Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl - Page 51

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 4/8/23 at 10:50pm

Well, here's a different report about Lea at curtain call, spoiler tags because of the length:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqs5vN-A2Ur/

 

onairvictoria:

Two weeks ago I drove my Mom into Manhattan to see @funnygirlbwy starring @leamichele but
as we were on line to go in we heard she wouldn't be performing because she had to rush her baby to the hospital. We rescheduled and drove back in yesterday for the Wednesday matinee. Not long before curtain Lea posted on her IG that she had been crying that morning in the hospital bathroom as her son was back in the hospital. We didn't know if she would perform but she did. And she was so beyond phenomenal, a new word must be invented for it. She is incomparable and when you see her as Fanny Brice you understand why it's taken 60 years for a revival to happen since @barbrastreisand played Fanny on Broadway. Barbra is a once-in-a-generation performer and now my gen gets to claim Lea for that same distinction. We all know the saying "the show must go on" but it doesn't really hold that much meaning until you see the mother of a young sick child perform like nothing is wrong. Lea gave her fans 1000%. Her talent is unrivaled. Her perseverance and dedication to the audience and the commitment she made to the production is commendable. At curtain call Lea smiled and waved but as the other lead cast members hugged her, all with facial expressions of concern and love, you could see the harsh reality of what her son is going through creep back over her face. As another cast member was informing the audience about a charity collection for @bcefa (a wonderful group), Lea linked arms and leaned on her co-star @raminkarimloo for support. She was out of Fanny mode and back into worried mom mode. As we drove home my Mom and I couldn't stop raving about her performance but we also kept adding that we marveled at how she was able to perform at that level while her baby was lying in a hospital bed. And then on top of that, she had about 2 and a half hours until she had to do the show all over again. I want to express my gratitude to Lea for giving my mom and me a memory we'll share for the rest of our lives.[...]

 

And yes, IF she was chewing on something, it was probably health related. Lea is obsessed with taking care of her voice. During the LMDC tour she had a small table with special beverages and a throat spray right on the stage.

ETA: For your amusement, at about 35 seconds into this video:

https://youtu.be/AZ9H4TGKStI?t=32

Updated On: 4/9/23 at 10:50 PM

[Piparoo]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 7:17am

Not sure why some feel the need to jump to her defense so aggressively. I wrote that her performance was technically stunning but left me feeling chilly and that chewing gum isn’t a great look at curtain call. The first is clearly my subjective impression of her performance and the second is something we’ve all known since grade school. 

[Mary_Poppins]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 7:25am

Piparoo said: "Not sure why some feel the need to jump to her defense so aggressively. I wrote that her performance was technically stunning but left me feeling chilly and that chewing gum isn’t a great look at curtain call. The first is clearly my subjective impression of her performance and the second is something we’ve all known since grade school."

Not sure why you feel the need to belabor the point even further.

[Piparoo]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 7:46am

Mary_Poppins said: "Piparoo said: "Not sure why some feel the need to jump to her defense so aggressively. I wrote that her performance was technically stunning but left me feeling chilly and that chewing gum isn’t a great look at curtain call. The first is clearly my subjective impression of her performance and the second is something we’ve all known since grade school."

Not sure why you feel the need to belabor the point even further."

Bless your heart

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 3:05pm

Not gum! The horrors!!!

More likely it was a Grether's pastille which many performers take before/during/after shows for their voice.

Either way, chewing gum during a curtain call is hardly an impeachable offense. Can't believe it's even worth mentioning as a criticism. lol

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 4:19pm

veronicamae said: "Not gum! The horrors!!!"



 

Updated On: 4/9/23 at 04:19 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 10:58pm

Fanny is a long, hard sing. If Lea Michele wants to soothe her airways with a little gum during curtain calls who cares?

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/9/23 at 11:13pm

The thing is that we're not even talking about the actual curtain call, when she never visibly has anything in her mouth, and when she even sings, for that matter. It's only during the BCEFA collection, which isn't part of the show at all. It's basically her personal time, and she can do whatever she wants with it. When I've seen it, I just assumed she had a lozenge in her mouth.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/16/23 at 2:43am

I just came back from seeing LEA and TOVAH in the show, I think this is the best show on Broadway right now. LEA is a force of nature. Her level of excellence is unique. But she truly changed the show completely, excellent chemistry with Tovah and Ramin. Jared gets better and better in the role with time. It was fabulous. Go see this if you haven't.

[gordi_92]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 10:56am

I saw it for the very first time last Wednesday matinee. I didn't really care if Lea was playing or not. Im not obsessed with nor do I dislike her in anyway. But obviously I heard great things about her and was looking forward to be seeing her perform live. I have to say that I don't really get the hype around her. I was quite underwhelmed with her performance. Especially vocally. We are all human and its live theatre so having not such a great day can absolutely happen. And I don't think she was not feeling well or under the weather because the singing was fine. She hit all the notes but there was just something missing. Something Ive seen and heard in several TV appearances, videos and bootlegs of her that was really exciting. It sounded all very bored and like she didn't care. Don't rain on my Parade, which I thought would be a highlight, was sung completely emotionless and seemed a little bit like "Im not giving it my all for this Wednesday matinee audience". Its quite a shame because this is now my only live Experience with her in this role. And judging by this performance I absolutely cannot understand why people say she was born to play this role or even that its the best performance that they have seen on Broadway in a while. 

