Many of you are upset that I said: "casted" instead of "cast." It was a simple mistake, and I promise to pay more attention to my grammar in the future lol 😤😅 I didn't grow up watching/experiencing theater, so there are a bunch of classical theater movies I haven't seen. However, based on your comments, it looks like "Funny Girl" is required viewing. If you have any other suggestions, drop 'em in the comments. (And thank you so much for watching my videos! I really appreciate it!)
The original West Side Story is definitely worth watching. As long How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It’s a great commentary on life in the 60s, and it’s very tongue in cheek.
I agree that we should see more diversity in voice types on Broadway, but Beanie's issue isn't that she's not a soprano. True altos (technically, contraltos) are very rare, much like true basses are rare. Most treble voiced singers are sopranos or mezzo-sopranos, and Barbra herself is considered a mezzo. Beanie's issue isn't her innate voice type, it's that she hasn't developed her technique to sing a role like Fanny and do it justice.
DJ, Beanie doesn’t not have a wide enough range. Yes, she sounds better in the low register but, the songs require a singer with a full range of solid singing.
@@sangesings Sure, but what I'm saying is her limited range isn't because of her voice type, because she's not a contralto. Singing Fanny's material needs an impressive range, but it's doable for both mezzos and sopranos. Beanie's range issue is technique-based.
Yes exactly! A true alto has an almost androgynous quality to their sound. They are much fuller in their lower register than Beanie. Also most altos can sing up to an F. Her issue is clearly technical. Based on her sound I think she is actually a soprano, albeit one with mediocre technique. Nothing wrong with lowering a key, but she clearly was cast due to nepotism
Amanda. You are correct, the play can be boring if it doesn't have a diva. As others have commented, you really have to watch the movie with Barbra Streisand. One reviewer nailed it when he said, "When Barbra sings 'I'm The Greatest Star,'' you know she is the greatest star. When Beanie sings it, you know she thinks she is the greatest star." Please watch it and add your reaction here. Thanks!
Beanie's DROMP doesn't sound very convincing either. Like, if that was supposed to make me root for her and her determination to succeed, I would be having doubts.
i'm not a dedicated Barbra Streisand fan but a screen debut like hers doesn't happen often. she owned the role. i haven't seen the play but always heard it was too long and constantly needed cuts. maybe it just works better as a movie. i mean good luck erasing the image of a tugboat chugging past the Statue of Liberty while Streisand belts out Dont Rain on My Parade.
You haven't seen "Funny Girl" until you've seen the movie. Streisand is so spectacular that the problems with the script don't matter. By the way, Streisand was a mezzo.
Amanda: The movie version omits the best songs in the show ("Who Are You Now?", "Music That Makes Me Dance", and several others) and becomes "The Barbra Streisand Show." The movie ultimately shines Barbra's star, while it does great injustice to Fanny Brice. The movie makes Fanny a victim instead of a person who survives. Not my cup of tea.
@@BroadwayGuy “Funny Girl” is highly fictionalized. Most everything people know today about Fanny Brice, accurate or not, is because of it and the film version far more than the stage show. Leaving a few songs out of the movie hardly does a “great injustice to Fanny Brice” considering how much is fiction anyway. That the movie exists at all is what has kept her name alive. It’s an entertainment not a documentary and the main reason it has ever been entertaining and successful is Barbra Streisand. “Funny Girl” didn’t make Barbra, she made “Funny Girl.” If anyone else had been cast as Fanny, it likely would have flopped (or it might have never opened), no film version would have been made and the show would have been long ago forgotten and most unfortunately, perhaps Fanny Brice herself. As great as she was few today would have heard of her if Barbra had not played her, especially on screen.
Since she hasn't seen the film (which so amazes me) she hasn't been tainted by the Streisand factor. This actually makes me trust her review even more. I'm waiting for the cast change, then I'll buy a ticket.
I totally get what your saying. It really cool to get that perspective. Cast change? I always thought Sarah Silverman...she can sing, do broad comedy and be effective with emotion. Just saying.
I've heard great things about her understudy, Julie. But, if they keep the show open,. they may go with a name factor, like Lea Michele or another known commodity.
