Streisand and the FUNNY GIRL Phenomenon

[JAS]

Posted: 7/20/22 at 9:29pm

My dear friend Erick, a very talented writer, wrote this piece on Streisand. Feldstein, and the FUNNY GIRL phenomenon. I thought some of you might enjoy reading it and discussing, if your hearts so desire….
https://hudsonreview.com/2022/07/funny-girl-and-the-streisand-phenomenon/?fbclid=IwAR0GEEqykiJGCLq2CqcKCUAUdzFZ8Q1d4enHJEQU3reKilVWWtyeulnhebQ&mibextid=ghrler&fs=e&s=cl#.YtirtjkpAlQ

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 2:53am

That was an excellent article and thank you for steering me to it. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 10:35am

A very interesting read. Since I enjoyed Sheridan Smith in the Funny Girl London proshot, I disagree with his assessment of the supreme importance of having a stellar singing voice for Fanny. In my opinion, the right actress can make up for any vocal limitations, but Beanie simply isn't the right actress. This critique of her performance, however, is spot-on:

"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."

[gibsons2]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 1:46pm

Spot on article, especially describing romantic scenes between Beanie and Ramin. When I saw the show back in April, I felt so uncomfortable during those scenes, I wanted to burrow in my seat. Can't wait to see Lea in September (already purchased tickets) and possibly Julie in August. I might be in the minority, but I love the show itself and can't wait to see it with the talented lead.

[denali.fire]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 2:58pm

Yippee!

Another Funny Girl thread!

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/21/22 at 6:39pm

gibsons2 said: "Spot on article, especially describing romantic scenes between Beanie and Ramin. When I saw the show back in April, I felt so uncomfortable during those scenes, I wanted to burrow in my seat. Can't wait to see Lea in September (already purchased tickets) and possibly Julie in August. I might be in the minority, but I love the show itself and can't wait to see it with the talented lead."

There is an audio boot of Julie and Ramin on YouTube (Julie Benko & Ramin Karimloo) which I think shows the real Fanny. Julie's voice is lovely and not at all like Streisand's.

The thing that hit home for me about Beanie in this article was her immaturity. She and Ramin as a couple never worked and was, indeed, cringy. I suspect you will have a different experience with both Lea and Julie. Just listening to the audio, you can hear Julie grow and change over the 15-17 year relationship she had with Nicky. I suspect Lea will bring a certain maturity with her as well.

As an aside. His description of Streisand then and throughout her career struck me since I began following her when she was still a singer that couldn't end a song without a bit of a screech. LOL. Watched a video of her with her sister, Roslyn Kind (who is a wonderful singer), and she put in all her singing schtick while Roslyn sang it straight. I still like her old albums the best - and the original cast album is one of them.

[OldTheatreLover]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 2:15am

Penna2 said: "As an aside. His description of Streisand then and throughout her career struck me since I began following her when she was still a singer that couldn't end a song without a bit of a screech."

I have been a Streisand fan since the early 60’s (hence my handle here) and I’ve seen her perform live quite a few times since her beginning and I have NEVER heard her “screech.”

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 2:31am

Perhaps not a screech - that was harsh, but she didn't know how to finish a song in the early days, particularly Happy Days. She just needed some technique issues polished. Believe me, I have been a fan of hers probably as long as you have. 

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:39am

That "screech" was part of what made her the best vocalist in the world. Now, I worship at the alter of Babs like every other gay, but after she became so obsessed with "perfection", that same magic wasn't there. Her first albums (all the way up to Stoney End imo) remain a collection of musical artifacts that can teach even the most musically illiterate person why these songs are so important. And even the songs that aren't that important are imparted with such magic you understand them in your bones.

Those wails at the end of "Happy Days", "Cry Me a River", and "When the Sun Comes Out" are among my favorite vocal inflections ever. She truly just had it.

Updated On: 7/22/22 at 11:39 AM

[themick2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 11:58am

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[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:02pm

^ "And you wonder why I drank!"

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:17pm

As I said, the screech was the wrong word. Even so, I was studying voice at the time and always remembered them with a little cringe. Just my take. That said, yeah, I had all her albums through Stoney End and then stopped until the Broadway Album. Completed addicted. No Barbra hate here.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:25pm

Speaking of Babs and Funny Girl... is there any indication of how accurate Mann's biography of Streisand (up to Funny Girl on Broadway) is? I first read it in high school and was addicted to it. I remember lugging Hello, Gorgeous all around a school trip to Europe, and waking up early so I could squeeze a chapter in about Barbra playing the maid in The Boy Friend (this was the same trip I listened to a bootleg of Barbara Harris in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever on repeat. I wasn't a typical 16-year old).

The Funny Girl chapters in that book were my favorite and I re-read them every few years. But since Barbra is notoriously private, I wonder just how much "research" that made it into the book is just apocryphal.

[Penna2]

Posted: 7/22/22 at 12:33pm

I never knew about that book - I'll have to look for it. I was reading something the other day about her when she was really young. I think they were articles by Dorothy Kilgallen (sp). She was always very self-assured about her abilities. Funny story. I was 21 living in Long Beach. 4 of us drove up to see her at the Hollywood Bowl (her last concert for about 20 years). We didn't have tickets and climbed up the back way through the brush. After the show we climbed the fence to use the facilities. We were backstage and she came out of her dressing room dressed in a royal blue boucle suit with a matching hat - very NY. It was July or August in SoCA and we were all in shorts and tees. She was terrified because we were stupid groupies so excited to meet her. She kept saying she wasn't Barbra - that her name was Ellen Cornflower. I often wonder if that meeting clinched her desire to stop performing live. Happy memories.