Becca Schiel as Fanny Brice and the cast of FUNNY GIRL at the Barn Playhouse.
Ask a budding musical theater actress what her role of a lifetime would be, and she very well might say Fanny in FUNNY GIRL. The semi-biographical story is about comedienne Fanny Brice, probably most known for her work in the Ziegfeld Follies. The actress who stars as Brice has the monumentally intimidating task of following in Barbra Streisand’s footsteps (who performed in the original musical and feature film). If she allows herself to be intimidated by this fact, she’s done for, and FUNNY GIRL is only as good as its shining star. In this production directed by Robert Marsch, Becca Schiel shines in the leading role.
Fanny Brice is a girl living in New York who is not your typical beauty. She is trying desperately to break into vaudeville but is discouraged by her mother, Rosie (Rosemary Gehrlein), and her mom’s “card buddy”, Mrs. Strakosh (Patrina Harding). Fanny is helped by a vaudeville dancer, Eddie Ryan (Troy Fisher), and is eventually introduced to Mr. Ziegfeld (Bob Monroe) himself. Along the way, she meets and falls in love with the debonair Nick Arnstein (Jim Hopper). After marrying and having a baby, Nick gets into some serious trouble, which puts a terrific strain on their marriage.
Becca Schiel as Fanny Brice in the Barn Playhouse production of FUNNY GIRL.
Schiel proves that she has the comedic chops and beautiful voice to tackle one of the most challenging roles ever written for the stage. With a roster of songs including I’m the Greatest Star, People, and Don’t Rain on My Parade, not having the right Fanny can be a disaster in the making. Gehrlein and Fisher are a delight, particularly in their duet Who Taught Her Everything She Knows. There were times when I wished some of the performers would have pulled back just a little and allowed their song and speaking lines to flow more naturally, but hopefully that will come with time. The work of choreographer Gail Oldfield and costume designer Chris Jackson added much to the production, especially in the musical numbers Henry Street and Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat.
Performing a role associated with Streisand is not for the faint of heart. Schiel makes the role of Fanny her own and is supported by an extremely talented FUNNY GIRL cast.
FUNNY GIRL
Book by Isobel Lennart
Music by Jules Style
Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Directed by Robert Marsch
May 3 – 18, 2013
The Dramateurs, Inc.
at The Barn Playhouse
1600 Christopher St
Jeffersonville, PA 19403
610-539-BARN
www.barnplayhouse.org