And please don't get me wrong. I don't want to tear her down or hate on her. Its just my opinion and experience and I was really ready to be blown away by her but unfortunately it didn't happen. I hope it was just an off Show for her.

[Lynsey1122]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 11:13am

Sorry, you probably had an off show.  I’ve seen it twice (as recently as last night) and she was fabulous.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 12:09pm

I caught Julie Benko last week after having seen both Beanie Feldstein last May and Lea Michele last November. I was truly awed by Benko's phenomenal performance. She definitely brings the "funny" to the role (more so than either Beanie or Lea).

I still think Lea Michele absolutely OWNS the role and the show, but I loved Julie Benko as well! It has been interesting to see all three women as Fanny. I still think this production is pretty uninspired and cheap, but both Michele and Benko make it worth a visit.

[bryan2]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 7:19pm

I loved Lea so much , She owns this 100%. Enough has been said about Beanie , Julie to me sings the role well but I find her a little to hammy for my taste...and she always seemed to be looking at the audience when she made a "funny" comment or face and even on the "shall not be mentioned bootleg" I found her hammy.... I found her basically a good performer but not a star but a million and one times better than Beanie was, 

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 8:16pm

bryan2 said: "I loved Lea so much , She owns this 100%. Enough has been said about Beanie , Julie to me sings the role well but I find her a little to hammy for my taste...and she always seemed to be looking at the audience when she made a "funny" comment or face and even on the "shall not be mentioned bootleg" I found her hammy.... I found her basically a good performer but not a star but a million and one times better than Beanie was,"

My take is Lea becomes Fanny as a complete person, foibles and all and, as such, brings the show together with all the characters enhancing one another. A "star" makes you forget yourself - and them - in whatever work they are doing. 

I completely supported Julie early on because she was so far superior to Beanie. That said, she is still saying in her performance look how much like Fanny I am instead of just being. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 8:29pm

I can't wait until the show closes, so that people who've never even seen Julie in the show can stop pretending that seeing a bootleg of her from a year ago entitles them to judge her current performance.

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 8:47pm

I'm in a unique sliver: I saw Feldstein, and then returned to see Benko and saw the stellar Ephie Aardema, when she went on for only the 2nd time. A Wednesday matinee last August. She was confident and effortlessly Fanny. And her vocals were wonderful. I'd still like to see Benko, but the show itself remains an unfixable patched-together narrative, a brilliant song stack -- of musical theater's most thrilling numbers -- with no real second act, its utter predictability the ultimate problem. .  

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 9:54pm

Auggie27 said: "I'm in a unique sliver: I saw Feldstein, and then returned to see Benko and saw the stellar Ephie Aardema, when she went on for only the 2nd time. A Wednesday matinee last August. She was confident and effortlessly Fanny. And her vocals were wonderful. I'd still like to see Benko, but the show itself remains an unfixable patched-together narrative, a brilliant song stack -- of musical theater's most thrilling numbers -- with no real second act, its utter predictability the ultimate problem. ."

I’m sorry you never got to see Lea in this role then. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 10:01pm

TaffyDavenport said: "I can't wait until the show closes, so that people who've never even seen Julie in the show can stop pretending that seeing a bootleg of her from a year ago entitles them to judge her current performance."

That’s a very optimistic outlook you have there. 

[Penna2]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 11:08pm

Phillyguy said: "Auggie27 said: "I'm in a unique sliver: I saw Feldstein, and then returned to see Benko and saw the stellar Ephie Aardema, when she went on for only the 2nd time. A Wednesday matinee last August. She was confident and effortlessly Fanny. And her vocals were wonderful. I'd still like to see Benko, but the show itself remains an unfixable patched-together narrative, a brilliant song stack -- of musical theater's most thrilling numbers -- with no real second act, its utter predictability the ultimate problem. ."

I’m sorry you never got to see Lea in this role then."

Agree - Lea makes the whole thing work. You just sit down and let it all roll. Not worried about whether a joke lands or not - they all do as they should - the whole magilla works (including the 2nd act - it makes sense with the proper casting and chemistry between the leads) and at the end you are satisfied and teary-eyed at having seen one hell of a show.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 11:43pm

I haven't seen Lea live, and I don't doubt for one second that she is knocking the roof off the theater as we have now confirmed is required for this role. She was born to play this role, shes saving the show, agreed.

