Before the genius of Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and Gilda
Radner, there was a brilliant, shining comedian and singer known as
Fanny Brice.
Before the genius of Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and Gilda Radner, there was a brilliant, shining comedian and singer known as Fanny Brice. She was really the first female comedian in the complete sense of the word. Considering she beat all the odds because she wasn’t a great beauty, had two left feet that lost her more jobs than she would like to remember, she survived to become one of the greatest comedians and superb torch singers of her time.
In the early 1900’s at eighteen she appeared in the first of many Ziegfeld Follies. (To any one who hasn’t heard of the Ziegfeld Follies, it is likened to successfully starring on Broadway in the hit of the season.) In the late thirties she successfully concentrated on her radio show where she played a sassy brat called Baby Snooks. Brice passed away in 1951 at the height of her radio career.
“Funny Girl” is a loosely fitted story about Fanny Brice’s life, and romance and love with gambler Nick Arnstein. The production is well done with Michael Hotopp’s scenic design almost stealing the show.
Rachel Ulanet as Fanny Brice has the role down pat and does it justice. She belts out the glitzy score with the gusto and heart that keeps the audience’s attention throughout the performance. The woman has a great voice and presence.
Mary Ellen Ashley as Fanny’s mother delivers and is a delight. No wonder, her skills have been well honed from the age of four with Ethel Merman in “Annie Get Your Gun” to Yentel in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Here is a solid pro who is a pleasure to watch.
Kevin Gray’s Nick Arnstein never quite makes it. He did not seem comfortable in the suave sophisticated role. The electricity that Fanny and Nick were suppose to have never quite sparked. He seemed much more at home as the Engineer in AMTSJ’s production of “Miss Saigon.” Director/Choreographer San Viverito kept the production moving at a fast pace with interesting, colorful choreography and an energetic chorus.
Songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, “Sadie, Married Lady” and “People” raise the bar for this musical and likely you will leave the theater humming a refrain from one of them. Funny Girl is a colorful entertainment worth the time. Something to sit back and relax and enjoy.
