Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl - Page 4

[Penna2]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:24pm

RWPrincess said: "Any costume updates? I know the red dress is different from Julie's new one and it looks like Tovah may have had a new outfit at curtain call too? Was anything else different?"

I wondered about the dress - more gold fringe, thinner straps - also Lea has gold shoes. I believe Beanie's and Julie's were red. Curious about the nightgown from Henry Street.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:31pm

Lea Michele gets the last laugh with multiple standing ovations during opening night of Funny Girl

Michele reportedly got four standing Os before intermission.

https://ew.com/theater/lea-michele-standing-ovations-opening-night-funny-girl/

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:36pm

Robbie2 said: "Michele reportedly got four standing Os before intermission."

I'm struggling to remember the fourth. She got one right on entrance before she even said a word, one after "Greatest Star," and one at the end of "Parade." Somehow blanking on when the fourth happened—can anyone recall?

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:38pm

Wow seeing all these reviews persuaded me to get a ticket for when I'm in town at the end of the month. Based of what I'm ready whether you see Julie or Lea you won't be disappointed.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:38pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Robbie2 said: "Michele reportedly got four standing Os before intermission."

I'm struggling to remember the fourth. She got one right on entrance before she even said a word, one after "Greatest Star," and one at the end of "Parade." Somehow blanking on when the fourth happened—can anyone recall?"

Most likely the curtain call end of show but didn't see it tonight ooops before intermission so that can't be! Jordan?

Updated On: 9/6/22 at 11:38 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:40pm

The fourth happened at the top of Act Two when she crawled out of the pit. 

[Penna2]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:41pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Penna2 said: "RWPrincess said: "Any costume updates? I know the red dress is different from Julie's new one and it looks like Tovah may have had a new outfit at curtain call too? Was anything else different?"

I wondered about the dress - more gold fringe, thinner straps - also Lea has gold shoes. I believe Beanie's and Julie's were red. Curious about the nightgown from Henry Street."

You guys have GOT to be kidding me with this!!!!

I'm a girl. I like clothes. I notice these things. Sue me. You didn't say anything to the person wondering about the playbill. 

 

Updated On: 9/6/22 at 11:41 PM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:43pm

Well, that was exhilarating.

HELLO, LEA! WELCOME BACK TO BROADWAY.

I knew her voice would be stellar, but I was unprepared for the clarity and ferocity at which she approached the score. It is a flawless vocal performance. She even has her homages to Barbra's opt ups without going too far.

Then, there's her acting. My word. Impeccable comedic timing, delivery, vulnerable at all times, a younger Fanny with so much hunger and desire for stardom (Rachel Berry who?), and a star Fanny in act 2 that will break your heart. 

Lea knew she had to deliver and you can tell she has worked tirelessly to come through with a performance that will go down in history. And she has succeeded. 

Sonia Friedman and Michael Mayer must be thanking their lucky stars tonight. I've never seen such an adoring audience. Standing ovation for her entrance, the end of "Greatest Star", partial for "People", back to full for the climax of "Parade" (she said BAM and the entire theatre LEPT), then back up on the final note. THRILLING.

In act 2 standing ovations for: her entrance at the top of the act (that was probably the longest and the one where you could see the love behind her eyes for the moment. Looked like that most happy girl in the world), then we started back down and Ramin came back on shirtless so naturally people stood back up for that! Then standing ovations for Rat-Tat-Tat (she absolutely crushed it in that song. Totally clowning. Real Fanny would be proud). And for the finale.

Buy your tickets. The most anticipated casting just officially became the best performance currently on Broadway.

OH! and Tovah! WHAT A DELIGHT. She earns every laugh, her scene with Fanny during Nick's arrest was stellar. Her and Lea are perfectly matched together. 

Truly, just a performance for the ages. Lea Michele gave no Barbra impression or Rachel Berry channeling. She is Fanny. Through and through. Congratulations, Lea. 

[Penna2]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:44pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Robbie2 said: "Michele reportedly got four standing Os before intermission."

I'm struggling to remember the fourth. She got one right on entrance before she even said a word, one after "Greatest Star," and one at the end of "Parade." Somehow blanking on when the fourth happened—can anyone recall?"

