Lea Michele to Star as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL Starting 9/6; Beanie Feldstein Departing 7/31- Page 43

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 3:43pm

"My Man" is not in this production.

[shocktheatre]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 3:44pm

Lea Michele.

I just find her astonishingly dull for someone with such a fanbase. Her caterwauling is sleep-inducing except for cats.

But if she sells tickets to this woebegone revival and keeps people employed, I'm all for that.

I don't think "My Man" was in the original Broadway show. But since it closes the bloated movie version, here it is again. 

Much like when "Maybe This Time" and "Mein Herr" were included in revivals of "Cabaret." Those songs weren't in the original staging, but after that film version, audiences expected them.

Of course, "Cabaret" is a much superior musical than "Funny Girl." Both on stage, and certainly, on film.

 

Updated On: 7/21/22 at 03:44 PM

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 3:47pm

shocktheatre said: "Brody Fosse nails this:

"Really Lea? You can’t do your own interpretation? She’s literally doing Streisand’s version - inflections and all. I hope she finds her own and doesn’t do Streisand’s versions of the FUNNY GIRL score once she’s on stage."

100% agree. Pale, dull Streisand mash-up. Yuck. But apparently Lea has her woo-hoo fans.

The only way Lea will find her own interpretation appears to be if she decides to channel Sam Harris or Kanye.

I'll pass. FG has outlived its sell date.

There is a boot of the entire show (except for the very end) of Julie and Ramin on YT that I listened to last night. Julie looks, sounds and acts like Fanny would have were she singing in this day and age. That was my biggest takeaway just listening and not having the full experience. You can pick up so much without the distractions of a set, etc. Thought Henry Street and Rat Tat went on way too long, BTW.

Streisand said she did no research on Fanny, so what people saw in the original FG was Barbra. When all this talk started, I commented that anyone doing Streisand would be 2nd rate, even if that person was great singer. 

Bottom line, Lea learned the songs from the album, movie, concerts. Very hard to resist the pull of Streisand's interpretation. It's likely so imbedded in her performances she wouldn't be able to change if she tried/wanted to.

Julie does avoid Streisand-isms for the most part. Her voice is totally different, which is likely a good thing in that regard. That said, maybe what people want is a 2nd Hand Fanny and won't care about the mimicry.

"

 

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 3:51pm

bwayphreak234 said: ""My Man" is not in this production."

My Man was never in the stage production. They couldn't get rights. I was reminded this was discussed here early on. I understand Nicky had the rights and was still alive when the show went into production and would not release them. The Music That Makes Me Dance is the My Man of the show and a brilliant torch song, which I actually like better.

Updated On: 7/21/22 at 03:51 PM

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 4:45pm

If they're smart, they'll cut the finale and replace it with "My Man" just so the audience gets to see Lea perform it.

[Up In One]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:33pm

pmensky said: "Jarethan said: "Does anyone know exactly how many performances she would have performed in and how many she would have missed, if she misses no further performances? It must be a record ratio for missed performances, not to mention the brevity of her run. Re her quick exit after opening, I can only think of Madelyn Kahn (20th Century) and Dean Jones (Company) who left quicker than she did for a big budget musical, and that covers 50+ years. Re missed performances, I don’t have a sense, although I do not recall either of them having bad attendance records while in the shows."

Sarah Brightman only did 5 months of the Phantom run on Broadway. She had her last performance the night before the Tonys that year.
 

Sarah Brightman originated the role in London and equity at first refused to allow her to recreate the role on Broadway  Webber had to threaten to not open without her and equity gave in and limited her to a six month run 

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:39pm

Up In One said: "pmensky said: "Jarethan said: "Does anyone know exactly how many performances she would have performed in and how many she would have missed, if she misses no further performances? It must be a record ratio for missed performances, not to mention the brevity of her run. Re her quick exit after opening, I can only think of Madelyn Kahn (20th Century) and Dean Jones (Company) who left quicker than she did for a big budget musical, and that covers 50+ years. Re missed performances, I don’t have a sense, although I do not recall either of them having bad attendance records while in the shows."

Sarah Brightman only did 5 months of the Phantom run on Broadway. She had her last performance the night before the Tonys that year.


