Lea Michele to Star as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL Starting 9/6; Beanie Feldstein Departing 7/31 — Page 37

I'm sure Benko is a nice person and all, but she does one of my all-time biggest social media pet peeves, which is retweeting gushy tweets about her performance from fans. I always find that sooo tacky and narcissistic.

Penna2 said: "Papi2013 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Julie Benko has been nothing but a class act through this whole mess. As kind and gracious as she is talented."

It is her job. You people are just too much. You don't know Julie Benko. You don't know if she is a class act, kind, or gracious. Same could be said for Beanie. You are just going by mob mentality. And Benko is just fine in the role. Better than Beanie. But that is about it."

Agree about this being her job. Also agree both young women are likely kind and gracious. As for just fine, better than Beanie and that's it. I can't really comment because I haven't seen her. I heard some of the songs from the first night and loved her voice - she's performed numerous times since then and I can only suppose she's gotten better.

She's not Lea, but I don't think they wanted someone whose interpretation was so close to Streisand. I see Julie more as Fanny Brice might actually have been from what I have heard...and her voice. Be that as it may.

Just curious - have you seen her or are you just speculating on the "that's about it" part of your post."

Updated On: 7/15/22 at 09:36 PM

ManOfLaMuncha said: "https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/applause-3519#Awards



Lauren Bacall sang like a fog horn in Applause, but I loved every minute of it!

And she won the Tony that year for best actress in a musical."

I'm adding to my own message haha...she also won for "Woman of the Year" which I saw, and she was so good in that too! She "acted" the songs like people were discussing, so even though not a good voice, she was wonderful!

Azúcar! said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "poisonivy2 said: "I'm sure Benko is a nice person and all, but she does one of my all-time biggest social media pet peeves, which is retweeting gushy tweets about her performance from fans. I always find that sooo tacky and narcissistic."

She is an actor with a career to build. It is her job and responsibility to publicize herself. What do you want from her exactly? To ignore the publicity this can bring to her so she’s less likely to level up in her career?



some of y’all, I swear…."

Most actors arenarcissistic. I understand that. But just the whole thing with this show in every regard has a ickiness factor going on. "


It’s not narcissistic to promote good things that have been said about you’re work as an actor when you’re virtually a nobody. It’s just smart business. Actors need work you know…

BroadwayGirl107 said: "Azúcar! said: "BroadwayGirl107 said: "poisonivy2 said: "I'm sure Benko is a nice person and all, but she does one of my all-time biggest social media pet peeves, which is retweeting gushy tweets about her performance from fans. I always find that sooo tacky and narcissistic."

She is an actor with a career to build. It is her job and responsibility to publicize herself. What do you want from her exactly? To ignore the publicity this can bring to her so she’s less likely to level up in her career?



some of y’all, I swear…."

Most actors arenarcissistic. I understand that. But just the whole thing with this show in every regard has a ickiness factor going on. "


It’s not narcissistic to promote good things that have been said about you’re work as an actor when you’re virtually a nobody. It’s just smart business. Actors need work you know…

"

But retweeting gushy tweets about your performance IMO is taking self promotion too far.

Also, in light of all the drama backstage and in the media, after awhile I admit that all the artwork, retweets, and photos she was tweeting seemed very Eve Harrington-like.

poisonivy2 said: "I'm sure Benko is a nice person and all, but she does one of my all-time biggest social media pet peeves, which is retweeting gushy tweets about her performance from fans. I always find that sooo tacky and narcissistic."

There are many people who love her posts, even if you do not. Stop being a Debbie Downer. There is absolutely nothing tacky about promoting herself. If you've got it, flaunt it. As it is said in my corner of the world, "bless your heart."

Updated On: 7/15/22 at 10:23 PM

This is one of the first shows I saw as a teenager. Dorothy Collins did "Losing my Mind" so beautifully, and Alexis Smith sealed her Tony win with "Could I Leave You?" I remember being shocked that she swore on stage lol. That show was kind of magical.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "My feeling on both Beanie and Benko is that both are giving very interesting Regional Theatre-level performances –– Benko a little more traditionally Barbra, Beanie taking a bigger swing. If I saw either of those performances at a venue like Barrington or Goodspeed or The Muny, I'd come out impressed and with bragging rights."

YES. I absolutely agree with this. (As far as Beanie is concerned - I haven't seen Benko.)

ManOfLaMuncha said: "This is one of the first shows I saw as a teenager. Dorothy Collins did "Losing my Mind" so beautifully, and Alexis Smith sealed her Tony win with "Could I Leave You?" I remember being shocked that she swore on stage lol. That show was kind of magical."

I envy you so much having seen the original production.

Papi2013 said: "joevitus said: "Sally Durant Plummer said: "I can't help but be reminded of what DAME so succinctly said after the first preview:

"I do not get the excuses. This is broadway. This is the olympics of theater. No one should be defending themselves for being over critical, having high expectations, or wanting the absolute best.""

Having high expectations for a Broadway performance isn't anything like venomously ripping a performer continuously because one didn't like them. One can insist on high standards while not repeated going into attack mode (not saying you did, saying many have). There have been enough comments on these threads--by people who have been posting here for years, not people signing up just to push Beanie--who found her voice light but effective and her work as an actress effective. A hopeless amateur wasn't cast here. Thus the excessively harsh posts are not about high standards, and those criticizing those harsh posts and not an example of how woebegone modern audiences don't understand what Broadway should represent."

But a lot of the repeated attacks was instigated by people like you that constantly posts on this thread and social media to defend the indefensible. And on top of it all.. you have not seen the show. You have been on here since day one making sure the drama level stays at high alert."

Absurd nonsense. First of all, I've said ALL ALONG that everyone has both the perfect right to hate her performance and to write negative responses to it. What I don't think was necessary, and the only thing I've criticized, were the personal attacks, the people who have repeated said how much "fun" it was to rip on her, and the repeated vicious posts long after the point was made. Now, when I disagree with someone, I'll disagree, but disagreeing in no way implies I don't think they have a right to express their honest opinion of the performance.

More importantly, saying I or anyone defending Beanie caused the problem of more hostile responses is a bit like saying those who have supported Ukraine are responsible for Russia's continued and increasing presence there. Anyone's bad or rude behavior here is on them. Always. Not one person here is responsible for or "causing" the responses or posts of anyone else. But saying otherwise is a nice way to avoid personal responsibility.

Updated On: 7/16/22 at 12:32 AM

Have to agree that, whatever the director and producers wanted, Fanny needs a person who can sing the songs as the were written to be sung--said performer should be able to do the comedy and pathos, too, of course, but definitely that score is intended for a specific kind of voice. That's actually why I don't think the show should have been revived in the first place. It's a vehicle for one person, tailored for just her and just what she can do.

Georgeanddot2 said: "ManOfLaMuncha said: "https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/applause-3519#Awards



Lauren Bacall sang like a fog horn in Applause, but I loved every minute of it!

And she won the Tony that year for best actress in a musical."





A. That role in Applause doesn't require a strong singing voice. A strong singing voice is ESSENTIAL for Funny Girl.

B. Lauren Bacall could act."

OK, I think people on the message board didn't understand why I posted this comment. I was giving an example of one of the rare roles where it is ok to "talk sing", be an excellent actress and win an award.

I didn't mean that Beanie should get a pass and that she should have won the Tony. She unfortunately took on a role which was originated by one of the best musical performers of our time. It's sad that she is in this embarrassing predicament, but her voice really isn't capable of handling this difficult score. Sorry for the confusion, I was just giving an example and should have explained myself more clearly.