Lea Michele as Fanny - Funny Girl - Page 75

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 1:44pm

I’m just ready for this revival to finally close! This show has been under a curse for a year and a half. Still won’t forgive the producers for what they did to Beanie! I know people will be talking about this for years to come, but I would prefer if we just let this revival travel into the sunset and forget it ever happened! Don’t get me wrong, the show itself was excellent, it’s just the drama backstage that needs to be forgotten. I’m sorry if this may sound absurd, but I’ve just never seen anything like this before. No one should have to go through what Beanie went through. Anyway, I’ve made my peace. Happy closing to Funny Girl! 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 1:56pm

Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped.

Updated On: 8/30/23 at 01:56 PM

[soxboy22]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 2:06pm

Barbra must have been strong as a horse. (Hope she spills “everything” in her bio.)

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 2:10pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

Seriously?? So now we're saying that only POOR people can star on Broadway?  Should EPAs start requiring people to bring their tax returns and bank statements and should credit checks be run at the callbacks?  We know you're a Benkohead -- but stop being ridiculous -- only a few more shows to go!

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 2:15pm

JSquared2 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

Seriously?? So now we're saying that only POOR people can star on Broadway? Should EPAs start requiring people to bring their tax returns and bank statements and should credit checks be run at the callbacks? We know you're a Benkohead -- but stop being ridiculous -- only a few more shows to go!

"

WTF are you talking about? Time for you to go on ignore.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 2:49pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped."

With all due respect, Taffy, I have to disagree. Was she perfect? No. Nobody is perfect in this world, not even Lea. Beanie brought her own version of the character to the stage. Her acting was just superb, and her squeaky voice made her Fanny Brice unique. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:11pm

soxboy22 said: "Barbra must have been strong as a horse. (Hope she spills “everything” in her bio.)"

To be fair, Barbra performed a truncated version of the show whenever she felt like she wanted the show to be easier. Would just not sing full sections of numbers. 

[DJD4]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:26pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped."

I don't necessarily agree that an optimistic, young, and very talented actress should have to "suffer the consequences" of people not liking her in a role. The poor girl got horrible hate and vitriol, I don't think that was deserved. But sure, she should "suffer the consequences". Wouldn't be surprised if she never returned to broadway again.

Updated On: 8/30/23 at 03:26 PM

[gibsons2]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:26pm

JSquared2 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

Seriously?? So now we're saying that only POOR people can star on Broadway? Should EPAs start requiring people to bring their tax returns and bank statements and should credit checks be run at the callbacks? We know you're a Benkohead -- but stop being ridiculous -- only a few more shows to go!"

No, not necessarily poor, but those without strong connections to the Broadway powerful producers. Also, no Tony-winning star friends and family who made it in Hollywood. Nepotism should be prohibited in the arts industry and casting should be talent based only. It seems like the same exact people are being cast in multiple shows, it doesn't feel right. Some are very talented, some aren't, but the more exposure to the NYC theater you get, the more obvious it becomes.

Updated On: 8/30/23 at 03:26 PM

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:27pm

Didn't Barbra also change keys if she wasn't feeling it? I heard there were "matinee keys" that would be lowered lol.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:35pm

DJD4 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped."

I don't necessarily agree that an optimistic, young, and very talented actress should have to "suffer the consequences" of people not liking her in a role. The poor girl got horrible hate and vitriol, I don't think that was deserved. But yes, she should "suffer the consequences". Wouldn't be surprised if she never returned to broadway again."

That "poor girl" also signed on to play the lead in an eagerly-anticipated revival of a Broadway show, and gave an absolutely embarrassing performance that was a chore to sit through. I, personally, don't think her performance should have made it past the rehearsal room, but it did, and the performance was, justifiably, criticized by critics and theatergoers alike. This is BROADWAY we are talking about - the stakes are high, and the ticket prices are even higher, and people are going to be critical.

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:43pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped."

With all due respect, Taffy, I have to disagree. Was she perfect? No. Nobody is perfect in this world, not even Lea. Beanie brought her own version of the character to the stage. Her acting was just superb, and her squeaky voice made her Fanny Brice unique."