@@oldbonesNJ I've read wonderful comments about the performances that the understudy Julie Benko did in late April/early May. She's also scheduled for for performances in August. Maybe if she was given some more performances which were then reviewed, it might generate enough buzz to get her the part when Beanie leaves the show. I don't know how long she is committed to play the role, but Jane Lynch stated in an interview she will be finished in September.
@@balesjo I feel bad in a way because Beanie seems like an underdog right now but bad casting isn't her fault. What was she gonna do, turn down her dream role? This is a girl who had a Funny Girl themed birthday party, at age THREE! But Julie is relatively unknown outside the NY community. We need to not forget that the original run continued for a full year when Streisand left to open London. Mimi Hines played it with her husband as Eddie Ryan. There's a great audio here of Mimi's revised version of Don't Rain On My Parade.
@@oldbonesNJ : Julie Benko is GREAT!! I saw her May 20. Lea Michelle would likely offer nothing more than over the top, over-heated "Barbra Streisand impersonation." That might excite some, but it does not interest me at all.
I was there for the 04/29 performance. Beanie wasn’t in the show but the standby (Julie Benko) was performing her Fanny Brice debut. She was EXCEPTIONAL! Funny Girl has always been my favorite show and all I had to go off of was Barbra. Julie made the part her own and absolutely slayed it! I could not have been happier. I was in tears every time she sang. I can’t speak for Beanie (although I’m sure she is spectacular as well) since I didn’t see her but Julie is truly the Greatest Star! I can’t wait to follow her incredible career and future!
Two problems with Funny Girl. 1) when the play was written, Fanny's daughter was living and married to Ray Stark who was producing the play. I suspect Fran Stark had a lot to say to sanitize her mother's image. Fanny Brice's life was much more interesting than the story from which the play was based. 2) The songs that Brice sings in Funny Girl were written for Barbra Streisand as she'd already been chosen to play Fanny Brice. They were written for her vocal talents. From my understanding, her understudy took on the role successfully after Streisand left the show, and there was also an actress playing Brice in the national touring company who was also successful playing Brice. It is hard to believe that there was not one single actress auditioning for the role in the revival that combined the singing talent and the comedic timing to do Fanny Brice justice.
I know lea Michelle has her baggage (or some say), but she honestly would’ve been perfect for this roll. Her voice is capable of doing it and she’s a pretty good actress as well
@Aurora yes that’s the best decision. They literally had the worst start off to one of the greatest shows in Broadway history. Hopefully Lea can rebound it and it becomes highly lauded.
Excellent observation. I too was pulling for Beanie to knock it out of the park like her 1964 predecessor, Babs Sadly, you are not alone in your opinion. I've seen clips of her in "Hello Dolly" and she was great, but it doesn't translate into "Funny Girl" greatness. To really see this show at its stellar best, rent the movie. Then you'll see why Streisand is the greatest!!!
HI Amanda: I saw "FUNNY GIRL" May 20. Beanie was out, and her standby Miss Julie Benko was playing Fanny Brice. Miss Benko hit all the long, sustained high notes out of the ballpark, as in "Don't Rain On My Parade." You make a good point about transposing the musical keys to fit different performers' ranges. I also loved the sets and costumes. I felt they properly evoked the vaudeville/burlesque/Ziegfeld Follies era that Fanny Brice performed in. I really admire Fanny Brice, and I don't have Barbra Streisand on the brain, and that definitely helps. I don't think the show is boring, but I agree with you, the book leaves a lot to be desired, and Act 2 is fairly sketchy and unconvincing.
Loved your no-nonsense honest review. With the prices charged for Broadway tickets in a time we're still in a pandemic the audience deserves a starring role with the acting chops and the vocal range befitting the price of admission.
Hi, Gary. This is about the 10th or 11th time I've heard this. Did her family really invest in the show to garner her this part? I find it so disgusting and really hurtful. Mainly because there are many talented women in the business who could do this role. The one I'm thinking of right now is Annaleigh Ashford, who was the star of "Kinky Boots" She is adorably funny and has a beautiful voice. She has wonderful stage presence. Thank you for your comments.
@@catherine5599 No, there is zero evidence that any of her family helped finance the production or were involved in any way. It’s pure speculation that people are pretty much pulling out of nowhere. There is no basis to it publicly.
