Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl — Page 29

Penna2 said: "The Pesky Pescatarian said: "From VOX:Lea Michele in Funny Girl: Yes, she is that good

"There are 3 things you need to be a great Fanny Brice. Lea Michele has 2 of them."

A little snarky, but not bad. VOX rates the show 4 out if 5 Vs.



eta- from the Observer,She Screams, They Scream, We All Scream For Lea Michelle In ‘Funny Girl

Mr. Rex Reed did not care for Ms. Lea Michele.Oh well, can't win 'em all."

He did get it right about Ramin. But, go figure, he's the only critic who liked Beanie.


“Ms. Michele and the handsome, gifted Ramin Karimloo as the first Nicky Arnstein who can really sing, act, and dance. (Eat your heart out, Omar Sharif.) I still don’t understand why they added extra songs from the movie version, but I’m grateful for the wonderful “Funny Girl,” which the penultimately dazzling Mr. Karimloo sings with a poignant quality where it’s most needed between bombasts.”
"

HA The chew through scenery comment!! Brilliant

Penna2 said: "Phillyguy said:
I agree with that not everyone can go to see it in person for various reasons, but that doesn't mean one should judge the performance based on leaked video clips.

The rat-tat-tat was much more enjoyable than expected in person and actually didn't feel long or out of place.

Good for you. Glad you enjoyed it. Glad you were able to see it in person. I am still entitled to my opinion based on what I saw. I've watched Anything Goes a dozen times on video which is much longer and never get tired of it. To each his own.

"

I assume you are referring to the Anything Goes proshot. It's not the same as comparing to someone's bootleg clip.

binau said: "Ticket sales have been great and the advance is VERY strong, reviews are great. Word of mouth is great. There isn't much that can really stop Lea Michele now EXCEPT if her voice caves in. I assume it'll be fine though as she can turn it down if she needs to (and people will scream over her anyway so they won't notice), she is not doing all 8 performances, the score isn't exactly WICKED and to my ears she sounds like she has a relatively healthy vocal technique. But it can't be easy to pull this off every night!"



Funny Girl is now a Big HIT and everyone is talking about the show and wants to see it with Lea! Nobody was talking about the show when Beanie was in it and when the reviews came out and the initial advance dried up grosses dimished greatly..Lea to the rescue and it's selling out nightly and will do so for many more months. Rumor is that she may extend 3 months after her contract ends in March 23.

Penna2 said: "Phillyguy said:

"

I assume you are referring to the Anything Goes proshot. It's not the same as comparing to someone's bootleg clip."

I get you have issues with boots. Sorry about that, but they exist and I'm grateful. If I could pay the artists, I would. Have you even watched these boots? That said. I don't like the first part of Rat-tat-tat. The men are great dancers, they did a great job in Cornet Man, but that part went on tooooooo long. I'd rather watch Lea. Sue me."



I have nothing against boots and I have watched many on YouTube. So you are wrong there. I was simply saying the experience in person is not the same as what’s captured in that clip. I’m agreeing with you that the number in that clip felt boring but that was not my experience in person.

CatLady3 said: "Penna2 said: "Phillyguy said:

"

I assume you are referring to the Anything Goes proshot. It's not the same as comparing to someone's bootleg clip."

I get you have issues with boots. Sorry about that, but they exist and I'm grateful. If I could pay the artists, I would. Have you even watched these boots? That said. I don't like the first part of Rat-tat-tat. The men are great dancers, they did a great job in Cornet Man, but that part went on tooooooo long. I'd rather watch Lea. Sue me."

I don't think he was attacking boots at all. I enjoy them too. But it IS a different experience in person and I'm sure you also feel that way about the shows you watched in person before. That doesn't mean we can't appreciate the performances watched in videos though!"

You should be a diplomat. Was just going to stop with this discussion because I completely understand about the difference between live theater and boots. With the changes in the show overall, even this particular part of this song is likely to be enjoyable to the live audience in general and Phillyguy in particular. For me, I would have preferred Fanny making her entrance sooner. Just my taste.

I finally got to see this on Wednesday night. Had very good seats in the front mezzanine...paid more than I have ever paid for a show.

There is really only one strong reason to see this show. Lea Michele is giving one of the greatest musical performances I have seen in 57 years of theatregoing. She was amazing, on every front. Her singing was great, as I expected. Her acting still exceeded my expectations, despite all the strong raves I have read. She WAS Fanny Brice. Her comedy for me was also stellar. It just all came together, on every cylinder.

Thinking about it, I think she gave the single best performance I have seen in a musical since Nathan Lane in The Producers, over 20 years ago, and before that, Angela Lansbuty in Gypsy, 47 years ago. It was definitely a performance for the ages.

What makes those statements so amazing is that the show around her was just not good. The score is great. the book is mediocre, the sets are cheesy (though not as bad as I expected, based on comments from this board and the reviews), the orchestra sounded tinny, Act 2 has several stinker numbers. First, the number for Nick was just a complete waste of time...the song itself was Tier 3 Styne (I assume it was Styne), no one cared about Arnstein, the staging was lousy...just a complete waste of time. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat, which I think was more elaborate a number in the original production, was just a further waste of time, and I seem to think there was another, but I don't remember right this minute.

