The Savoy Theatre, London. Wednesday 31st August, 2016.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This production of Funny Girl is wonderful in ways which are both expected and unexpected. I expected great things from Sheridan Smith, and this was absolutely delivered. I was expecting a grand West End musical, complete with all the large scale spectacle and voices which make the rafters ring, but it’s a much more subtle, surprisingly ‘different’ Funny Girl, which quite rightly plays to the biggest strengths of the lead. Fanny Brice is the main attraction and Smith has a phenomenal amount of stage time, so playing to her strengths works a treat.
The very best thing about this production is that Smith makes the role completely her own, with never an inkling of imitation. With such passion and lovable, goofy charm, Smith absolutely wins us over with a thoroughly comical Fanny Brice- who after all, was a comic first.
Smith’s performances of ‘His Love Makes Me Beautiful’, ‘You Are Woman\ I am Man’ and ‘Rat-Tat-Tat- Tat’ are highlights, and the physical comedy adds a playful nod towards bawdiness but is actually never far from classic slapstick. Smith is every bit the leading lady and her comic timing, mannerisms and physicality are a winning combination. And in the second act, Smith is heartbreaking, vulnerable, defiant and lost. It’s a stellar performance when you consider the rollercoaster of demanding physicality and emotions required for this role.
Aside from renditions of ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’, few of Fanny’s songs are sung ‘straight’. The ensemble’s musical numbers are, but not those of the protagonist. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing as there’s no doubt that Smith has a lovely voice, but for me, the emphasis here is on the comedy and not the musical numbers. Smith’s voice, while very pretty and capable of a strong belt, isn’t the traditional theatrical voice that we’re so used to hearing in the West End.
Darius, yes, THAT Darius, plays Nicky Arnstein- and he plays the part brilliantly. Tall, dark and handsome? Check. Can sing softly and belt like someone in the audition line for ‘Phantom’? Check. Evident chemistry with one Ms. Sheridan Smith, playing Fanny Brice? Check. All that and he can do both drama and comedy- who knew? Impressive. The Follies ensemble are also wonderful. Visually, Ziegfeld (Bruce Montague) couldn’t have been more perfectly cast and Rose (Fanny’s Mama, played by Marilyn Cutts) has just the right balance of no-nonsense and sensitivity- although I did miss ‘Find a Man’, which was cut from this production; I think she would have done a wonderful job with Joel Montague, who plays Eddy with real tragic charm.
Set around 1927, the costumes of Funny Girl are beautifully time-stamped and embellished, with the Follies dressed in various sparkly numbers while Fanny’s wardrobe smoothly echoes the progress of her journey from a determined young nobody to a heartbroken older somebody.
Whatever you’re expecting of this production of Funny Girl, whether you love the film or not, you’ll get something completely different and altogether re-imagined with this production. If you want to see an imitation, steer clear. But if you want to see a great actress expertly put her own spin on a famous role, and prove herself to be a very, very funny girl, get yourself a ticket.
‘Funny Girl’ runs at The Savoy Theatre, London, until 8th October 2016. You can get your tickets here:
Note: this post was first published at OnStageBlog.com.
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