What are the issues? 1. Beanie is not an "A" list star who can carry a show 2. She and many of the cast cannot sing it. 3. The people involved in the production--director, producers, the book reviser--have huge egos that prevented them from realizing they do not have the talent to pull it off And no, I have not seen the show and have no intention to see it. Theatre is too expensive. This is one instance where the critics were right who felt the production was misguided and mishandled. It has one Tony nomination; even if he wins, the show is not going to last beyond 3-6 months. I am all for employment and people getting a pay check but those behind the scenes should have done their jobs!
I'm wondering how Beanie will do over the 20 years it will take to film "Merrily We Roll Along". I've heard her do one or two songs from the musical and she was actually quite good (though that was where I felt her voice wasn't strong enough for Funny Girl). While the whole concept interesting (of the long haul filming so that the actors age at the same rate their characters do in the musical), it seems a real gamble that the actors will still be alive, or still in the business, in twenty years. It certainly seems a gamble that any of them will have the star power to pull in viewers in two decades.
Her father is the producer. It’s a shame because if she had done some hard core vocal training it could have worked. The whole thing is a mess and that was before Lea Michelle was cast to replace her.
The problem is NOT the Key, Bennie has a HIGHER voice type than Barbra, she is a light soprano, barbra a lower soprano/Higher mezzo, the problem is Bennie lack of technique, she is just not good... At beast she is a soubrette, so even in a lower key she would... Suck.
The name alone, "Beanie" is enough to drive one mad. This is a vanity production mounted and funded by her father and brother. I wouldn't cross the street to see it.
Hey Amanda! You need to see the Funny Girl movie! You can also find original footage out here from the Broadway show. Jason Grimes is the only Tony nom for this show. Love Beanie...but she's wrong. I don't find Funny Girl boring when you get into its history. I've directed two productions of this show. Love it...but not excited over this production.
If you liked Jared Grimes and his tap dancing, I recommend you watch the South Korean movie Swing Kids ! It's the story of a North Korean soldier in a prison camp who discovers tap dancing through Jared Grimes' character and they form a tap dancing group ! It's really good !! :)
Hey Amanda! Just discovered your channel, thanks to the algorithm! Appreciate your review and quickly subscribed! Haven’t seen the revival yet but based on some clips I’ve seen I agree that this production doesn’t set Beanie up for success. Looking forward to more of your videos!
If you lowered the keys Feldstein would be near inaudible for the lower parts of the big songs (even with a microphone) --- she simply hasn't got the vocal power for these types of songs --- the sad thing is that there are many who could do this part justice, but they don't have the names or the connections to get cast --- a Broadway commercial conundrum.....
Yesterday, I had a dream : a company had made an adaptation of Funny Girl and it was telling the story of Fanny Bright, a drag queen played by Tituss Burgess. In my dream, Fanny crosses over in the mainstream because of her wondeful voice. And she meets a hunk named Nicky who has a drug problem and end up in the jail. I my dream, Titus was singing "My Man" at the end and it was thrilling. Now, THAT'S a show I would pay to see.
@@mstraction lol I wrote an email directly to Titus with the adress that there is on his Facebook page and wrote to him about my dream. I don't know why I dreamt about him, I don't follow his career. But I've always thought he had a wonderful voice. Anyway, if that plant and idea in his head and he wants to do it, I will be glad that one of my (many) crazy ideas came to fruition.
Funny Girl is a show that had a long troubled road to Broadway and the only thing that worked was its star Barbra Streisand. So everything became tailored to her talents and the show ran a long time - even after Streisand left the show. This show can be done without Streisand, but you need a mega talented singer/comedian to make it work. We really only remember this show because of the film. It was a huge success and was all about showcasing Streisand’s talent. The story really didn’t matter much. Streisand won an Oscar for her performance and it’s inspired many, many Broadway and pop careers. Beanie was up against a legend in their prime. But the show is doing well so far, so maybe casting doesn’t matter anymore to audiences.
When people praise Billie Eilish as a "singer" you know they don't know what real singing or entertainment is supposed to be. Today's audiences are TikTok stupid.