I know there are people that liked her in the role, but I wasn't one of them, and, FWIW, I loved her in Dolly. Putting our personal opinions aside, though, this is show business, an industry that Beanie knows well. She underperformed at the box office, and was replaced for it. The producers did what they had to do to keep the production afloat. Was it unceremonious and messy? Sure, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

[DJD4]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 3:48pm

bwayphreak234 said: "DJD4 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "Beanie is a (wealthy) adult woman who took a role that she shouldn't have, and suffered the consequences. She'll be fine.

I feel worse for people who spent hundreds of dollars to see that amateurish performance. I paid $129, and I felt gypped."

I don't necessarily agree that an optimistic, young, and very talented actress should have to "suffer the consequences" of people not liking her in a role. The poor girl got horrible hate and vitriol, I don't think that was deserved. But yes, she should "suffer the consequences". Wouldn't be surprised if she never returned to broadway again."

That "poor girl" also signed on to play the lead in an eagerly-anticipated revival of a Broadway show, and gave an absolutely embarrassing performance that was a chore to sit through. I, personally, don't think her performance should have made it past the rehearsal room, but it did, and the performance was, justifiably, criticized by critics and theatergoers alike. This is BROADWAY we are talking about - the stakes are high, and the ticket prices are even higher, and people are going to be critical.

"

so she should have quit during rehearsals? she should have known that people weren't gonna like her and just nipped it in the bud? If the producers knew that she wasn't up to par for the role (which is debatable but I understand why she was miscast), then they should've recast the role early on. But they didn't, and now she is getting hate for simply playing a role that she wanted to play. I understand that the stakes are high and broadway is very critical, but the producers chose to cast her and then subsequently embarrass her after damage had already been done. So yes, the "poor girl" did not deserve to go through this.
 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 4:40pm

I'm sure Lea is doing everything in her power to preform this final weekend.

JULIE BENKO is brilliant. 

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:36pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "I’m just ready for this revival to finally close! This show has been under a curse for a year and a half. Still won’t forgive the producers for what they did to Beanie! I know people will be talking about this for years to come, but I would prefer if we just let this revival travel into the sunset and forget it ever happened! Don’t get me wrong, the show itself was excellent, it’s just the drama backstage that needs to be forgotten. I’m sorry if this may sound absurd, but I’ve just never seen anything like this before. No one should have to go through what Beanie went through. Anyway, I’ve made my peace. Happy closing to Funny Girl!"

You might be the only one talking about the producers for years to come.  Everyone besides you who paid money to see Beanie will still be asking for refunds for years to come.

I had actually forgotten how mad I am that I paid almost $200 for a bad community theater production.  Why did you have to remind me?

 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 5:54pm

RUkiddingme said: "You might be the only one talking about the producers for years to come. Everyone besides you who paid money to see Beanie will still be asking for refunds for years to come.

I had actually forgotten how mad I am that I paid almost $200 for a bad community theater production. Why did you have to remind me?"

I could have said the same thing about seeing the recent revival of Aspects of Love in London or Spitting Image The Musical, both of which were horrible, but do you see me demanding a refund? Nope! I'm sorry you feel that way, but you saw the show, you paid for the ticket. Move on! If there's a show I do not care for, I say my thoughts and move on!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 6:40pm

broadwayboy223 said: "Didn't Barbra also change keys if she wasn't feeling it? I heard there were "matinee keys" that would be lowered lol."

Per Bob Avian, who was a dancer in the original 1964 Broadway production of FUNNY GIRL, there were 3 different versions of the show Barbra performed: Version A, Version B, and Version C. A was the full show, which was always the evening performances. At matinees she either did Version B (no second verses to her songs) or Version C (shorter scenes, no second verses to her songs). At the half hour call, the cast was informed which version was being performed at that performance. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 7:24pm

1) Does anyone genuinely believe that versions B and C of the Streisand performance were so reductive that audiences were cheated? She cut sections yet sang an iteration of the full score 8 times a week for damn near two years. If it was abridged she she did the musical play, and clearly sustained.

