292d9eb3f0ad2511d43d2f182d14ce878d5b9fd6dcda44369

 

 

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 1:24pm

JSquared2 said: "So much for it all "going away"...



https://deadline.com/2022/10/glee-controversies-discovery-docuseries-ample-entertainment-1235142448/#recipient_hashed=58c3f317269bed0a2f02cf7c7efecca4333b1ccf9dcbc6d57dad1e7afec53832&recipient_salt=2b5a7ad782ac2e9292d9eb3f0ad2511d43d2f182d14ce878d5b9fd6dcda44369



"

Awesome. More publicity for the show. At this rate they're ensuring the show stays open for more months than expected. 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 1:41pm

That Glee doc will all depend on who is a part of it. If it's not the big stars, or recongizable people, it won't make too many waves, I think.

[lala3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 1:58pm

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Could not be more correct. An unemployed man gets to state he WONT see her in Funny Girl. Nobody cares, dude. But go OFF."

Uhm Chris Colfer is a very successful writer of a series of children's books which are being made into movies. He has actually expressed little interest in an acting career since Glee ended and he started writing professionally. EDIT: Chris took his option back from 2oth Century Fox because of personnel etc shake ups.

Several other cast members have also expressed little interest in seeing Lea play this role, including Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Jayma Mays. And most of them have stated they haven't even spoken to Lea in years and/or since Glee ended.

It's unfortunate that there is so much divisiveness among Lea and some of the cast members of Glee, but I think the bulk of the blame can be placed on Lea's shoulders with Ryan Murphy et al enabling her, by letting her get away with her atrocious behaviour.

Now, clearly, I am not one of Lea's biggest fans, even though I find her incredibly talented. I feel like if she's right for the part and can play it brilliantly, which she clearly is doing, then let her do it.

I  do hope that she has truly learned from her behaviour and she can make some sort of amends to her former cast members in a more meaningful way. Which it seems she hasn't done.

Chris was in fact asked a direct question. Perhaps he could have let bygones be bygones, but I can see how it might be upsetting to the people who previously worked with her, seeing her get all the glory again, after the way she clearly behaved in a way that her former cast members don't even talk to her or refuse to support her.

And the media ask these questions because it's clickbait and gets people taking. Hence the Glee tell all docu-series. 

Updated On: 10/12/22 at 01:58 PM

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:01pm

I'm sure this docu-series will be a shocking and detailed expose of...everything we already know.  Ratings, people...it's all about ratings.  Give us that sweet, sweet celebrity scandal nostalgia.  It's the new "Free Bird".  

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:33pm

lala3 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Could not be more correct. An unemployed man gets to state he WONT see her in Funny Girl. Nobody cares, dude. But go OFF."

Uhm Chris Colfer is a very successful writer of a series of children's books which are being made into movies. He has actually expressed little interest in an acting career since Glee ended and he started writing professionally.

Several other cast members have also expressed little interest in seeing Lea play this role, including Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Jayma Mays. And most of them have stated they haven't even spoken to Lea in years and/or since Glee ended.

It's unfortunate that there is so much divisiveness among Lea and some of the cast members of Glee, but I think the bulk of the blame can be placed on Lea's shoulders with Ryan Murphy et al enabling her, by letting her get away with her atrocious behaviour.

Now, clearly, I am not one of Lea's biggest fans, even though I find her incredibly talented. I feel like if she's right for the part and can play it brilliantly, which she clearly is doing, then let her do it.

I do hope that she has truly learned from her behaviour and she can make some sort of amends to her former cast members in a more meaningful way. Which it seems she hasn't done.

Chris was in fact asked a direct question. Perhaps he could have let bygones be bygones, but I can see how it might be upsetting to the people who previously worked with her, seeing her get all the glory again, after the way she clearly behaved in a way that her former cast members don't even talk to her or refuse to support her.

And the media ask these questions because it's clickbait and gets people taking. Hence the Glee tell all docu-series."

I'd buy it more if he always acted this way but he had no problem being friends with her until the internet piled on her due to the allegations. 

They weren't always like this about Lea. They were friendly until they got more support for not being friendly.

It is what it is. Show business. They go where it's convenient. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:37pm

The idea that Colfer is only bandwagoning is sort of ridiculous.  This woman has been in the business for decades and the only supporter she's gained is Jonathan Groff.  That's....kind of telling, no?

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:38pm

In other other news, this essay by Jonathan about Lea casually dropped an interesting little tidbit.

Lea Michele and I met 17 years ago, at the audition that led us to playing opposite each other in “Spring Awakening.” I was from the farmlands of Lancaster, Penn., and Lea was this tough kid from the Bronx. She already had three Broadway credits to her name, while I was inexperienced, closeted and scared of her. At 18, she was sharp, funny, frank and saw everything.

Lea told me that before she found success on the stage, she and her family were scraping by. Her mom was a nurse, and her dad worked at the family deli in the Bronx. The morning they got the call that Lea, then 8, would be making her Broadway debut in “Les Misérables,” she spent the day bagging food at the register. This was 1995, and her grandfather, Porky, was still in prison for his ties to the Gambino crime family. Lea would visit him once a month on her days off from the theater. Learning how to deal with that complexity, combined with her success as a child actor, turned Lea into the force that I fell in love with in our early years.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:40pm

verywellthensigh said: "The idea that Colfer is only bandwagoning is sort of ridiculous. This woman has been in the business for decades and the only supporter she's gained is Jonathan Groff. That's....kind of telling, no?"

Yeah, try telling that to the thousands of supporters seeing her perform to the tune of over $1 million a week...

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:42pm

I rather obviously meant in the industry.  🙄

[CatLady3]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:43pm

verywellthensigh said: "The idea that Colfer is only bandwagoning is sort of ridiculous. This woman has been in the business for decades and the only supporter she's gained is Jonathan Groff. That's....kind of telling, no?"

This is inaccurate though. Darren Criss, Becca, Ryan Murphy (Glee), John Stamos, Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens), Jonathan, Gideon, JGJ (Spring Awakening) etc all went on different days to watch Funny Girl to support Lea. Jane Lynch has also posted support. 

So while it's true that she is disliked by some people she's worked with, there are also those who support her.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:44pm

We’ve all had horrible and even abusive co-workers. It’s really annoying that anyone cares what the Glee kids think now and if they will go see Lea. I don’t talk about my past abusive co-workers or even give them my energy. 
 

The fact several people on Glee have gone out of their way to say they won’t see Lea speaks volumes about them. They don’t have contact with her so how can they know who she is now? Have none of them every been cruel to anyone in their life and been deserving of forgiveness?

They seem like the bullies now. 

[The Pesky Pescatarian]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:45pm

Great post, lala3! I agree with a great deal of it.

Let's be real, questions of Lea's reputation are never going to go away. Even in the most glowing of reviews there is a snarky, underlying subtext of "we all know she's a bitch, right". In 10 or 15 years it will still probably pop up in articles. Hopefully in 10 or 15 years she will also have put in the work professionally and (for her sake) interpersonally to not let it leave such a dark mark. But it's always going to be there.

I can not wait for the Glee doc! Most of the stuff will probably be old and reheated tea, but I'm still here for any new fun tidbits that get dropped. I love drama! 

Lea is #21 on Variety's New York Power List, with a nice write-up from Jon Groff. Speaking of fun tidbits, Lea's grandfather having ties to the Gambino crime family was brand new information and made me giggle-snort. So random!