It would have sounded off if they lowered the key. People would have complained regardless. Beanie was put in a catch 22. In reality it's the casting directors fault. Beanie definitely looks and plays the part, but the singing, that's a tough pill to swallow. Just like community theatre, people getting roles too big for their abilities because the casting director likes you. I heard Beanies understudy is amazing.
I haven’t seen this yet so it’s a little weird for me to comment on it but from what I see people are mostly disappointed in the vocal performance of the star as these are cherished and beloved songs. Reminds me back in the day when Jennifer Holliday took the role of Effie in Dreamgirls. She was NO actress and it showed. She was wooden and a bit stiff in her efforts but was forgiven because it was such an AMAZING vocal performance. Also I remember Elena Rogers in the revival of Evita where singing was clearly not the priority for what we know to be iconic songs. They opted for a performer that was from Argentina as it might provide new authenticity. Well that got panned too. A recipe for disappointment and bad reviews. I think casting needs to remember that this is MUSICAL theater first and foremost and perhaps vocal prowess need be prioritized with acting and or comedy knack second. With rehearsal those things can be worked out and coached provided there is something there to begin with. At the end of the day audiences want these well known songs delivered in a wowtastic way.
If I'm paying 100+ bucks for Funny Girl, I want better than "Meh". I want to be wowed. I have directed a local production, it can be very successful sans Streisand. But not without a boffo Act 1 closing.
We are SO glad we found your channel! New subs here and this review is hitting hard! We are headed to nyc next week and have had our funny girl tickets for months! We feel like little red here! Excited and scared to see this show! Great review and some definite ah-ha moments! Thanks for the honest truth! Off to your next video. Xoxo Your broads ✌️✌️❤️🎭
Agree with your review! I too was underwhelmed. She CAN sing and has a nice voice, but it was too high and sounded like karaoke. That said; she is adorable and incredibly charming, but the show overall was meh.Yes, it WAS boring, but the tap dancing by Jared was AMAZING!!!
When will this 💣 bomb announce its closing? Are they gonna release a cast recording? They should; otherwise no one would believe how poorly Feldstein performed the role.
Barbara Streisand is so iconically associated with this role and that is why no Broadway revival has been attempted over the last 45 years or so until now.Beanie Feinstein was probably not the right fit for the role but at the same time it is hard to fill the shoes of someone such as Barbara Streisand.
I liked your truthful but not ruthless review. I encourage you in your endeavors. I've subscribed. Can anybody tell me what the item in the souvineer area shown at the beginning at this video that looks like a bag of confetti for 25 dollars is? It can't be a bag of confetti for that money can it?
The songs in this show require a singer who can sing in a very wide range, not just soprano notes. So, lowering the keys would’ve made it too hard to sing the low notes. Beanie is not a singer, pure and simple. The role needed to go to someone who could handle the score. Changing the keys would have done absolutely nothing to make her performance of those songs any better. No disrespect but, I say this from experience.
It's Jared Grimes, BTW, not Jason Grimes. The show was not up to the prices they charge to get in. If B'way is going to continue to charge a small fortune to get in the door, they need to present something WORTH that price. So far - from what I've seen - the only show that warrants the price is Company. I thought Moulon Rouge was visually glorious, but ridiculously bad in acting and script, Harmony needs a rewrite, and Funny Girl is really horrid. My memories of B'way are perfect shows people would pay anything to get into. A rich kid whose Father bought the rights and cast her should not be playing Fanny Bryce. Regardless of her voice (soprano mezzo alto), she can't handle the songs. And, bluntly, songs are written in specific keys for a REASON. Try to tell a Stephen Sondheim or an Andrew Lloyd Webber that you want to lower one of their song keys. Not happening. And the thing is, whatever the key - you have to be able to SING PERIOD. Beanie can't - at least to the product this show needs to survive. I have a huge review. If interested, PM me or respond here.
"It feels like a set-up" is the perfect way to put it. Beanie WAS set up. Of course she's not going to turn the role down. . Her casting was a poor decision overall but since they did, alter it as needed. "Funny Girl is a bit boring, you're right, which is why they needed an explosive talent playing the role of Fanny. They didn't get it. (Minor note: the past tense of "cast" is "cast".AS in "They cast Beanie." not "They "casted" Beanie")
This comment is unnecessary (Minor note: the past tense of "cast" is "cast".AS in "They cast Beanie." not "They "casted" Beanie") - English is actually changing (it is a living language) and it is perfectly acceptable to say "casted".
