Fanny Brice (1891-1951) was a star in the early 20th century with a five-decade career spanning the stage, silver screen, and radio. In her early days, she was often told that she’d never make it in showbiz because she was too “plain looking.” If a girl isn’t pretty like a Miss Atlantic City, she’s a real Miss Nobody, USA. Better she should find a nice Jewish fella and get married.
Indeed, Brice was no feast for the eyes. Her superpowers were a powerful set of pipes and great comic delivery. Still, it’s hard to rise to stardom when everyone else keeps trying to bring you back down to Earth. But Brice was nothing if not determined. She was The Greatest Star even when no one else knew it.
Funny Girl is a loosely biographical musical about her life produced by her son-in-law, Ray Stark. Premiering in 1968, it received 8 Tony nominations and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The show and later movie were Barbra Streisand’s big break, taking her from a “Miss Nobody” to a household name.
Now playing at the Aronoff Center from November 19 to December 1, 2024, Funny Girl has been revised by Harvey Fierstein and is going on tour. From the jazzed-up overture capturing the spirit of the Big Apple, we know that we are in for one heckuva night.
Hannah Shankman as Fanny Brice is the whole package. She’s a nice Jewish girl with an impressive vocal range, great comic timing, and an expressive face that trumpets her inner monologue. Hang on tight because this is no gentle cruise around the harbor. Shankman takes us on an odyssey, from Brice’s early days as a kid desperately trying to catch a break to a heartbroken but determined show biz veteran.
Melissa Manchester shines as Fanny’s mama, Rosie. Her daughter’s first and greatest fan, she’s the kind of mother who always gets heartfelt thanks at awards shows. With a 50-year career of her own, Manchester seems as comfortable on stage as she is lounging in her living room. Equally charming is Izaiah Montaque Harris as Eddie Ryan. Dapper in a set of spats, this young man hoofs up a storm like Sammy Davis Jr.
Fanny and Eddy would have made a perfect match, but Fanny fell in love with Nick Arnstein. A high-stakes gambler with interests in multiple ventures, including racehorses and oil rigs, Nicky comes from a different neighborhood. His French is tres chic, but he doesn’t know from Yiddish. And when you fall in love with a gambler, you put your heart on the table. Stephen Mark Lukas as Nick, comes in with great savoir-faire, then peels back the layers to reveal a deeply insecure and conflicted man. That Fanny makes the money hurts his pride. This becomes very clear in Temporary Arrangement. Fanny definitely would have been better off with Eddie.
Scenic Designer David Zinn opens up a storybook and invites us in. His painted backdrops capture the grit of Henry Street with its crowded row houses that feel like home, as well as the expansive grandeur of Fanny and Nick’s home on Long Island. The costumes by Susan Hilferty are so much fun. From the plaid suits with bowler hats to the feathered headdresses and sparkly trousers of the Ziegfeld Follies, the attire was playful in its pageantry. And those silver lamé army uniforms in Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat just took the cake.
Funny Girl is a delightful night out that will make your heart sing. The show is playing at the Aronoff through Dec 1, 2024. And if you want to see it surrounded by your people, Jewish Community Night is Tuesday, Nov 26th. Snatch ‘em up quick because tickets are going fast. The theatre was pretty packed on opening night. Not too shabby for a Tuesday.
And that’s Show-Biz!
