BWW Reviews: 3-D Theatricals Offers Up a Gorgeous FUNNY GIRL, Ends 9/29

There are plenty of speculative reasons why actual productions---local or otherwise---of that great 1964 behemoth of a stage musical FUNNY GIRL have been noticeably few and far between. For one, for a show that focuses mostly on one character (albeit a very memorable one), it's a surprisingly luxe, large-scale musical... well, if done properly. And, secondly---and, perhaps, most importantly---the show has one helluva legacy to live up to... particularly, involving the person who shot up to stratospheric heights because of it.

Yes, of course, thy name is Barbra.

When the ultra-talented Streisand triumphantly took on---or rather, fully-embodied---the role of real-life entertainer/comedy legend Fanny Brice both, first, on Broadway and, later, in the musical's much-beloved Oscar-winning big-screen adaptation, it forevermore became difficult to picture nearly anyone else in the role of the feisty, rain-on-parade-averse comic genius with a penchant for mysterious gamblers in unstarched shirts. For Streisand, Fanny Brice was, arguably, a career-defining role of a lifetime.

Not counting, of course, the fictional revival being mounted within the story-lines of the TV musical series GLEE (where resident superstar Lea Michele's character Rachel was seen auditioning for the lead role last season), there have been very little attempts to put on a full-scale, Broadway-caliber revival of the show, especially here in Southern California. Even the long-awaited pre-Broadway revival that was to originate at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre---which was set to star Six Feet Under's Lauren Ambrose as Fanny---was sadly cancelled just mere months before its scheduled January 2012 premiere.

Fast forward to September of 2013 and, well... all I have to say is Woo-Hoo! Thank goodness Southern California wasn't deprived of a revival of FUNNY GIRL after all. And, gosh, to top it off, they've even managed to find a Fanny Brice audiences can genuinely admire. Hello, Gorgeous!

Stepping forward---not surprisingly---with the bold audacity to put together their own regional production of the Jule Styne/Bob Merrill classic about the tumultuous life of Fanny Brice is none other than Orange County, California's own home-grown regional theater group 3-D Theatricals. Founded just a few years ago, the local arts collective has risen sharply among its peers and has shown a continuous meteoric rise in critical and audience praise with each subsequent offering (The evidence? Their recent exquisite production of Jason Robert Brown's PARADE just garnered the most 2013 Ovation Award nominations of any show this year). After receiving endless cheers in their home base at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton since it opened September 6, their production of FUNNY GIRL will now play its final performances from September 27 through the 29 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

Under the direction of Michael Matthews---and featuring choreography by Kami Seymour and musical direction by Gerald Sternbach---3-DT's truly admirable FUNNY GIRL is a lovingly-rendered, appropriately large-scale production that honors its source material (though, perhaps, too stringently), highlighting the show's strengths with careful consideration. And, like its predecessors, the show, more than anything else, provides a showcase for the gifted actress that has been blessed with the title role.

For this exceptional production, that undertaking is being handled by the fantastic Nicole Parker, a brilliant comedienne with enormous appeal and a singing voice that more than lives up to the big shoes---and the fake baby bump---she has to fill. A master with contorted facial expressions and well-timed comebacks (a snarky touch to the character I actually found rather charming), it's hard not to notice that Parker's six-year stint as a cast member and writer on the Fox network sketch show MAD TV seeped into her portrayal, and, I must say, it absolutely worked.

Rather than trying to approach the role to one-up or even to ape Streisand, Parker smartly played to her personal strengths---which are plentiful and striking. The resulting performance is certainly a laudable one, achieved primarily by punctuating her character's real-life proclivity for humor. Parker's exceptional characterization is of a spunky, defiant, almost child-like go-getter so desperate to be loved despite her supposed non-traditional looks (in that sense, I totally can relate). In one scene, my heart broke when Parker's face revealed a vulnerable side, asking for validation that her baby's looks are more aligned with Nick's rather than hers. Oh, the feels of that scene!

What Parker's version of Fanny Brice may lack in Streisand-level stratospheric musicalizations and melodrama, she more than makes up for in her sheer, plucky attitude and boundless fervor (plus, the former Elphaba in WICKED can belt these tunes effortlessly, thank you very much). Watching Parker tell the world she's the greatest star and, lord forbid, not to rain on her damn parade makes you want to root for her even more---and believe right along with her that Fanny Brice absolutely belongs on the stage to entertain us all.

The show also succeeds by providing Parker with equally applause-worthy on-stage assistance via a supporting cast that includes the debonair Josh Adamson as Fanny's handsome gambling-addicted paramour Nick Arnstein; Jean Kauffman as Fanny's meddlesome yet proud mother Mrs. Brice; Venny Carranza as choreographer Eddie, Fanny's friend and theatrical cheerleader (who also happens to harbor an unrequited crush on Fanny); and Gregory North as infamous stage impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, who helped Fanny become a star.

A special shout-out goes to the spectacular Helen Geller, who often stole the show as gossipy Henry Street resident busybody Mrs. Strakosh. What a spit-fire! But with such a huge personality at the center of the show, the hard-working ensemble, unfortunately, just gets mostly lost in the distracting scenery; nonetheless, they sound really lovely in the choral numbers and provided plenty of dazzling dance moves.

For me personally, the only significant thing this production was missing---and this, I swear, is truly the smallest of gripes---was a wholly-refreshed take that could have skewed a lot more away from the sacred text of the original show. It's no surprise that the show's book is still its most problematic entity, and thus explains why perhaps the film version worked so much better story-wise by deviating from how the narrative was handled for the stage. While I understand that this production's sacrosanct adherence to the show's bible is probably unavoidable contractually, taking a few more out-of-the-box liberties would have been great to see. (I did appreciate the subtle, blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment during a party scene when a couple of men leave together in secret---that was interesting, if a little random).

Of course, to truly be a new production, it almost needed to seamlessly incorporate elements from the film version---including, perhaps, even a few of its songs. In particular, I think it would have been an awesome, memorable moment to insert the tune "Funny Girl"---which was especially written for the film and was not in the original production (heck, it's the title of the frikkin' show!).

Additionally, while I still love Fanny's 11 o'clock number "The Music That Makes Me Dance," it would have been truly magical to hear Parker take on "My Man"---a song so closely associated with the real-life Fanny Brice (and which so happens to be the song that replaced "The Music That Makes Me Dance" in the film version). But, as I said, these are merely a few wish-list items that would have been the icing to this already scrumptious experience.

By gamely and consistently doing these high-caliber shows right here in the OC---judging from their recent productions this year, especially---I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world being able to witness their shows just a short drive away. I, for one, cannot wait to see what's next...

Follow this reviewer on Twitter: @cre8iveMLQ

Photos of 3-D Theatricals' presentation of FUNNY GIRL by Isaac James Creative. Previous Page: Fanny (Nicole Parker) rehearses a new piece. This Page, from top: Fanny is lovestruck with Nick Arnstein (Josh Adamson); a friendly neighborhood poker game led by Mrs. Brice (Jean Kaufmann, third from left) is gossip-fueled; Fanny tries to convince the world that she's the greatest star.

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Performances of 3-D Theatricals' FUNNY GIRL continue at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through September 22, 2013 then moves to The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for performances on September 27-29, 2013. Shows are scheduled Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm.

For tickets or more information, call 714-589-2770 or visit www.3DTshows.com.

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