Funny Girl

[broadwayboy430]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 10:55pm

Even though historic (what with "Don't Rain on My Parade" and "People Who Need People" and the breakthrough of the Ms. BARBARA STREISAND!!!) the show, after the movie seems to have died. I mean, I never see regional theatres doing it, and don't see it avaible on MTI, neither do I see plans for a revival. I mean the music is kick ass, and the plot isn't questionable...what's the deal?

[maybethistime]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:01pm

Tams-Witmark controls the rights.


[click me] Updated On: 5/16/06 at 11:01 PM

[Brennan88]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:10pm

I think the deal is it's just not that easy to cast. Love her or hate her, Barbra makes an indelible impression. Very hard to compete with.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:10pm

It's performed regionally all the time (I've read reviews of about three productions around the country in the past year or two -- one starring Anna Gasteyer and another starring Stephanie J Block). Papermill just did it with Leslie Kritzer a few years ago (there was brief talk of trying to move that production to Broadway, but it never got out of the talking stage). High schools and community theatres do it all it all the time.

The problem with a Broadway revival has always been that, in part, the shadow of Streisand still looms. It's an expensive show to mount (probably $10 million for Broadway) and you have to have a 20-something (or maybe early 30-something) actress who's Jewish (or at least looks it), has a gorgeous multi-octave voice (someone who can compete with Streisand's definitive renditions of that music), is a first-rate verbal and physical comedienne, AND also has something of a "name" (since few producers are will entrust such an expensive show to a total unknown). Not many names come to mind who have all the necessary qualities -- they're either too old, can't vocally handle the score, don't have the requisite comedic chops, look too gentile and/or are complete unknowns.

It'll probably come back one of these days, as soon as a first rate Fanny comes along.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:32pm

Personally, Ana Gasteyer seems perfect for a big revival. How was her previous performace as Fanny received?

There was also a TUTS production in Houston several years back with Darcie Roberts and her vocals were TO DIE FOR. I listen to her "People" probably more than I do Barabara's; I don't know about her acting, though.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 11:45pm

Gasteyer has most of the necessary qualities, except that she's almost 40. I'd still like to see her take a crack at it.

Here's one review of her Funny Girl I found on Bob Cuccioli's website (he played Nick):

http://www.robertcuccioli.com/Media/FunnyGirlPTOPittsLIve.htm

[Popular]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 12:47am

"I think the deal is it's just not that easy to cast. Love her or hate her, Barbra makes an indelible impression. Very hard to compete with."

Oh I don't know, Brennan, seems like a no brainer to me
For those of you who haven't heard Steph belt out Don't Rain On My Parade - Click here!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 1:27am

The script for the stage production is in need of some work (It was heavily re-written for the screenplay. Notice only one of the six somgs in ACt II made it into the film!)

The show was re-written endlessly all through try-outs and previews. The final scene was rehearsed just before the start of the performance.

The seams show, although the score is very strong. Still, it could stand to lose "Henry Street", & "Find Yourself a Man."

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 1:41am

People came to see her, not the show. By the time she left, the show was a hit and then people came to see the hit (only one woman, Mimi Hines, replaced her). Hines was good but I don't believe people came to see her. By then the show was a must-see for out-of-towners.

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 1:54am

Wasn't there also a story about Lainie Kazan getting herself fired as Barbra's understudy by buying newspaper ads announcing that she'd be going on as Fanny one night?

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 2:16am

Hey Popular,

Thanks for that link to Stephanie's version of "Don't Rain on My Parade". She sounded wonderful! I saw her go on as the understudy in "Wicked" in SF when it was in previews. I had seen it before with Idina, but I liked Stephanie more. I also got to see her 3 times in "The Boy From Oz". Can't wait to see what she does next.

[Brennan88]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 4:29am

I used to own a bootleg audio tape of Laurie Beechman in the role at the Sacramento Music Circus. She handled the scenes okay, but her musical numbers were pretty spine tingling. Makes sense since supposedly Barbra herself told her after a performance of "Joseph," "Kid, you got nice pipes."