But the Beanie-hysteria still lingers, if anyone here is pretending that Lea is nailing the HUMOR the way Beanie did. That isn't Michele's strong point, shes not a comedienne who mugs and makes us laugh. Beanie killed it as far as the comedy goes--and yes, the producers were hoping that alone would save her performance, and they were wrong. But now we're pretending Lea Michele is landing the Borscht Belt humor too? I cant wait for this show to close just so this fever can pass.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 4/30/23 at 11:52pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "I haven't seen Lea live, and I don't doubt for one second that she is knocking the roof off the theater as we have now confirmed is required for this role. She was born to play this role, shes saving the show, agreed.

But the Beanie-hysteria still lingers, if anyone here is pretending that Lea is nailing the HUMOR the way Beanie did. That isn't Michele's strong point, shes not a comedienne who mugs and makes us laugh. Beanie killed it as far as the comedy goes--and yes, the producers were hoping that alone would save her performance, and they were wrong. But now we're pretending Lea Michele is landing the Borscht Belt humor too? I cant wait for this show to close just so this fever can pass."

Another option to consider is just ignoring this thread and let the people who appreciate hearing different perspectives and thoughts on the different performances exchange their views ... because if you're waiting for the show to close so these comments will end I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed.  These conversations will continue long after the lights go down on that final performance.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 5/1/23 at 8:56am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "I haven't seen Lea live, and I don't doubt for one second that she is knocking the roof off the theater as we have now confirmed is required for this role. She was born to play this role, shes saving the show, agreed.

But the Beanie-hysteria still lingers, if anyone here is pretending that Lea is nailing the HUMOR the way Beanie did. That isn't Michele's strong point, shes not a comedienne who mugs and makes us laugh. Beanie killed it as far as the comedy goes--and yes, the producers were hoping that alone would save her performance, and they were wrong. But now we're pretending Lea Michele is landing the Borscht Belt humor too? I cant wait for this show to close just so this fever can pass."

Lea in fact does nail the humor. I didn't expect her to be funny, but she is a fantastic, very charismatic comedienne. And the reason is that she's much better than Beanie, who is really just a lousy actress. Lea's comedic moments were the biggest surprise for me as I thought she's a bit stuck up as a person and it will reflect in her acting. 

Updated On: 5/1/23 at 08:56 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/1/23 at 9:13am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "I haven't seen Lea live, and I don't doubt for one second that she is knocking the roof off the theater as we have now confirmed is required for this role. She was born to play this role, shes saving the show, agreed.

But the Beanie-hysteria still lingers, if anyone here is pretending that Lea is nailing the HUMOR the way Beanie did. That isn't Michele's strong point, shes not a comedienne who mugs and makes us laugh. Beanie killed it as far as the comedy goes--and yes, the producers were hoping that alone would save her performance, and they were wrong. But now we're pretending Lea Michele is landing the Borscht Belt humor too? I cant wait for this show to close just so this fever can pass."

I didn't find Beanie amusing in the slightest. I found her entire performance to be grating and annoying. Also, the fever surrounding this show and the firing of Feldstein is going to be talked about for years (much like LuPone/Close Sunset Boulevard fiasco that is still talked about to this day). It's not just going to cease to exist after the show closes.

This has been a truly fascinating unfolding of events with this revival. Three very different actresses in different stages of their careers played the role in this one production. Two came out the better for it (Benko gaining a great deal of recognition and Lea Michele being able to step back into the Broadway spotlight) while one did not. 

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 5/1/23 at 1:04pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "I haven't seen Lea live, and I don't doubt for one second that she is knocking the roof off the theater as we have now confirmed is required for this role. She was born to play this role, shes saving the show, agreed.

But the Beanie-hysteria still lingers, if anyone here is pretending that Lea is nailing the HUMOR the way Beanie did. That isn't Michele's strong point, shes not a comedienne who mugs and makes us laugh. Beanie killed it as far as the comedy goes--and yes, the producers were hoping that alone would save her performance, and they were wrong. But now we're pretending Lea Michele is landing the Borscht Belt humor too? I cant wait for this show to close just so this fever can pass."

I'm not quite sure if I understand your point. This is a musical about a comedienne who achieved stardom. This is not a comedy show. It's not about who could deliver better humor or land a better joke. 

You need a leading actress who makes you believe she is the greatest star. Regardless of what people think of her, she is an excellent actress and an incredible singer. She takes you into her (Fanny's) life and make you believe that you are part of her journey. You feel happy when she triumphs and cry when she fails. That's why she succeeds in this role.

People have complained about the book, staging, lighting, the second act, but when I saw her on that stage, none of it seemed to matter because you are so focused on her and her life. I was actually surprised at how fast time flew by during the performance.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/1/23 at 1:40pm

Lea in fact does nail the humor. I didn't expect her to be funny, but she is a fantastic, very charismatic comedienne. And the reason is that she's much better than Beanie, who is really just a lousy actress. Lea's comedic moments were the biggest surprise for me as I thought she's a bit stuck up as a person and it will reflect in her acting. 

She was completely perfect and nailed the humor. No one gets to comment about her live performance who hasn't actually seen it, that doesn't make sense. And agree on the other girl you mentioned being completely lousy. Woof.