Sarah Brightman originated the role in London and equity at first refused to allow her to recreate the role on Broadway Webber had to threaten to not open without her and equity gave in and limited her to a six month run"

Well, she skipped out early and only did 21 weeks. I don’t recall them limiting Michael Crawford.

[Up In One]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:50pm

WithoutATrace said: "This is a fascinating question, so I just did some quick math.

In 1970, Dean Jones performed in Company from April 15, 1970 through May 28, 1970. This includes 12 previews and five weeks of regular performances (8 x 5 = 40), so Dean Jones performed approximately 52 total performances.

In 1978, Madeline Kahn performed in On the Twentieth Century from February 9, 1978 through April 22, 1978. This includes 11 previews and nine weeks of regular performances (8 x 9 = 72), so Madeline Kahn performed approximately 83 total performances.

According to IBDB, by July 31, Funny Girl will have played 30 previews and 113 performances. Beanie Feldstein performed at all preview performances, so if she missed approximately 25% of the regular performances, she performed in 85 of the 113. This would bring her grand total of performances to approximately 115. This, of course, is provided that she performs all 16 for the next two weeks."

Beanie only played 85 post opening perfs? Sounds low. But if true that’s the equivalent of only10 and a half weeks worth of performances. Sadly that means she disappointed many of her own fans. How wild is it that Barbara Streisand did not want to miss a performance - did not want anyone to play her role - and Babs was a big star at that point who had no reason to be scared of being upstaged. Beanie, who would be harmed more by comparisons to an understudy scheduled time off and repeatedly missed additional performances She lost control of a narrative she could have turned around. More signs of bad personal management. Those who let her attempt the role did not help her when she really needed them during the lead up to the reviews and the aftermath. 

[Up In One]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:55pm

pmensky said: "Up In One said: "pmensky said: "Jarethan said: "Does anyone know exactly how many performances she would have performed in and how many she would have missed, if she misses no further performances? It must be a record ratio for missed performances, not to mention the brevity of her run. Re her quick exit after opening, I can only think of Madelyn Kahn (20th Century) and Dean Jones (Company) who left quicker than she did for a big budget musical, and that covers 50+ years. Re missed performances, I don’t have a sense, although I do not recall either of them having bad attendance records while in the shows."

Sarah Brightman only did 5 months of the Phantom run on Broadway. She had her last performance the night before the Tonys that year.


Sarah Brightman originated the role in London and equity at first refused to allow her to recreate the role on Broadway Webber had to threaten to not open without her and equity gave in and limited her to a six month run"

Well, she skipped out early and only did 21 weeks. I don’t recall them limiting Michael Crawford."

Michael Crawford was considered an international star and one of the reasons Phantom was a success. Sarah was not. 
 

From a Playbill article

Actors' Equity only permits foreign actors to appear on Broadway if "they are an established star or can do something that an American actor can't do." Actors' Equity spokesperson Maria Somma told the Evening Times, "The rules are there to give our own actors the first shot."

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 11:20pm

How wild is it that Barbara Streisand did not want to miss a performance - did not want anyone to play her role - and Babs was a big star at that point who had no reason to be scared of being upstaged.

It must also be noted that Barbra (not Barbara) Streisand missed her first performance a year into her run.  A full year of a perfect performance record before truly calling in sick.  Way to go, Beanie.  

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 1:45am

BrodyFosse123 said: "How wild is it that Barbara Streisand did not want to miss a performance - did not want anyone to play her role - and Babs was a big star at that point who had no reason to be scared of being upstaged.

It must also be noted that Barbra (not Barbara) Streisand missed her first performance a year into her run. A full year of a perfect performance record before truly calling in sick. Way to go, Beanie. "

Props to Babs, but it's also really easy to not miss a performance in a year if you're suddenly the biggest star in New York, and heading towards same nationally through your big tv special, no pandemic to hinder you AND you have the powerhouse lungs to handle that score night after night, week after week (that was tailored to your abilities). Quite another to face the intense hostility and name-calling, have failed in your dream role, not have the physical stamina the role demands AND have contracted Covid. I do think there has been unprofessionalism on Beanie's part (though terribly mistreated by the production and the online community, she's not solely a martyr), but also think there are reasons she missed which truly relate physical incapacity, not mere whim or unprofessionalism.