If I were to guess I would say People?

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:45pm

Penna2 said: "ElephantLoveMedley said: "Robbie2 said: "Michele reportedly got four standing Os before intermission."

I'm struggling to remember the fourth. She got one right on entrance before she even said a word, one after "Greatest Star," and one at the end of "Parade." Somehow blanking on when the fourth happened—can anyone recall?"

If I were to guess I would say People?"

There was one in the middle of "Parade" and at the end. When she said "and BAM!" Everyone stood then sat back down for "Hey Mr. Anrstein." 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 11:59pm

Nobody wants to hear this but Ephie Aardema sang it similarly two weeks ago tomorrow afternoon and received damn near the same response. A powerful singer who focuses the number thus earns the reaction. I’m happy for all three current Fannys. Any of them will satisfy the audience and the show looks ready to coast into hit status. Bravo to all. We need hits. Always. The production must be pinching itself.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:04am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETUCLtJzy8A

Just leaving this here.

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:06am

very excited at all this response...I saw Beanie in it earlier this year and came to the message boards to affirm my profound disappointment. I'm seeing Lea in it this Saturday, and am relieved to have already come here seeing some of these responses so i can just sit, watch, and enjoy the Funny Girl performance I deserved when I first saw it. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:07am

BCfitasafiddle said: "Truly, just a performance for the ages. Lea Michele gave no Barbra impression or Rachel Berry channeling. She is Fanny. Through and through. Congratulations, Lea."

One thing to add is that I truly believe that she needed this gap to get here. I think that if we had gotten this revival right after Glee, we probably would have gotten Rachel Berry impersonating Barbra Streisand. The time has allowed her to leave that behind a create her own Fanny. 

[veronicamae]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:09am

CarlosAlberto said: "Penna2 said: "RWPrincess said: "Any costume updates? I know the red dress is different from Julie's new one and it looks like Tovah may have had a new outfit at curtain call too? Was anything else different?"

I wondered about the dress - more gold fringe, thinner straps - also Lea has gold shoes. I believe Beanie's and Julie's were red. Curious about the nightgown from Henry Street."

You guys have GOT to be kidding me with this!!!!"

Yes, how dare people on this theater message board discuss costume changes of a Broadway show! OH, THE HUMANITY!!!

[lkerr2]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:16am

A review from NY Post is up Lea Michele lifts broadway show out of the guttah

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 12:48am

What can I say that hasn't been said already?  Lea Michele hopped on that piano during "I'm the Greatest Star", looked the rehearsal pianist in the eye, and TOLD HIM that she was the greatest star.  No questions.  No qualms.  She simply stated a matter of fact. 

Lea Michele is the Fanny Brice Broadway deserved from the beginning.  She's got the pipes, acting chops, and the star power needed to steer this mess of a production.  I've seen the show with Feldstein and Benko, and for the first time the production felt like it worked.  Was it because it was a backdrop to Michele?  Probably.  Nevertheless, this is the first time I wasn't itching for the second act--with its parade of insipid book scenes--to come to an end. 

Tovah is offering a thoughtful and passionate performance.  Her Rosie Brice is all love for her daughter with a healthy dose of pragmatism.  ALSO, she busts out some tap moves that Jane Lynch most certainly did not do. 

A couple of little things that I picked up as a repeat patron: 

- The Henry Street/People dress has been cut at the hem and reminded me of Maria's dress in WSS during the Dance at the Gym.  It suited Fanny well and communicated that she was a young woman caught between childhood and adulthood. 

- Again, Tovah tapped a bit with Jared and could hold her own. 

- The new staging in Greatest Star is exceptional; no more Fanny being upstaged by a ladder!

- The Fanny interlude in the second act is short and delightful if not unnecessary.  I could have taken or left it.

All in all, a historic night on Broadway and I'm grateful to know I'll carry the memories for years to come.  You all make sure you get there!  It's a wonderful night out.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 1:02am

lkerr2 said: "A review from NY Post is upLea Michele lifts broadway show out of the guttah"

Good or bad, it's really in poor taste to review a first preview (and to label it as such, not a Michael Riedel-style consumer report). And I know it's The Post, but...still.