It’s cast. One says Streisand is cast as Brice and Streisand was cast as Brice ... not was casted. You should know better. No one in the business that I’ve heard says casted.
@@tlw1950 I am a LINGUIST - I study the usage of language, and I can tell you that people say BOTH... it is variable. I know both the prescriptive and descriptive uses. You are pushing the prescriptive norm, which is fine, but there are alternate ways of saying the same thing (see Labov, 1972).
I don’t think you understand that millions of dollars go into a production on Broadway these days. Millions. It’s not the simple fact of beanie Feldstein‘s vocal range. because I’m a professor of the musical theater I must say there are a few things you need to understand about the theater especially musical theater. They’re not gonna spend millions of dollars and not understand the vocal range of the actors. I was in the original cast of it still running Broadway show and I can tell you painstakingly how careful the music Director the orchestrator the ensemble the resident Director how everyone worked diligently to be sure of the quality of the music and the singing. So a whole shell resting on the key of the music for the lead is not how it works. When the show is produced it’s also there’s a production team there’s a creative team and then there’s all the other people the technical crew the wardrobe various factors go into producing a show every night. Some of the things you could’ve discussed was also the historical accuracy of a black performer workingBut that’s a whole Nother topic. I don’t want to disembowel your video and your passion for theater I went to encourage it. But please do some more background checking go to Lincoln Center’s library for the performing arts, reach out to people at NY used to school for the arts or just contact the production company and ask if you can speak with them the company manager or somebody involved in the production that’s on going anyway good luck and I’m glad you enjoyed the theater
I have just returned from a NYC trip where I saw 4 shows. With all the negative attention on Funny Girl, it was lower on my list; However, a Covid cast outbreak in a different show I was supposed to see freed me up to see Beanie Feldstein in the Funny Girl matinee on the same day she announced her earlier departure (Sunday). All the people around me shared the same initial concern before the show began. Several of us (who got last-minute tickets) had seriously upgraded seats designated by the usher (I'm sure not a good indicator). Nonetheless... The show was fabulous! Every aspect was great. The staging was impressive, the comedic timing was great, the chemistry between Beanie and Ramim was good, Beanie's vocals were wonderful, and her dancing was great. Jane was fabulous too. The audience gave multiple applauses mid-show and a resounding much-deserved standing ovation at the end. I don't know if it was due to changes because of all the criticism over the past several months or if it was simply the criticism was too harsh comparing Beanie to a freak prodigy (Streisand) - to which how many Streisand-calibre stars have there been in the past 50+ years?!!? Even Idina Menzel's performance at the Kennedy Awards to Barbra herself (while incredible) was not quite Barbra'esque. Beanie should not be compared to anyone! Allow Beanie to tell the story of Fanny Brice - the actual protagonist in this true-life story, not try and retell Barbra's caricature of Fanny.
I saw Julie Benko two weeks ago, and she was terrific. I like the show Funny Girl. I don't think it is a boring show, but everyone has different taste. I saw Moulin Rouge, and that show for me was boring. Some love it. As for Funny Girl, I think it could have been bigger and grander; the His Love Makes Me Beautiful number with the pregnant bride really needed a big Ziegfeld staircase. Overall, I enjoyed the musical very much, and I recommend others to see it.
I felt that way (book being boring) for Anything Goes (saw a recording; must've been from West End's UK showing in movie theaters before US's PBS premiere) -- and though there are great numbers, in general the story is boring. Beanie definitely was an interesting pick -- the sitzprobe she sounded nasally, but I figured it was the studio they were in. Oh well. Since it didn't get much Tony nom love, if ticket sales don't improve, it'll probably be done with the run early Summer at best.
I feel bad for Beanie with all the bullying she is getting. I did wish they lowered the keys for her like they are for her replacement … Now Beanie is leaving earlier. I hope something better comes her way
Altos and Mezzo-Sopranos deserve better. Singing is not all about high notes. Hope people in higher positions in the Broadway/musical theatre industry realize that. Even Kelly clarkson herself said the best singers in the world aren’t the loudest
Funny Girl is really Barbara Streisand show. Hope there will be a talent who makes it her own rather than attempting just another Barbara version. The movie is amazing. Hope you can watch it.
