Check out the TV Series “Glee,”Lea Michele has cultivated the image of Barbra Lite. She is Fanny Brice, the Broadway revival’s leading lady. “Funny Girl,”It opened in spring last year and stars Michele as the title role that Beanie Fieldstein held. Michele is a vocal diva from the moment that she steps on the August Wilson Theatre stage. What’s missing is a “girl”Someone who happens to be very “funny.”
Michele’s version of Fanny Brice instead recalls “Funny Lady.”Anyone who has followed the career of La Streisand will know that the 1975 sequel to the 1968 classic was a big-screen production. “Funny Girl”This isn’t exactly a compliment. Even Kevin Kline’s Babs-loving character in “In & Out”I had to admit that the 1975 musical in which Fanny Brice, the star of the Oscar-winning movie musical, was awful. “She was under contract!”When he finally comes out of his closet on their wedding day, he apologizes for the jilting at the altar.
But it’s not that! “Funny Lady”It is totally without merit. Streisand is a great singer whenever she opens her mouth. Michele, in the Broadway revival of this musical, sounds amazing whenever she opens her mouth. “Funny Girl.”She rips through with her diva instincts in full force “I’m the Greatest Star”And “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”Michele is a visionary with ambition and drive.
In the show’s problematic second act, Michele’s Fanny wears the Broadway-star mantle perfectly, unaware that maybe her financially beleaguered husband, Nicky Arnstein, has crises other than getting to the theater on time to see her new show. Michele portrays the star-slippery to a tee.
Public and critics have been thinking about this for years. “Funny Girl” had never received a Broadway revival before 2022 because the 1964 musical needed a star of Streisand’s caliber and talents. This show has a terrible second act, which is a problem that is often overlooked.
This revival’s second act isn’t great, but it is much improved. Harvey Fierstein and Michael Mayer, the director, have been jigging with the material. “People”As a duet “You’re a Funny Girl”From the 1968 film, which cast Ramin Karimloo as Arnstein. The second act is dominated by him and it’s almost worth the effort. (Yes, Michele’s reprise of “Parade”It is also quite remarkable at the end. His character’s emotional and financial downward spiral, which begins almost as soon as the comic “Sadie, Sadie”It’s heartbreaking when numbers end. That Karimloo wasn’t nominated for a Tony is just another example of how worthless those awards are.
The soap opera of the second act works even better now that Tovah Feldshuh has taken over for Jane Lynch as Fanny’s mother. Feldshuh is not only a great help in bringing out the hankies but also turns a page. “Who Taught Her Everything She Knows,”Jared Grimes was my partner in dance, and it was a real show-stopper.
What’s the opposite of a show-stopper, you ask? That would be “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat,” which remains the musical’s worst number. It’s also the only moment in Act 2 when Fanny is supposed get rid of her new diva look and return to burlesque comedy roots. When Michele has to have a good time, we only see her effort.
Her too glamorous look is part of the problem. Streisand appeared in “Funny Girl,” she didn’t look like your typical leading lady. That’s exactly what the role demanded. Ditto Beaniefeldstein, who was playing the same role as type when the revival opened in April.
When Michele is told that her Fanny doesn’t belong in the chorus line with all the other tall and beautiful girls, it’s a problem too easily solved. Give the girl a pair of higher heels.
