Nolan Gerard Funk "stops" Birdie — Page 2

Let me once agin defend Funk:

His singing is on-target, he completely believes the moves he's making, and he dances quite well.

A REAL director would have gotten him to make an effective entrance to have his breakfast beer, would have gotten him to create a character and look convincing when he's with Kim. Believe me, these things could have been accomplished if Flatbottom knew what he was doing. I've directed dozens of high school plays and musicals and was able to accomplish these things with less talented casts.

I stand by my statement that Stamos, Gershon, Funk--and let me add Irwin--were the victims of a director who didn't work with them properly.

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If the scene was the underwear scene, at least everyone got a longer view of him. God knows, he doesn't have anything else going for him.

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I have not seen the show and am having trouble following the original message. Was Funk off-stage, then entered the stage and "stopped" the show? If so, he almost certainly did that because someone told him to. I can't imagine that an actor would walk on stage just because.

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Of course "Honestly Sincere" and "Got A Lotta Livin'" were the best received. They're the two most energetic numbers in the show alongside "Telephone Hour." I don't necessarily think Funk was the sole reason behind those numbers being well received.

And what the reviews mainly said was that Funk was the one who sucked the least. I'd hardly call that praise.

I saw the show three times and not once was I overly impressed with Funk. The first time I saw the show was its final dress rehearsal and Funk was awful. It was obvious he was new to the stage. I will say he got better when I saw the show again on opening night, but I still wasn't impressed. He is not a strong vocalist and while he gets the choreography, I didn't think he had natural rhythm. And his acting...well...please refer to my community theatre acting comment.

Bill Irwin is too over the top. John Stamos is just dull. And Gina Gershon is alright. Like I said, I think she had the most potential to be good.

And of course this is just my opinion.

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Updated On: 12/28/09 at 07:50 PM

All this is based on secondhand hearsay.

I have no opinion on the show or Funk, but I just don't believe anyone who can't type their "a"s.

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Updated On: 12/28/09 at 08:14 PM

I think the ensemble kids are the best part of the show. They definitely have the spark. I think it's the ensemble kids joined by the ensemble adults that make "Honestly Sincere" as powerful as it is. I don't think it's all Funk at all.

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TheatreFan4, they're tightie whities too.

Eris0303, I do agree with you that normally if there is a delay in the show or it has to stop for tech reasons, they announce it rather then have a cast member do so. So I doubt that Funk was told to stop the show.

I remember being at a performance of Billy Elliot where Billy's Father goes to talk to Mrs. Wilkinson at her home on Christmas. As soon as that scene was done there was an announcement that said that they had to stop the show for a few min due to the fact they had to clear off some of the residue from the dry ice that was used in the ballet scene just before. Jabara didn't announce anything. The only thing he did was entertain the audience for a little bit until a stage hand came on and told him to leave. But, it wasn't as if he announced that they were stopping the show.

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I just woke up &

down again...

"I saw the show three times and not once was I overly impressed with Funk. The first time I saw the show was its final dress rehearsal and Funk was awful...Bill Irwin is too over the top. John Stamos is just dull. And Gina Gershon is alright."

Gee, three times and you still didn't like it? Maybe you'll get lucky the fourth time. God, you guys make me chuckle.

Gee, three times and you still didn't like it? Maybe you'll get lucky the fourth time. God, you guys make me chuckle.

Considering the fact that two of the three times were the final dress rehearsal and opening night (according to the very post you were responding to), I'd be willing to bet a lot of money that the poster works for Roundabout or is somehow involved with the show and saw it for free all of those times. They may even have been required to see it.

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"grow up and stop mythologizing the nature of theatre"

Are you f*cking kidding me?

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