Why is London getting Funny Girl and we aren't? — Page 4

But, as I and the television critics thought, in that bio-pic she made better vocal choices than Cilla Black ever did.

Going back and listening to Cilla, I have to agree. Cilla had a pinched sound to her voice. I guess if she hadn't been friends with the Beatles, she'd still be singing in Liverpool.

The thing I don't like about Sheridan in the above clip is that in the beginning she tends to swallow the word love as in the phrase "knowing I love you." She doesn't open her mouth wide enough to let the sound out. I thought she was doing that to mimic Cilla but maybe that's how she really sings.

Cilla

And for that matter, thank goodness that Omar Sharif, Sydney Chaplin and Johnny Desmond did not look like the real Nicky Arnstein.

It's our final punishment for the American Revolution.

Why did they get Singing in the Rain and we didn't?

I was lucky enough to see Sheridan Smith in Legally blonde, and while I found her to be a great Elle, her vocal stamina was lacking and I personally don't think she has the vocal chops or the charisma to play a legendary role like Fanny Brice.

^ I hope not, just because I want one of the American stars we've been discussing to star, not Sheridan to come over with it.

I could see this production transferring, but without Sheridan Smith. The financing for the 2012 production fell through because Lauren Ambrose was not a big enough name to secure financing for an untested production. As Sonia Friedman is producing this production and heavily involved in the 2012 production, I can see her using Menier as a testing ground for the production. Sheridan Smith is a known and respected actress in London, so I don't see her performance being deemed on the same caliber as Douglas Hodge in La Cage or Bertie Carvel in Matilda. Instead I see the Sonia Friedman testing the waters as to whether the production can stand on its own, so that it can be brought in with an actress who is not Lea Michelle. In doing so she is making sure the production is strong enough to sell tickets on its own and not have to simply rely on it Fanny Brice.

Sheridan Smith is a known and respected actress in London, so I don't see her performance being deemed on the same caliber as Douglas Hodge in La Cage or Bertie Carvel in Matilda.

That doesn't make much sense.

Instead I see the Sonia Friedman testing the waters as to whether the production can stand on its own, so that it can be brought in with an actress who is not Lea Michelle. In doing so she is making sure the production is strong enough to sell tickets on its own and not have to simply rely on it Fanny Brice.

And that makes even less sense. Sheridan is pretty well-known in the UK, but virtually unknown in the US. How would a 200-seat production in London "test the waters" for a Broadway production with...someone who is not Lea? I'm not following.

At any rate, I fear tickets may be hard to come by. I may have to snatch a few when they go on sale and then hope I can plan a trip around the date. The thought of seeing Sheridan in a small intimate production is too good to pass up.

Menier is a testing ground with unknowns to see if they can leap to the West End and then to Broadway.

Except Sheridan is not an unknown in the UK. Quite the opposite. She starred in a long-running hit comedy TV series, performed several shows in the West End and won two Olivier awards, an evening Standard Award, a National television Award and a BAFTA. She's not well-known in the US, but I don't see how putting an established UK star in a Menier production, and possibly West End, would be a "testing ground" for a Broadway transfer with an "unknown". This is quite a different scenario from La Cage, Sunday in the Park and Color Purple.

Updated On: 8/3/15 at 01:57 PM

Is it true that they're relocating it to 1930's Lancashire and making it about a Gracie Fields type of character?