4.5 STARS, April 24-29. "Funny Girl? Yes, but also sad and bitter-sweet. Go, and enjoy an emotional evening with insightful lyrics, stellar music and brilliant choreography and stage design" says Andrew Morris
Manuel Harlan
Fania Borach was born in 1891, the daughter of Jewish Hungarian immigrant parents embracing their new life as saloon bar owners in New York.
Fania was a naturally gifted performer but - how to say this politely? - not obviously destined to be a high-kicking showgirl. Instead, her natural comedic ability, a strong voice and an immediate rapport with the audience propelled her to stardom over a long and garlanded career.
We know her better as Fanny Brice, the eponymous Funny Girl first brought to life in 1963 as a musical, thanks to composer Julie Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill, and then immortalised by Barbra Streisand in the 1968 film adaptation. In this current national tour, a Menier Chocolate Factory production, Fanny is played alternately by Sheridan Smith and by Natasha Barnes. On a packed Monday night at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Natasha - originally Sheridan's understudy - brought Fanny to glorious, heart-warming, soul-searching life.
Funny Girl is based on the early part of Fanny's career, and particularly on her relationship with suave, handsome gambler and businessman Nick Arnstein. As the curtain rises, Fanny is in a Broadway dressing room, waiting for Nick's return from prison and musing on her life and career.
JOHAN PERSSON
Fanny's first break comes on amateur night at Keeney's, a Yiddish theatre in Brooklyn, but it’s not long before she is wowing audiences on Broadway, where she falls headlong in love with Nick on their very first meeting. And soon she's the brightest star in the legendary Ziegfield Follies, despite having the temerity to confront the God-like impresario, suggesting changes to the great man that might improve the production. But just as Fanny’s career soars, so Nick's plummets to earth and his once-huge ego becomes sadly diminished.
The song lyrics track Fanny's rags-to-riches story, and the doomed love affair, perfectly. "If A Girl Isn't Pretty", sung by Fanny, Mr Keeney, Fanny's mother and her two Yiddish poker-playing cronies Mrs Meeker and Mrs Strakosh, sets the scene for the ugly duckling's success. "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" and "I Want To Be Seen With You" portray the romance at its apex, and "Don't Rain On My Parade" accompanies this Funny Girl's ever-brighter career. "Temporary Arrangement" portrays Nick's sad financial and personal demise, but it's probably "People" and "Sadie, Sadie" that are the best known songs in the production, and "Don't Rain On My Parade", reprised by Funny Girl Fanny Brice as the curtain falls.
This is a joyous production with thrilling stage design, dazzling choreography and an energetic ensemble company. Natasha was born to play Fanny Brice...ambitious, talented, funny and yet definitely not a traditional leading lady. Darius Campbell is a little sombre at times as morally ambiguous Nick, but it is the three old Jewish ladies that bring a comic touch to proceedings, with other stand-out performances from Nigel Barber as Florenz Ziegfield and Martin Callaghan as Mr. Keeney.
Funny Girl? Yes, but also sad and bitter-sweet. Go, and enjoy an emotional evening with insightful lyrics, stellar music and brilliant choreography and stage design.
- Funny Girl is showing at Woking's New Victoria Theatre April 24-29. For tickets visit atgtickets.com
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