Besides Michelle and the music, the only other real positives were Grimes and Feldshuh. It was great to see Feldshuh mugging it up shamelessly, and she added depth to the scenes that were dramatic. I suspect they built up Karimoo's role so he would sign on; they shouldn't have bothered. He was fine, but who wants to see Nicky Arnstein's role expanded.

Despite m ycriticisms, I loved the evening. The excitement in the air was palpable, a performance that will be legendary lived up to all the hype, and those Fanny numbers were, to quote a review I once read, 'Musical Comedy Heaven.'

Now someone needs to write a new musical for Michelle. Failing that, or in addition to that, a smart director should cast the next revival of Gypsy with an age-appropriate Rose, and that person should be Lea Michelle. (Note: Rose Havoc was 21 when one of her daughters was born, 22 when the other was born. I think a lot of layers could be added to Gypsy by having a 30 something playing Rose. Add a few gray hairs in the later scenes, and the span of 10 - 15 years is fine).

One last comment...I can't even imagine how awful this must have been with Beanie and Jane Lynch. You would have had all the negatives I mentioned, compounded by a Fanny who couldn't sign (I've seen You-Tube), must have looked ridiculous in the scenes with Karimoo, and a 6' mother who made no attempt to be Jewish (per everything I would have read).

I was also there Wednesday night, and second Jarethan’s comments. Michele’s performance is one for the all-time list. While I am generally easy to please, I’m very difficult to impress, and I found her thrilling. A stunning, glorious performance far beyond my expectations.

Feldshuh was one eyelash away from going over the top, but instead maintained her balance at the peak. She was terrific.

First time since Covid that I was inspired to come home and crank up the music. I loved it. Go see it. I bet you will, too.

Updated On: 10/21/22 at 07:03 PM

The Pesky Pescatarian said: "It looks like Kristin Chenoweth is at the show tonight. I had been wondering when she would show up. Lea and her always seemed to have a nice friendship. Hope there's a pic!"

She seems to be very supportive of others. Beanie did a video of herself singing Dancing Through Life and Kristen did a cameo. Recently, she was at the Hollywood Boulevard Star placement for Sarah Brightman. Years ago, I saw her on Say Yes to the Dress - she bought her assistant's wedding dress. I remember someone suggesting she might make a good Fanny. Not sure about that, but she can certainly sing, and she is a great comedienne.

barcelona20 said: "GingerSnaps2 said: "I was also there Wednesday night, and second Jarethan’s comments. Michele’s performance is one for the all-time list. While I am generally easy to please, I’m very difficult to impress, and I found her thrilling. A stunning, glorious performance far beyond my expectations.

Feldshuh was one eyelash away from going over the top, but instead maintained her balance at the peak. She was terrific.

First time since Covid that I was inspired to come home and crank up the music. I loved it. Go see it. I bet you will, too."

Just curious, did you or jarenathan see Julie in Funny Girl? I'd be interested in a comparison."

I am an out-of-towner who only gets to NYC 2 or 3 times a year. As a result, this was the first time I have seen the revival, and I don't expect to see it again, because the show itself (certainly this production) is pretty mediocre. If I ever do see it again, I would probably only go to see Michele a second time. I can actually only think of one other time in which a great musical performance was given in what was for me a mediocre show: Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz, and his performance was ultimately driven by his stage charisma as much as talent.

barcelona20 said: "GingerSnaps2 said: "I was also there Wednesday night, and second Jarethan’s comments. Michele’s performance is one for the all-time list. While I am generally easy to please, I’m very difficult to impress, and I found her thrilling. A stunning, glorious performance far beyond my expectations.

Feldshuh was one eyelash away from going over the top, but instead maintained her balance at the peak. She was terrific.

First time since Covid that I was inspired to come home and crank up the music. I loved it. Go see it. I bet you will, too."

Just curious, did you or jarenathan see Julie in Funny Girl? I'd be interested in a comparison."



Lea is a STAR and giving a STAR performance. Julie is wonderful as Fanny but not a star she lacks the 'IT' factor of being a Star!

Robbie2 said: "barcelona20 said: "GingerSnaps2 said: "I was also there Wednesday night, and second Jarethan’s comments. Michele’s performance is one for the all-time list. While I am generally easy to please, I’m very difficult to impress, and I found her thrilling. A stunning, glorious performance far beyond my expectations.

Feldshuh was one eyelash away from going over the top, but instead maintained her balance at the peak. She was terrific.

First time since Covid that I was inspired to come home and crank up the music. I loved it. Go see it. I bet you will, too."

Just curious, did you or jarenathan see Julie in Funny Girl? I'd be interested in a comparison."



Lea is a STAR and giving a STAR performance. Julie is wonderful as Fanny but not a star she lacks the 'IT' factor of being a Star!"

Did you see them both?

I find every other video of this but cannot find Rat-ta-Ta tat anywhere on YouTube...help