Why No "Funny Girl"? — Page 2

Certain roles have the indelible stamp of their creator. It's impossible to play Stanley Kowalski without being compared to Brando (as John C Reilly just found out) or do Dolly without being compared to Channing or Brynner and The King or to do Joanne in Company and escape Elaine Stritch's shadow. It's not EVERY great role -- just the ones where actor and role have seemed to have merged and become one.

There have been several Effies who've been able to put their own stamp on the role after Holliday and the cast of Rent has proven to be eminently replaceable as will Menzel in Wicked (in that case, the show is the star anyway).

There are maybe a dozen roles where the original portrayer casts a HUGE shadow -- Streisand and Fanny Brice is one of those cases. It was written FOR Streisand and based completely on her unique talents. The Brice character is Streisand and Streisand is the Brice character and there's just no avoiding that for future interpreters of the role.

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Updated On: 6/27/05 at 11:38 PM

What about Sutton.... i know she is taller then Fanny Brice, but she is one hell of a comic

Rent and Wicked have done a HECK of a lot more than just "remain open" after the original stars departed. Wicked has been 100% soldout every single week since Chenoweth and Menzel left it -- audiences clearly could care less who's is those roles. And Rent is in, what?, its 9th year now? One of the biggest hits in Broadway history. Only Rentheads and fans of the original cast have even noticed the numerous cast replacements over the years.

These aren't star vehicles. The show is the star. And even shows like Phantom and The Producers which have star roles have been able to run very successfully with cast changes. There's just something different about Funny Girl and King and I and Music Man and Streetcar where the original stars (all of whom repeated their roles on film) somehow DEFINED how those roles should be played. It's difficult for others to come along and completely be able to make those roles their own without in SOME way tipping their hat to the original portrayal. It's not that another actor can't be effective, just they have to work that much harder to break that original mold.

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Updated On: 6/28/05 at 12:49 AM

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Bway Baby, I can see where you are coming from, I love Sutton too, but she is way to pretty, and I cant see her being Jewish. I think (although she is gorgeous) Darcie Roberts was amazing in Funny Girl in Regional. I think Darcie is a phenomenal talent, and will be a big star soon. (If she doesnt hit it big with the roberts girls, a country band). And I dont really see Idina as fanny either. theres probably a young Jewish talent out there coming from the same backgroud as Brice that should get it.

The real reason that these legendary stars can not be replaced in certain roles is that...

1) The stars were exceptional. Their talents are simply not matched by today's crop of sometimes excellent, but never legendary, performers.
2) The material was tailored to the talents. These days, shows must run and run and run just to break even. You design the production so that the performers are easily replaceable. The King & I and Funny Girl are quite a bit different than Rent and Wicked.

I think that many of these shows could "work" with certain young Broadway stars. But they would not return their investments in today's theater marketplace. And unless you know anyone who feels like throwing away a few million dollars, I wouldn't hold my breath for Idina as Fanny Brice, Adam Pascal as the King, or Eden Espinosa as... just about anything.

i know lets just get Babs to do it for a second time....

"Second hand pearls, i'm wearing second hand curls
i never get a single thing that's new"

Broadway would never allow anyone freaky and strange enough to play Fanny.

The WHOLE POINT of FUNNY GIRL is that Fanny Brice was a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.

Broadway is dominated by onion rolls.

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Updated On: 6/28/05 at 05:24 AM

Julia Murney?

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theatretrash...I had been thinking about that all along, and I don't know why it didn't come to me in this thread. I think she'd be incredible, and it'd be a onwderful opportunity for her. She's not really a name, but she'd be great.