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 2:34am

https://hudsonreview.com/2022/07/funny-girl-and-the-streisand-phenomenon/?fbclid=IwAR0GEEqykiJGCLq2CqcKCUAUdzFZ8Q1d4enHJEQU3reKilVWWtyeulnhebQ&mibextid=ghrler&fs=e&s=cl#.YtirtjkpAlQ

Excellent article on a new thread...yes, a new FG thread called Streisand and the Funny Girl Phenomenon.

This paragraph focuses on Beanie.

"Just as damagingly, Feldstein is not even particularly funny, relying on three muggy facial expressions that she cycles throughout the performance, all of which are variations on “Can you believe I’m up here on a stage singing and dancing?!” Most damagingly, she seems like a teenage girl (although, amazingly, she’s older than Streisand was when she originally played the role), with a jejune quality, lacking in any lived experience. Her performance feels high school, and not just in its amateurishness. She seems like she’s playing dress-up in mommy’s wig and high heels. The second act is a particular problem, requiring her to pretend that she’s a great, suffering, grown-up lady: “Look at me! I’m acting sad!” The romantic scenes with Karimloo feel downright creepy, as if a 43-year-old professional actor was imported into a high school production to romance the 16-year-old girl who got cast in the lead because it was her turn. Feldstein also ducks any kind of anger or wounded pride or determination that would come off as aggressive. She’s so invested in being nice and adorable—which is exactly not right for Funny Girl’s version of Brice."

[Emma_Pillsbury]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:25am

Seats in September via Seat Geek are going for well over 2K. Wow.

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:31am

Only Lea's first night has ticket prices that high, and, just because someone has listed them for resale at $2k, doesn't mean anyone will pay it.

[Emma_Pillsbury]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:12pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Only Lea's first night has ticket prices that high, and, just because someone has listed them for resale at $2k, doesn't mean anyone will pay it."

While this may be true there is no denying the fact that seats that were originally being sold at $269 have risen to over 2K. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:16pm

The seats were already sold at $269, and someone decided to list them for resale at a ridiculous amount. It happens all the time, but it only matters how much someone is willing to pay for them, which I doubt will be $2k. 

I get what you're saying, but those prices really don't mean much. I'm sure Lea is thrilled to see it, though!

Updated On: 7/22/22 at 12:16 PM

[Emma_Pillsbury]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:20pm

TaffyDavenport said: "The seats were already sold at $269, and someone decided to list them for resale at a ridiculous amount. It happens all the time, but it only matters how much someone is willing to pay for them, which I doubt will be $2k."

While this may very well be true the point of my post had nothing to do with a seller's re-selling tactics or whether anyone would actually pay that amount of money for a seat.

[shocktheatre]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 2:38pm

$2K to witness Lea ape Barbra Streisand?

LOL.

Wait a week. You'll be able to experience her greatness for $2.00.

Or better yet, go see Steven Brinberg, where at least you can have cocktails.

Updated On: 7/22/22 at 02:38 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 9:17pm

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 9:43pm

"$2K to witness Lea ape Barbra Streisand?

LOL.

Wait a week. You'll be able to experience her greatness for $2.00."

How about waiting until she actually has performed in the show before making judgements.

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 10:20pm

So nice to see Lea and Julie (on her thread) getting their own Fanny drawings. Anyone know what they are doing with the marquee?

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 10:33pm

Penna2 said: "So nice to see Lea and Julie (on her thread) getting their own Fanny drawings. Anyone know what they are doing with the marquee?"

They're not real:

https://twitter.com/jacobrivsan/status/1549766723301163008

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 10:35pm

TaffyDavenport said: "Penna2 said: "So nice to see Lea and Julie (on her thread) getting their own Fanny drawings. Anyone know what they are doing with the marquee?"

They're not real:

https://twitter.com/jacobrivsan/status/1549766723301163008"

As noted on Julie's thread, I'm somewhat gullible. Nice idea though.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 10:39pm

They look professional. When I first saw the tweet pop up in my feed, I thought they were real.

[Emma_Pillsbury]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:23pm

Even though they are not real they look great!