Official! Lauren Ambrose to Star in FUNNY GIRL! — Page 3

It isn't so much that Ambrose doesn't have the chops for the role, it's that she's completely wrong for the role. Fanny Brice is the most iconic Jewish role ever created and having a shiksa play her is a complete shanda. Also, the whole point of Fanny's story is that she was not beautiful, which is why she opted for becoming a funny girl. Lauren Ambrose is gorgeous. How can "If A Girl isn't Pretty" be sung about Lauren Ambrose? How can Lauren Ambrose feel uncomfortable singing "His Love Makes Me Beautiful"?

This casting just pisses me off. I'm not saying I wanted Lea Michele in the role, but at least she fit the archetype. Caissie Levy would have as well. I could probably come up with a dozen other actresses that would have been perfect and while I think Lauren Ambrose is an amazing actress and totally loved her in Exit the King...just...no.

---

rwlevin, I agree completely. Considering Sher's history with comedy, I feel like this FUNNY GIRL will look more like MILDLY QUIRKY GIRL.

It's funny to me that he says he thinks the show is about "the sacrifices of being an artist and the high cost that women in particular suffer when they find great success and the difficult choices that come with accomplishment." He completely ignores the fact that an even bigger part of the show is about a woman with unconventional looks and talents having to succeed in a world that refuses to see beyond the mold of traditional beauty. Because of how wrong Ambrose is for the part from a physical standpoint alone, it makes sense that he sees such a primary part of the story as something secondary.

On what planet is this a face that comes to mind when one hears the lyric, "If a girl isn't pretty.."? As Joey said earlier, "She's a slice of soda bread on a plate full of onion rolls. Not a bagel in sight."

---

Updated On: 8/3/11 at 03:11 PM

The other problems are:

1. it's a crappy book
2. the role of Fanny is HUGE in re to the number of songs she sings as well as dancing and other stuff
3. the other roles in the show are stock roles with little depth. you are not going to get A list talent for those cardboard roles. Who's gonna be Mrs. Brice? Faith Prince? And Nick? Joe Jonas?
4. the show has to be lavish. If they are going to scrimp then much impact will be lost.

---

It's the South Pacific design team: Michael Yeargan, Catherine Zuber, Donald Holder and Scott Lehrer. Totally first rate team.

---

Would you then therefore object to an actress of say, Greek or Italian descent, but not Jewish, playing Brice?

---

Going back to the alternate, why would it be matinees? Is that a broadway rule, alternates do matinees?

In the UK alternates do various nights, often the midweek matinee and one evening show.

Judaism is not a race.

"Fanny Brice is the most iconic Jewish role ever created and having a shiksa play her is a complete shanda"

I think that honor goes to Tevye.

---

Traditionally, alternates in the states do matinees so that the principal performer doesn't have to do the show twice in one day; but I know you are correct about the UK -- I was actually surprised when I saw EVITA that Elena Roger's alternate did something like Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Roger did both 2 show days during an 8 show week.

Not to threadjack, but I wonder if they'll keep a schedule like that when the show opens on Broadway or have a traditional matinee alternate.

---

I'm Jewish (as is my mother, Russian descent), had a bar mitzvah and all that. But my father is German, and was Protestant.

And believe me, I won't be playing any "Jewish" characters any time soon. If I were cast in a WWII drama, I'd be a German officer. Doubtless.

---

Things I've learned from this thread:

--Ambrose can't do 8 performances a week, but she better do 8 performances a week.
--Ambrose is going to perform the role of Fanny as an angry, bluesy lady based on a clip of her singing "My Man" with her jazz band in a cabaret setting that was recorded almost two years before she was cast in the role.
--Only Jews can play Jewish roles. Did Dana Ivey, Jessica Tandy, and Vanessa Redgrave all go to the same temple? Because they all did pretty nicely by Miss Daisy Werthan.
--People have already made up their minds, so why bother trying to have a discourse.

Will she play the role like Barbra Streisand? No, and thank god. If I want to see someone perform "Don't Rain on My Parade" like Barbra I'll go to a drag show.

Will she do justice by Fanny Brice? Remains to be seen, but give her an f'ing chance!

---

Updated On: 8/3/11 at 04:10 PM

^LOVIN' IT!!!

I'm tired of fighting. If you think I'm a racist, that's fine. I refuse to fight. And you can make up excuses and reasons for different actors playing different types of roles but when the point of the role is her heritage, you know what? I'm going to stop right there.

BTW-Apparently I now have to say that Fanny Brice is the most iconic FEMALE Jewish role. Gee, that's nice.

---