This isn’t about vocal range, as much as it is about vocal capability. Fanny Brice is one of the most difficult roles to sing; she is performing a concert, song after song after song. Beanie’s talent isn’t the issue: she is talented! The issue is, being an actress/singer, specifically cut out to perform a role. And Fanny is a tough one.
You should go if you're interested!! There's an online lottery for it; I believe tickets are around $47 (which is better than spending full price in case you don't like it, lol)
I saw on Broadway Barbra and the following cast with Mimi Hines. Hines ran for another year. Both fabulous but Barbra owns it and that’s that. I might add I prefer the Broadway soundtrack because it has fabulous songs and numbers they cut from the film. In the end I think the Broadway show is dated. Thanks for your intelligent review.
Beanie and her brother have been playing angry, underdog sidekicks. riding the cringe humor/ woke comedy trend for decades, him Superbad,Moneyball, Wolf of Wall St., her in Booksmart, Little Bird, even as Monica Lewinsky, angry underdog sidekicks.
I do feel awful for her .. Now LM is taking over and they are lowering the keys for her which to is not fair .. They should have done that for Beanie .. Beanie decided to leave the show earlier than her usual departure date .
They did not lower the keys. They did speed certain things up because they had to slow them down for Beanie. Not that any of this matters. Lea Michele was stupendous while Beanie Feldstein was not.
I saw the show in previews and on opening night and I thought it was like a high school production at best. Beanie is a lousy singer in my opinion and certainly can’t carry a score like funny girl. Funny Girl is thunderous with a talent that comes as often as Haley’s Comet. Beanie also has no sex appeal whatsoever.
I think she did a pbs special live at Lincoln center? She might make it work. As I was reading the comments and looking into why this production really sucks, I see that beanie’s family financed this production. It is obvious she did t get the part because she is exceptional, good,, or even adequate. I also think that she has no sex appeal regardless that she is obese and squat.
You failed to realize a very important fact during your diatribe of "let go of the original key." The composer wrote the songs in specific keys because each key has its own "sound." For example, Beethoven's C Minor Symphony would sound considerably different if it was transposed down to A Flat Minor or transposed up to E Minor. Let's maintain the integrity of the music and respect the choices the composers made. I was always told, if you don't like a key some particular piece of music is written in, just move on....DON'T impose your personal preferences onto someone else's work.
I understand staying true to the integrity of original work, but I think there can be room to explore different things within it, including changing keys, especially since 1. it's a revival (so change is encouraged!) and 2. Beanie was intentionally cast. Theater is ever changing and I don't think it's necessarily harmful to change the keys to highlight that but it should definitely be done on a case by case basis.
I was with you until you said the thing about sopranos being the only ones they think are able to sing lead roles. I'm a soprano... Everything is written for Mezzos, and that's kinda annoying. Especially since Fanny is a mezzo-soprano role... Not soprano. Her highest note is an F5. I will say though that altos need more roles, they get less than we do and always have. But those low notes... That's skill. They need to be highlighted more. There we agree.
Amanda since you didn’t see the movie funny girl in the song I am the greatest star they decided to change some of the words where beanie says I think it’s a plot Costa scared that I got such a gift the original words were it must be a plot cost that scared that I got such a gift that’s how it was in the movie with Barbra Streisand I mean if they want to make a Viber make it and keep the words the same I don’t use those songs
It's Jared Grimes, not Jason Grimes. His role is VERY tiny and in the right show he would be a major star. This production is just awful, 2nd rate summer stock. It has some of the ugliest sets and costumes I have ever seen in 50+ years of theatergoing. Feldstein did not even attempt to capture Brice in the Ziegfeld numbers and the role is beyond her vocal capabilities. I wanted to like her but she was just pathetic. See the movie. I have seen many productions of Funny Girl, even a Fanny who made it all her own and did not make me think of Streisand.
Beanie is a bad joke. Like Bullets Over Broadway, whomever underwrote this revival, stipulated it had to be her. You got the review right Amanda…from one OK Boomer (who saw the original w BS) to one OK Gen Z.
