Question about Funny Girl (specifically Cornet Man)

[promisespromises2]

So "Cornet Man" has been stuck in my head all week, and since I've never seen the show (only the movie) I've realized that I have no idea what the context of the song is.

I know it's sung after "I'm the Greatest Star" but in the movie they go to "Roller Skate Rag" and "If A Girl Isn't Pretty".

Is it the same idea as Roller Skate Rag where it's a chance to see Fanny in her first solo performance?

PS how much do you love her first "wah-wah mute" that she sings in it ?! I fall in love with her all over again every time I hear it!

[Smaxie]

There's an extended dance section for "Cornet Man" that is not on the album. Basically, Fanny louses up the dance, but then belts out the vocal and wows the audience. It's sort of what "Roller Skate Rag" and "I'd Rather Be Blue" in the movie do, but in one number.

[Gothampc]

This show really needs a revival. I don't want to see Lea Michele, but I'd almost put that aside just to see a production of the show in its entirety.

And if they do bring it back to Broadway, don't mess with it. Just do the show as written so we can all get a look at it.

[brucebossa]

You know if Ryan Murphy has the rights and Lea Michelle stars, they will try to revise it. Badly no doubt.

[madbrian]

Jessie Mueller.

[newintown]

"This show really needs a revival."

I disagree - it was of its time and of its star. I've seen two productions, and it just isn't a classic/great show, in and of itself. It all hinges on a phenomenal star performance, and if there's a star who could do it, she deserves her own vehicle, created for her, rather than undergoing the inevitable comparisons with you-know-who.

[promisespromises2]

Smaxie, thank you!!! I can't believe they didn't include that in the movie instead of "I'd Rathe Be Blue" and "Roller Skate Rag".

And 100% yes to Mueller.

[Gothampc]

"I disagree - it was of its time and of its star."

I've never seen the stage show in its entirety. In what ways is it not worth taking a second look at it?

[NewSynchopation]

I really think that the movie is good enough and captured Barbra's performance well enough that we don't need another production. It was a show written for her and she is what makes the movie good. Nobody else could do that role as well as her, so why should we get somebody else who wouldn't do it well enough? Oh, and if always crack up at the Roller Skate Rag, and I prefer it to Cornet Man

[darquegk]

The show was gradually "unwritten" in rehearsals. Character arcs, plot points and development were thrown out when the team decided the show was a Barbra showcase first, a book musical second.

[newintown]

"I've never seen the stage show in its entirety. In what ways is it not worth taking a second look at it?"

What darquegk says, for starters. Act I, if you have an amazing star, can be fun. Act II falls apart with some far less entertaining numbers ("Sadie, Sadie" is merely OK, "Rat-A-Tat-Tat" is not) and some dreary-maudlin-draggy book scenes.

And I don't think I'd use the term "second look" - the show has been looked at plenty. Just because it hasn't returned to Broadway doesn't mean it hasn't been looked at a lot.

[Gothampc]

"Just because it hasn't returned to Broadway doesn't mean it hasn't been looked at a lot."

Well, when I say second look, I'm referring more to me. With the exception of the concert version which I didn't get to see, I've never been in a city that was playing Funny Girl.

[lovebwy]

The songs are great but I think they'd really have to revise the book if they wanted it to be a hit. It's really clunky.

[Mr. Nowack]

Does anyone think it could be reverted to the much-talked-about original vision with the purportedly cut non-Fanny sections restored? Or do you think it's too far gone?

[newintown]

I doubt there ever was one original version - it wasn't finished when they began rehearsals, and changed almost daily through rehearsals and out of town previews.

[doodlenyc]

The book is terrible. There are some funny bits with Momma and the poker ladies, but they are completely unnecessary, except to give Fanny a break.

The film made it bearable by cutting those scenes up.

One major problem is that Nick is such an unlikable character. More so in the musical.

It'd also be an expensive show to produce, imo. You need a large cast to do Zeigfield Follies numbers, and the sets/costumes, etc would eat up a budget. That's a lot to lose on a flop revival.

Mueller is the only actress I could see doing justice to the part in her age group. I was very curious by the Lauren Ambrose casting.

[Demitri2]

I saw the original and never felt it had the look of an especially expensive show.

[newintown]

I don't think anyone would deny that a show at the Winter Garden with 43 actors in 67 roles, with sets for 2 Follies numbers, a Long Island mansion, Baltimore's train station, Henry Street, Keeny's, Mrs. Brice's saloon, etc., and costumes for all those people and roles by Irene Sharaff, and a full and I mean full Broadway orchestra was "especially expensive," particularly by today's standards, when a producer would try to do it with 2 pianos and a flute, and 8 actors holding puppets.

[Rinaldo]

The original national tour did restore a little additional non-Fanny material that's not in the Broadway version or the published score. Not much, really, but enough for the producers to place a little "news" article about the restorations in the Chicago Tribune during its run there (and, I presume, in other cities). The full chorus rehearsal number in Act II (just dance, no vocal), of which the last 4 bars or so remain in the published score to launch the ensuing scene; and more of "Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?", including a little dance for the two of them.

[trentsketch]

Act I is much better than Act II. Act II would need a lot of fixing to stand up to scrutiny without megawatt stars in every named role for a revival. Even then, the interminable business deal scene leading into Nicky's Reprise of Don't Rain on My Parade (another misstep in itself) is deathly. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat goes on way too long and the one-two punch of Who Are You Now and The Music that Makes Me dance is a guarantee of sleeping audience members.

I have faith in a revival, but it's going to take work.

[Gothampc]

"I have faith in a revival, but it's going to take work."

Faith Prince *is* Mrs. Brice

[GavestonPS]

I've seen several productions and worked on a version starring Carol Lawrence.

newintown is right on the money in this thread.

Lawrence was fine, but she wasn't Barbra Streisand; and the show as written is The Barbra Streisand Story thinly discussed as a show about Fannie Brice.

I very much miss "Cornet Man" and "His Is the Only Music" in the film, but I understand the changes and I do love "I'd Rather Be Blue". (For my money, "Funny Girl" is a great improvement on "Who Are You Now?")

The only reason I was interested in a revival was the casting of Lauren Ambrose. I knew she wold have to bring something very different to the title role.

[promisespromises2]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE "I'd Rather Be Blue". It's one of the only songs that I never skip listening to the soundtrack. And I love the comedy in "Roller Skate Rag". Barbra's expressions are hilarious in that bit, though I skip it all the time on the CD.

I just love the cast recording music so much more, although I wish a lot of the songs were a little faster like the soundtrack versions. And I think what they did definitely fit the film better, but there's only so much I can say since I've never seen the stage version. And I honestly don't really want to compare which ones are better because I like the music from both of them.

I'm dying to see the stage version. It's one of those things where I don't care how much work it needs, I just want to see it!

[GavestonPS]

^^^I've seen the film many, many times and have seen several live productions, and I basically agree.

[inception]

I've seen it twice, most recently this past July down in Washington State in a really fine production with a really funny Seattle based actress who could sing wonderfully taking the lead named Sarah Rose Davis. As wonderful as the production was, there was no getting around the fact that the show is somewhat disappointing. Anyone who doesn't already know the big songs off by heart is probably left wondering what the fuss is about.

[darquegk]

I remember a conversation on this board about whether or not a show with a good score and a bad book could be considered a good show or a bad one. I think Funny Girl is one of those "good score, bad book, okay show needs work?" situations.