2) Does anyone think relitigating the Feldstein era of this run produces useful new insights? It was by multiple yardsticks - including the one that counts, advance sales - an unsuccessful piece of casting that might’ve resulted with a replacement had the production been tried first in a decent stock house or opened on the road. Not an artistic tragedy. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 8:06pm

DJD4 said: "
"

so she should have quit during rehearsals? she should have known that people weren't gonna like her and just nipped it in the bud? If the producers knew that she wasn't up to par for the role (which is debatable but I understand why she was miscast), then they should've recast the role early on. But they didn't, and now she is getting hate for simply playing a role that she wanted to play. I understand that the stakes are high and broadway is very critical, but the producers chose to cast her and then subsequently embarrass her after damage had already been done. So yes, the "poor girl" did not deserve to go through this.
"

this is the rational response to not caring for a performance. but theres a mob mentality of such hysterical hostility to beanie for daring to not be.... what people wanted to hear...that this is the crazy minority opinion. i thought beanie couldnt sing it but did an otherwise fine job. i thought getting *angry at her* for not being able to sing it was deranged, and remains so. then comes the "how dare she, the person i dont want to be in the show, not be in the show!" and the "shes only in the show because of ben platts dad" or something other such nonsense. all so silly and childish.

and of course these same people were almost certainly trashing lea michele when a different mob was construing her insufferable diva-behavior into racism, which is why she didnt get the gig in the first place. and on it goes.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/30/23 at 11:37pm

I can't wait for this show to close so the Lea haters/Beanie apologists can crawl back under the rocks they came from or find something else to endlessly whine about.

They're exhausting!

Good riddance!

[MBFan]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 1:09pm

Dylan, what didn't you like about Aspects?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 1:17pm

TaffyDavenport said: "
I know there are people that liked her in the role, but I wasn't one of them, and, FWIW, I loved her inDolly.Putting our personal opinions aside, though, this is show business, an industry that Beanie knows well. She underperformed at the box office, and was replaced for it. The producers did what they had to do to keep the production afloat. Was it unceremonious and messy? Sure, but desperate times called for desperate measures."

Those producers PUT her there. It was a wound that was entirely self inflicted that they could havw stopped from happening at any point in the rehearsal process, but they let her go on. I feel like some people need to read Arthur Laurents' letter about the stunt casting attempt in La Cage. It's always the producers doing this **** and they have levers to make it not happen. I don't put any blame on Beanie, anybody (ESPECIALLY their producers) could tell how this was going to go from her initial vocal preview they put out. It's THEIR fault, not anybody else. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 1:24pm

The Funny Girl social medias have officially congratulated Julie Benko on her final performance today. Lea will be back tomorrow. 

I can't believe this saga is wrapping up. What a moment in time.

[soxboy22]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 1:39pm

TheatreFan4 said: "TaffyDavenport said: "
I know there are people that liked her in the role, but I wasn't one of them, and, FWIW, I loved her inDolly.Putting our personal opinions aside, though, this is show business, an industry that Beanie knows well. She underperformed at the box office, and was replaced for it. The producers did what they had to do to keep the production afloat. Was it unceremonious and messy? Sure, but desperate times called for desperate measures."

Those producers PUT her there. It was a wound that was entirely self inflicted that they could havw stopped from happening at any point in the rehearsal process, but they let her go on. I feel like some people need to read Arthur Laurents' letter about the stunt casting attempt in La Cage. It's always the producers doing this **** and they have levers to make it not happen. I don't put any blame on Beanie, anybody (ESPECIALLY their producers) could tell how this was going to go from her initial vocal preview they put out. It's THEIR fault, not anybody else."

Agreed, though actors have withdrawn from shows voluntarily if they felt they are not up to snuff. Especially with Broadway’s first revival of Funny Girl….fans are so “protective” of it.

 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/31/23 at 1:48pm

soxboy22 said: "Agreed, though actors have withdrawn from shows voluntarily if they felt they are not up to snuff. Especially with Broadway’s first revival of Funny Girl….fans are so “protective” of it."

It should not be on the actor to do the job of a producer. Especially when I'm sure they spent all the rehearsals gassing her up, why would she step down?