This review focuses on Michele & Feldshuh, but ends by saying the staging, design, and book still don't work. It's kind to relegate those criticisms to the end, but I wonder if other critics and audiences will feel the same or if the verdict will be "the show doesn't work but it's better with Lea." (Haven't seen Lea yet but I plan to now after the leaked audio.) My feeling with Julie was that as good as she was, her performance couldn't salvage act 2.

Updated On: 9/7/22 at 01:02 AM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 1:20am

At the stage door:

https://www.tiktok.com/@dramafiendspod/video/7140461046971567402

[Penna2]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 1:40am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "lkerr2 said: "A review from NY Post is upLea Michele lifts broadway show out of the guttah"

Good or bad, it's really in poor taste to review a first preview (and to label it as such, not a Michael Riedel-style consumer report). And I know it's The Post, but...still.

This review focuses on Michele & Feldshuh, but ends by saying the staging, design, and book still don't work. It's kind to relegate those criticisms to the end, but I wonder if other critics and audiences will feel the same or if the verdict will be "the show doesn't work but it's better with Lea." (Haven't seen Lea yet but I plan to now after the leaked audio.) My feeling with Julie was that as good as she was, her performance couldn't salvage act 2."

I wasn't thrilled with the review either - the one comment (posted at the time I read it) kind of said it all. Re: Act II - this is from Barnaby Tucker's comments above:

"Lea Michele is the Fanny Brice Broadway deserved from the beginning.  She's got the pipes, acting chops, and the star power needed to steer this mess of a production.  I've seen the show with Feldstein and Benko, and for the first time the production felt like it worked.  Was it because it was a backdrop to Michele?  Probably.  Nevertheless, this is the first time I wasn't itching for the second act--with its parade of insipid book scenes--to come to an end." High praise, all things considered.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 1:52am

Thanks for the update on costumes, nasty_khakis. The red curtain call dress looks much better (different neckline, thinner straps, shorter hemline, the gold panel is gone) even compared to when they removed the sleeves for Julie. The designer seemed to hate dressing Beanie so much I was surprised to see the hideous green, blue, and red outfit (albeit in B&W) in Lea's promotional photos.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 1:59am

It’s so lovely that everyone has forgotten her terrible behaviour to many many people, just because she can belt out a tune. What a world.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 3:17am

From Variety about Lea Michele's return to Broadway in ''Funny Girl'':

Ahead of her opening night, Ramin Karimloo told Variety: ''I know nothing about ‘Glee.’ I knew nothing about Lea leading up to this, so to hear her sing for the first time was extraordinary.” As for Michele’s take on Fanny Brice, he praised the way “she wanted to dive into the romance,” adding, “it’s so effective.”

There’s one song that will bring the audience to its feet, Karimloo correctly prophesied . “Come on … she blows the roof off with ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade,’ which I guess she’s sang on that show that everyone talks about,” he says. “The way she sings makes me dance.”

https://variety.com/2022/legit/news/funny-girl-lea-michele-opening-night-broadway-1235361336/

Updated On: 9/7/22 at 03:17 AM

[lkerr2]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 5:54am

Dolly80 said: "It’s so lovely that everyone has forgotten her terrible behaviour to many many people, just because she can belt out a tune. What a world."

Ooh, my experience has been different. So far, I've seen it brought up on every social media I've seen (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Youtube, Tiktok). The articles I've also read mention it. I don't think Lea will ever escape that esp now that certain people are waiting (and egging on) for her "inevitable" terrible behavior. 

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 5:56am

Dolly80 said: "It’s so lovely that everyone has forgotten her terrible behaviour to many many people, just because she can belt out a tune. What a world."

I’ve personally never been in the “Lea deserves to be cancelled” camp because I think that people should be allowed to learn and change and move on from past behaviours, and I’m not sure how they can do that without putting that into practice by working and showing that you have changed  - so it’s been funny to look at twitter from a distance right now and see the same people who are the first to be outraged and demand cancellation over anything now praising Lea like she’s the second coming, lol!