Review: FUNNY GIRL at The Players Centre For Performing Arts

Funny Girl opened on Broadway in 1964, book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, and was followed in1968 by the movie of the same name starring Barbra Streisand. The storyline is loosely based on the life and career of comedienne Fanny Brice and her tumultuous courtship and marriage to gambler Nick Arnstein. Nominated for eight Tony Awards in several categories, it lost out that year to Hello Dolly, however in 2004 the original cast album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

When the story begins, we meet Fanny (Vera Samuels) as a stage-struck teenager working in Vaudeville. Her mother (Andrea Keddell) and their neighbor Mrs. Strakosh (Sharon Bartley) try to stop Fanny from seeking a career in show business, stating her unfortunate flaws in the song, "If a Girl Isn't Pretty". Fanny retorts with "I'm the Greatest Star". With encouragement from her Vaudeville pal and dance instructor Eddie Ryan (Patrick Tancey), she lands a part in the Ziegfeld Follies. Using her crazy sense of humor and a lot of chutzpah, Fanny adds her comedic sense of humor to what was supposed to be a romantic song sung by a bride, and turned it into a sarcastic comedy of errors when she showed up with a pillow stuffed in her wedding dress as a pregnant bride singing ("His Love Makes Me Beautiful").

Fanny first meets Nick Arnstein (Christopher Kehoe) after one of her vaudeville shows and he antes up a wager competing with her boss to help elevate her wages. He returns to see her in Follies and accompanies Fanny to her mother's opening night party thrown for Fanny on "Henry Street". Fanny falls in love with Nick and we are introduced to the iconic number "People". Nick arranges for them to meet again for dinner at a ritzy hotel in Baltimore where they declare their love for each other and despite Nick's gambling habits, Fanny has marriage on her mind. We are treated to yet another iconic song from this musical, "Don't Rain on My Parade".

After they marry and buy an estate on Long Island Fanny rises to stardom with the Ziegfeld Follies. Nick, allowing his gambling to overtake him, asks Ziegfeld to invest in a casino with him. Ziegfeld is wise enough to pass on the offer so Fanny steps in and partners with Nick. Unfortunately they lose her investment on this venture. Good hearted Fanny takes it on the chin and continues to work in the Follies. Nick then gets involved with another dubious scheme with bonds. This time it lands Nick in jail for 18 months for embezzlement. When he returns home from prison, they decide to separate. So the story isn't a pretty one with a happy ending but it gave birth to some of the most beloved songs on Broadway and in Streisand's repertoire.

Since the inception of this musical, there have been hundreds of actresses who stepped up to the plate to swing at their chance of bringing Fanny Brice to life. The mistake many make is to try to emulate Streisand rather than bring their own interpretation to the character. That leaves the audience with nothing else to contemplate than comparing them with Miss Streisand. I was so glad to see Vera Samuels put her own spin on Fanny Brice and make it her own. Fresh off the previous production of Singing in the Rain, Miss Samuels brings a delightful spirit to Fanny. Her playful songs were sweet and sincere. Her more powerful numbers where delivered with a bit of a high-pitched push. Mr. Kehoe as Nick was suave and debonair and played well opposite Ms. Samuels. Andrea Keddle as Fanny's mother all but stole the show delivering great lines and sinking her teeth in her character. Mr.Tancey and Ms. Bartley rounded off the cast with energetic personas. Director Helen Holliday pulled together a capable ensemble and Michael Newton-Brown's set design with Tim Beltley's costumes made for an authentic sensation.

Funny Girl runs through April 15, 2018 at the Players Centre for Performing Arts. For more information visit www.theplayers.org. Photo credit Cliff Roles.

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