Why is London getting Funny Girl and we aren't?

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 8:06pm

Sheridan Smith in Talks to Lead FUNNY GIRL at Menier Chocolate Factory

Directed by Michael Mayer? WTF? This seems so random to me. No word yet on the final decision, but it seems if Smith is out, the musical will go back in storage for the time being.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 8:25pm

That answers your question: the UK has an obvious star who is both obvious and a star.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 8:39pm

You're the reason we can't have nice things, Pinto.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 8:53pm

^Bwahaha!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 8:58pm

I'm sure it was completely random.  They probably just pulled letters from a hat until it spelled out a director's name. 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 9:03pm

Maybe in London, it stands a better chance.  

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 9:39pm

And Menier seats less than 200 (depending on how it's set up, it could be much less than 200).  The Menier has done very well with reduced musicals - without big orchestras or large casts.  So, its Funny Girl (if it even happens) will be nothing like it would be in a Broadway Revival.  

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 9:44pm

It's Menier Chocolate Factory, so it's not a West End theater. More like a Roundabout production. I bet it won't be a full scale production, more stripped down. I bet Roundabout even has their eye on bringing it over.

The problem is that while Sheridan Smith is extremely talented, she doesn't "read" ugly duckling or Jewish. Think of a more talented Kelli O'Hara playing the role.

She played James Corden's sister in "Gaving & Stacey" and even dated Corden for awhile. This year she was awarded an OBE (she's only 33) and I bet by the time she's 40 she'll be hanging with Dame Maggie and Dame Judi in the Nothing Like A Dame club. She's sort of like Audra in that she can do no wrong.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 9:53pm

Too bad Sophia-Louise Dann is unavailable due to Bend it Like Beckham.  

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 9:54pm

and perhaps too old....

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:03pm

I am so sick of reduced musicals.

Tinker-toy orchestras that sound like high-school marching bands.

Sets-that-are-no-sets-because-Brecht-or-something.

Actors who can't sing, and forget-about-choreography.

I hope this one opens over there, stays over there, and closes over there, where people still think reducing musicals is a good idea.

Note to Broadway producers who like to bring reduced British musicals over here: Thanks a lot but noooooooooooooo thanks.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:09pm

Note to Broadway producers who like to bring reduced British musicals over here: Thanks a lot but noooooooooooooo thanks.

 

I hope you're reading this, Andrew Lloyd Webber. You better not bring that half assed version of CATS over here. We don't want a museum piece, we want something inspired.

Updated On: 6/11/15 at 10:09 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:32pm

Because FUNNY GIRL is a bore.

[Magalamb]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 10:58pm

I saw her in Legally Blonde, and she was very good. Charisma for days. Vulnerable, funny- maybe not as technically accomplished as LBB, but the show worked better with her.

I can see this working well.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 11:05pm

PalJoey and Bilbo, kindly blow it out your respective asses.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 11:27pm

we don't really get reduced british musicals anyway. Barely any broadway musicals are reduced for that matter

Updated On: 6/11/15 at 11:27 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 11:52pm

"Attend the tale of teeny Todd…"

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 6/11/15 at 11:55pm

Les Minuscule! coming to broadway spring 2018!

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:09am

I mean i guess you can say that production of Sweeney Todd was reduced, but I think that was all part of John Doyle's vision. What's the problem with that?

The revival of Les Mis was reduced from the original, but honestly, the original was just so huge. This revival is still a huge show with big sets and lots of costumes and lighting and what not. 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:09am

I mean i guess you can say that production of Sweeney Todd was reduced, but I think that was all part of John Doyle's vision. What's the problem with that?

The revival of Les Mis was reduced from the original, but honestly, the original was just so huge. This revival is still a huge show with big sets and lots of costumes and lighting and what not. 

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:11am

Jesus 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:35am

If a revival comes to Bway it has to be the whole grand shebang with a star. The script is severely lacking so its really up to whoever plays Fanny to sell the show. It has to be an amazing singer and comedic actress. My votes go to Jessie Muller or Lady Gaga. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:41am

 

Teeny Todd was not the John Doyle version, but the 1989 version. 

 

And what about the scaled down British productions of A Little Night Music and La Cage?

[EveHarrington3]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:45am

There isn't any person (besides maybe Jessie Mueller) who could star in a Broadway revival and not be terrible.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 12:45am

THANK you for using your knowledge of history for the good, i.e. telling pinto bean he's wrong.