Writer: Isobel Lennart Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Director: Michael Mayer Choreographer: Lynne Page Reviewer: Bryony Luther It is just over 50 years since Funny Girl was first performed in London in 1966. The lead role of Fanny Bryce was famously originated by Barbara Streisand, arguably providing her big break. This anniversary production began life at the Menier Chocolate Factory before ...
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Book: Isobel Lennart, Revised by Harvey Fierstein Music: Julie Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Director: Michael Mayer Reviewer: James Garrington Success in show business is said to be as much about being in the right place at the right time as it is with talent. The film version of Funny Girl, following a successful stage run, did much to promote Barbra Streisand’s ...
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Book: Isobel Lennart, Revised by Harvey Fierstein Music: Julie Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Director: Michael Mayer Reviewer: Laura Jayne Bateman Opening in Boston in 1963, Funny Girl was initially panned by critics and failed to win a single Tony Award after transferring to Broadway. However, after a run of over 1,000 performances, the musical was immortalised on film in 1968, starring ...
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Book: Isobel Lennart, revised by Harvey Fierstein Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Director: Michael Mayer Reviewer: Lauren Humphreys It needs a glittering and glorious central performance to elevate the thin story of early Broadway star Fanny Brice to something spectacular, and that is precisely what Natasha J Barnes delivers in Michael Mayer's stunning revival of Jule Styne and Bob Merrill's classic Funny ...
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Director: Michael Mayer Book: Isobel Lennart Revised Book: Harvey Fierstein Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Reviewer: Chris Oldham Not long after completing its engagement at London's Savoy Theatre, Funny Girl arrives at the Bristol Hippodrome this week. And with Sheridan Smith at the top of bill, expectation couldn't be higher. Fanny Brice (Smith) is a young Jewish girl growing ...
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Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Isobel Lennart, revised by Harvey Fierstein Director: Michael Mayer Reviewer: Maggie Constable The hugely talented comedienne and actor, Sheridan Smith, takes on the lead role in Funny Girl at Milton Keynes this week. She has been much awaited after rave reviews in the West End. Very few have taken on this role since Barbra Streisand ...
Read More »Reviewer: Mark Clegg It’s probably fair to say that Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice would be no more than a footnote in history if it weren’t for the musical Funny Girl. Premiering on Broadway in 1964 thirteen years after her death, the show charts both the professional and personal highs and lows of the unconventional comic performer. It’s probably also ...
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Book: Arthur Laurents Lyrics: Jule Styne Music: Stephen Sondheim Reviewer: Mark Clegg Soundtracks of musical revivals have their work cut out for them to justify their existence. Why, when there is already one out there (or in the case of this musical, at least seven) would you need to produce another? The new major London revival of Gypsy - staggeringly, ...
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