Very few people writing realize how dull this show is the minute Fanny leaves the stage, and that happens more often than one expects. As it hasn't been done in New York for nearly 50 years, not surprising that most people think that the movie is the template for the show. This isn't the movie, folks; Fanny is off stage quite a bit (maybe just to take an oxygen break), while we sit through interminable other numbers from lesser characters. Through the magic of movies, Fanny was in just about every scene, not so in the show. Perhaps Harvey can liven up this very long show...
I saw Streisand do it late in the run, and she was bored to death, and didn't care who knew it, racing though the scenes and songs like a runaway train. Mimi Hines was sensational, sang and clowned her heart out. I also loved, although it was very against type, Barbara Cook in a brief national tour, as Fanny, with, yipes, George Hamilton as Nick, who got top billing over Barbara! Ms. Cook was great, and sang the songs beautifully (you can hear "Who Are You Now" on one of her early solo albums).
The score and the leading role are the reasons this show should be revived, but yes, please do a rewrite!