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 9:39am

A pre-Broadway tour starring Deborah Gibson and Robert Westenberg was launched 5 or so years ago, but died quickly on the road because Gibson couldn't match up to Streisand. I can imagine any number of ladies wishing to do the role, I just can't imagine who would want to take the heat in a Broadway revival.

When "Funny Girl" opened all the reviewers acknowledged the book problems. What they all said, though, was that the show featured a new "STAR." A Blazing New Talent. And Streisand by then was already a major new recording artist.

So unless Broadway producers can find someone like that (from "American Idol" ranks maybe?) they aren't going to try.

Footnote on Mimi Hines: Mimi Hines (along with her husband Phil Ford, who played Eddie) was a very beloved nightclub and TV star when she took over the role, and actually played the role longer than Streisand did.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 10:49am

Phil - you had me until the American Idol comment. With all due respect to the Idols... throwing someone into a high stress, instant fame type situation may make them a star, but NOT an overnight Fanny!

Jimnysf - I just LOVE her version too! How great that you got to see her on her one huge day in SF! AND in BFO... 3X no less!

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 11:18am

Lainie was Barbra's stand-by. Barbra never missed a show and at one point she was so sick that she said she couldn't go on for the following evenings performance. Lainie called the press and all the critics showed up for the following evenings performance to see Lainie go on as Fanny. Well, Barbra being Barbra, she showed up at the theatre and went on wowing the critics even more than when she first opened in the role. If I'm not mistaken Lainie was not fired but quit instead. The sad part is that Lainie can sing the hall outta that role.

On a side note, Laurie Beechman was an amazing Fanny but then again I am biased.

Laurie Beechman singing 'The Music That Makes Me Dance'

[Charmed I'm Sure]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 11:20am

really Margo. so what do jewish girls look like? i think this is a very narrow minded comment and quite remarkably insulting to all actresses.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 11:33am

I thought George Hamilton (seriously) was involved with that Deborah (back in the "don't call me Debbie" days) Gibson tour at one point?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 11:38am

Margo's comment about the actress being or looking Jewish is by no means narrow minded or insulting at all. Fanny Brice is a Jewish girl from New York at the turn of the century. Kelli O'Hara she aint. Welcome to the real world if you take offense to that. Not to mention the fact that she is playing a real person.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 1:03pm

Let us not forget that the show is about Fanny Brice who was a "Jewish comedienne" -- meaning someone who used sterotype and shtick and often a Yiddish accent for comic effect. Rebecca Luker would not be able to pull it off.

It actually surprises me that one of the initial casting ideas was Mary Martin.

P.S. Popular -- the Idol Comment was meant to be ironic.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 2:21pm

phil-when Stephen SOndheim was originally planned to do the lyrics, Jule Styne presented the idea of Mary Martin as Fanny. To which Sondheim replied, "You need to have a Jewish girl. And if not Jewish, she needs to have the nose." Thought that was interesting.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 2:27pm

I think if anyone should play this role in a revival it's Julia Murney... She looks, sounds, and acts the part, and would be perfection for it. Her "People" from the concert version is electric...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 2:30pm

The other thing about this show is that the actress playing Fanny really has to work her butt off. Onstage all the time, a gazillion costume changes, etc.

Anne Bancroft and Carol Burnett were also considered originally. Burnett said the same thing: You need a Jewish girl.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:03pm

This Jewish girl wants an Italian Jesus lover to play Fanny! :)

[keggss23]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:14pm

I would love to see Tari Kelly or Sutton Foster take a crack at Fanny. As amazing as they both are though I think that Barbra's shadow will always loom too large for any actress to have a fair shot at it and rightfully so.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:35pm

And, of course, once Robbins was brought in during the much-troubled out-of-town tryout, he pared almost everything away that got in the way of Streisand being front and center -- knowing that's what the show had to offer. She is on stage for almost the entire show because of that.

Makes it additionally hard to find another actress to pull that off.