Funny Girl
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Book by Isobel Lennart, Revised Book by Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Michael Mayer
Choreographed by Ellenore Scott
The Fox Theatre
January 23, 2024
Katerina McCrimmon, Izaiah Monteque Harris
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Funny Girl North American Tour
The recent Broadway revival of Funny Girl was certainly not without controversy. Even though this show has always been sort of overshadowed by the reputation of its original star, Barbra Streisand, the revival had its own casting drama that went beyond Streisand comparisons. While the show has closed on Broadway, the tour is going strong, and even though the show itself is hardly worthy of decades of hype, it’s still a fun vehicle for the right performer. And in this tour, in terms of sheer talent and energy, Katerina McCrimmon makes a strong case for being the “Greatest Star” that this show needs.
The story, as anyone who is familiar with the show knows, is a highly embellished rags-to-riches story following famous comic performer Fanny Brice (McCrimmon), who starts out as an unknown from Henry Street and eventually becomes the toast of the famed Ziegfeld Follies, eventually appearing in radio, film, and TV, as well. The story follows her humble beginnings trying to break in to show business, meeting dancer Eddie Ryan (Izaiah Monteque Harris), who helps her get her first job, where she is eventually noticed by ambitious businessman and gambler Nick Arnstein (Stephen Mark Lukas), who charms his way into her life and eventually marries her. The show is at its strongest when showcasing Fanny’s talents–from her first big solo “I’m The Greatest Star” to well-known hits “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” to her final torch-song “The Music That Makes Me Dance”, along with her glitzy, choreographed Follies numbers. Her relationships with Eddie and her mother (Barbara Tirell) are also memorable, as are her early moments with Nick, although in the second act the romantic drama becomes something of a slog. Also, the scenes with Mrs. Brice and her poker pals Mrs. Strakosh (Eileen T’Kaye) and Mrs. Meeker (Hannah Shankman) can distract unnecessarily from the main story. Still, this show is it its best when it centers on Fanny herself, and even though the first act is better than the second–until the memorable finale–for the most part it’s an entertaining, well-cast show.
One of the odd phenomena surrounding this show, though, is that now, Brice herself isn’t as well-known as the performer who originated the role in the first Broadway production of this play, as well as the movie, and whenever anyone hears the name “Fanny Brice” or Funny Girl, the first name that comes to mind is usually Streisand’s. The audience members sitting behind me at the Fox are testament to this, as they wondered who else could live up to that illustrious reputation. Well, I’m pleased to say that McCrimmon does about as excellent a job as I can imagine, and the audience appeared to agree with me, giving her thunderous applause after her big numbers and an enthusiastic ovation at the end. McCrimmon is great with the comedy and the drama, and her powerful voice does justice to the score. She doesn’t copy Streisand, although there are a few moments in “People” especially in which she evokes memories of the legendary singer. Still, this show is about Fanny Brice, not Barbra Streisand, and that is reflected well in the strong direction. There are also standout performances by Harris–a tap-dancing marvel–as Eddie, and Tirrell as the feisty, supportive Mrs. Brice. Lukas also brings a good deal of charm and charisma, as well as a great voice, to the role of Nick, even though I still find it difficult to sympathize with his character. There’s also a strong, enthusiastic ensemble, especially in the Ziegfeld numbers, and energetic choreography by Ellenore Scott.
The show looks good, as well, for the most part, except for a few awkward set pieces in the Henry Street scene. Still, the set by David Zinn, costumes by Susan Hilferty, and lighting by Kevin Adams bring out a credibly authentic mood reflecting the early 20th Century time period and “Old Broadway” setting. The sound is a bit low in parts, and especially early in the show, the songs can be difficult to understand, although this does improve noticeably as the show goes on. The orchestra, led by music director Elaine Davidson, does a great job with the classic Jule Styne score, as well.
So, as I’d say with any production of Funny Girl, if you’re looking for Barbra Streisand, you won’t find her here. Still, if you’re looking for a funny, talented, big-voiced talent that can light up a stage, you will certainly find her in this production on tour at the Fox. It’s not a perfect show, but the star is excellent, supported by a great cast, and this show makes for an entertaining evening of musical theatre.
Stephen Mark Lukas, Izaiah Monteque Harris, Katerina McCrimmon
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Funny Girl North American Tour
The North American tour of Funny Girl is running at the Fox Theatre until February 4, 2024
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