NOT QUITE THE GREATEST STAR
The opening moments of this retelling of the Fanny Brice story has the main character sitting backstage as “ghosts” of former performers circle about her. The real crux here is that there is only one formidable missing “ghost’ that truly matters. That ghost being the legendary Barbra Streisand, who has both nothing and everything to do with this production. Streisand starred in the original Broadway show back in 1964 and there is a reason no one has attempted a remount since. Who can out-Barbra Barbra? When this story was subsequently made into a feature film just four years later, Streisand’s rendition of “People”, “I’m The Greatest Star” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade” brought her an Oscar, critical and financial acclaim globally, as well as generations of faithful, dutiful fans.
Katerina McCrimmon (top);
Katerina McCrimmon, Izaiah Montaque Harris
Fast forward almost 60 years, and I am tasked with reviewing the current national tour of Funny Girl, now playing at the Hobby Center. At no point does this production come close to touching Streisand. It just doesn’t, but setting that aside, Katerina McCrimmon has a beautiful singing voice and puts her own spin on these famous numbers. Her rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” at the end of Act I is certainly the show’s highlight. Her task to play Brice, independent of Streisand’s version, is insurmountable, but she gives it tremendous effort. Her first words, “Hello, Gorgeous”, meant this production was leaning in, not away from the inevitable and unavoidable comparisons.
Katerina McCrimmon
The story here focuses on a talented young, Jewish vaudeville performer, Fanny Brice, who dreams of being a star. Not blessed with modelesque gorgeous looks, instead gifted with immense talent, comedic timing and never-ending chutzpah, Brice elbows her way into making her dreams come true.
Melissa Manchester, Izaiah Montaque Harris
Izaiah Montaque Harris
Along for the ride are her strong-willed mother (GRAMMY-winner Melissa Manchester of “You Should Hear How She Talks About You” fame) and friend and choreographer Eddie (a dazzling Izaiah Montaque Harris, whose impressive, aggressively athletic tap dance solos cry out for this supporting player to soon be a leading man). Through luck, folly and invention, Brice is soon hired by Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (a charming Walter Coppage) for his Ziegfeld Follies, the most famous and lucrative shows of their time.
Katerina McCrimmon, Stephen Mark Lukas
Stephen Mark Lucas
Alas, the leading lady pines for love. Enter Nick Arnstein, a handsome, if unlucky, gambler. Stephen Mark Lukas plays the charmer so well that you don’t suspect he can be a cad and conman. There was a brief moment when Lukas’s Arnstein stepped out shirtless to catcalls and whistles from members of the audience. It’s too bad “Calvin Klein Underwear Model” wasn’t a job back then; this iteration of Arnstein would have raked in the bucks. The coupling, regrettably, is where the story never gels. We are along for the ride for the rise of Brice professionally, but never really buy into the “love story” and subsequent demise of her marriage to Arnstein. Isobel Lennart, the writer of the original book, with updates from Harvey Fierstein, never comes close to cementing the dynamic between Fanny and Nicky. The gorgeous songs from Jule Styne and Bob Merrill — which work so well during their courtship — do little to advance the story in Act II. When the two finally do separate, its played to a limp whisper after the preceding hour and a half of literal and metaphorical trumpets and balcony belting.
Company
As this is a tour, the design is a real mixed bag. Ayodele Casel’s tap choreography deserves absolute and utter raves. The remaining supporting cast are pushed to their limits by Ellenore Scott’s kick-heavy choreography and Michael Mayer’s brisk direction. Susan Hilferty’s costume design contains a glittery array of showgirl finest, but the supporting characters don’t get much — and Manchester doesn’t get a costume change until Act II? Clearly the entire budget was more Fanny focused. Not so good is David Zinn’s set design, more pieces and props than fully produced scenery, although that is most likely due to this being a tour. Draped fabric as a backdrop doesn’t dazzle like it used to in a season that also included the eye-popping visuals of Wicked, Disney’s The Lion King and Moulin Rouge.
Company
Well sung, this Funny Girl plays more like Amusing Lady. Its shiny bits and pieces appreciated far more than the production as a whole. Katerina McCrimmon and Izaiah Montaque Harris are both worth far more than the price of admission, each bringing their own unique textures and talents to the material. To any devoted Streisand fan, I cannot think you will leave feeling anything but a little disappointed. However, a night out at the theater is always a delightful respite, even if the story sometimes falls a little flat.
Jackson Grove, Katerina McCrimmon, Rodney Thompson
photos by Evan Zimmerman and Matthew Murphy for Murphymade
Funny Girl
National Tour
presented by The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts through August 25, 2024
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Funny Girl
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