‘Funny, Did You Hear That?’ Funny Girl, Savoy Theatre, London 11.06.2016

So after an amazing week performing in Sunset Boulevard, the post show blues were setting in, and what better way to help pick me up but a trip to the theatre, and on the 16th November, tickets were available to purchase!

I had heard about this production coming to the London in July, and after a sold out performance at The Menier Chocolate Factory it was then announced that due to its success it will be coming to the West End in April showing at the Savoy Theatre, I was not going to miss a chance to see this, and I knew who just to ask to join me.

Funny Girl is a American biographical romantic musical comedy, loosely base on the life and career on comedy Broadway and film star Fanny Brice, and also her relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein. Now I didn’t know that this was first a Broadway musical in 1963, starring Barbara Streisand prior to it going to film in 1968 but it was my mum who introduced me to the film, and I can remember watching it with her, my older sister, and falling in love with the music (the classics of ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ ‘ I’m the Greatest Star’ ‘People’ ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘ My Man’) Barbara, and the story just like my mum did when she was younger, and was often sung by us on the odd occasions when it would pop up especialy ‘I’d Rather Be Blue Thinking of You’. It was both of them that I asked to join me in viewing this show, and they expectedly accepted!

I had purchased tickets for the matinee performance on the 11th June 2016, and after a morning wandering round London, seeing the red arrows fly down embankment for the Queens Birthday, and a lovely Lunch at Bar One in Covent Garden it was off to the Savoy Theatre to take our seats. If you have read my reviews on my blog then you wil know that this is not my first time to the Savoy Theatre, so I wasn’t put off by the cheaper tickets up in the upper circle as from when I saw Gypsy I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. However this time I went a little higher in the front section of the Circle so my mum and sister wouldn’t have to lean forward, and after checking Seatplan.com to double confirm all ok, the bank account was 3 times less at £35 each. When we took our seats I was very happy, and our view from the stage was brilliant. Also with the production being simplistic with its stage design again you could see the whole show before you, but maybe with a slight view of stage right missing. I can only imagine that the view when your down in the stalls is better in some ways due to the effect they use with mirrors, such as when Fanny is looking through her dressing room mirror, or when there is a memory and you see the cast reflection at times where this effect was lost up in the upper circle as along with the reflection you saw the performer so this would have gone a miss, but that would have been it. So again if you are wanted to see a production in The Savoy do not be put off by the upper circle!

The story no different to the film, but some song changes, such as Eddie’s and Mrs Brice’s number ‘Who Taught her Everything she Knows?’ and ‘Who are you Now?’ sung by Fanny and Nick. Having thought myself that the film was first in the franchise I thought that these were new songs brought in to the musical but now understanding the Musical came first it has made the changes to the story were more understanding and now know that the Film was the one to bring in new numbers to the story such as ‘My Man,’ and ‘I’d Rather Be Blue’ which to me are favourites in the film, but the still kept ‘Funny Girl’ and ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade. However there was one song ‘Rat-tat-tat-tat’ where Fanny returns to the stage following her wedding, and birth of her child. The song is that of the military setting, and Fanny comes on dressed as a general, with a fake moustache (which was a bit temperamental when we saw it and kept falling off, but whether this was suppose to happen I don’t know either way it had the audience laughing and Natasha at times!) and her and the ensemble perform the number. Myself, sister and mother were not a trilled with this scene as in the film it is the song ‘The Swan’ which is one of our favourite scenes and to us was much funnier than ‘Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat’. But now I know that it was the original it makes sense, but i still would have liked to see ‘The Swan’ and feel that it works a lot better than the military number.

Now onto the Cast:

Fanny Brice – Natasha J Barnes (First Cover)

Mrs Brice – Marilyn Cutts

Mrs Meeker – Valda Aviks

Mrs Strakosh – Gay Soper

Eddie Ryna – Joel Montague

Mr Arnstein – Darius Campbell

Emma – Sammy Kelly (Understudy)

Ensemble (Various parts) – Luke Fetherston, Maurice Lane, Philip Bertioli, Emma Caffrey. Joelle Dyson, Rebecca Fennelly, Leah Harris, Kelly Homewood, Matthew Goodgame, Bruce Montague.

Now if you are a theatre fan then you are most likely aware of the recent happenings associated with the Leading lady of this production Sheridan Smith. Sheridan is currently taking a leave of absence from the production that she starred in at the Chocolate Factory following the incidents surrounding her father who sadly has been diagnosed with Cancer at the end beginning on the year. I have felt for her in the very beginning and the way the media has blown this sad news way out of control, from the acusion of her drunk on stage (I’m sorry but if she was they wouldn’t have stopped the whole show), to behaviours out of the show also. So when the news broke that she was taking 2 – 4 weeks absence I wasn’t disappointed but happy she would have a well earned rest and time with family through this difficult time. The date that we saw the show was supposed to be her return back, but 2 days before we went I had an e-mail to confirm that she would take a further month off and to right to. I wish all the best to Sheridan, and I wish her a big welcome back when she is ready to. Hold your head high, and be the strong women you are.

Now onto her cover for the night, Natasha J Barnes has been making the news with her performance as Fanny Brice, following the events of Sheridan, you can understand the pressure that she would have had to try and prove herself and demonstrate to the public that sometimes you don’t get to see an A list celebrity or the billed star of the evening but I can still give you an amazing show. Which she did, her rendition of Fanny Brice was great, her comic timings, her acting, and take on the role was her own, and although she would have been by Sheridan side most nights (as she usually plays the role of Emma, Fanny’s dresser) she still made sure that it was her take and not a mirror. Not only did Natasha have to follow Sheridan but Barbara Streisand is also a tough act to follow (and she is a the true Fanny in my opinion) but again she should not be disappointed I loved her voice and with every song she sung, especially ‘People’ I was transfixed to her. with many theatre shows and viewings it is often an occurrence to have an understudy at some point, and sometimes with me I will go to a show because the understudy is playing (Rock of Ages, and Memphis for instance) so I was not disappointed that Natasha was playing, and excited to see a new show, I came away smiling and happy just like all the other shows I have seen. I was not disappointed.

Now onto the other cast members who caught my eye, the two men in the cast Nicky Arnstein, and Eddie, both whom loved Fanny but two different characters. Eddie played by Joel was a sweet character who wanted the best for Franny, Joel played him greatly and boy can the guy tap dance!! Sometimes you couldn’t help but hope that Fanny may choose him but sadly her heart was Nicky’s played by Colourblind, Pop Idol star Darius Campbell.  I will be honest that I would not have put Darius as the leading man Mr Arnstein but I was proven wrong and I can now understand why he has gone on to perform in theatre than pursue an music career, as he was very good on stage. Not an all rounder, as I don’t believe he is a dancer, but acting, and singing he was defiantly the heartthrob husband of Fanny for sure.

Other mentions are needing to go the 3 ladies Mrs Brice, Mrs Strakosh, and Mrs Meeker all apart of Fanny’s life, and stole the scenes, and laughs with there many game cards, I loved when they came on, and realised that I had seen Valda before when she was in ‘Once’ where she played a completely different part and accent! The ensemble and cast worked all very well together and amazed how well they could dance and work with the treadmill that was part of the setting of the show, it also looked very fun! But with being a small cast it made the story that much more intimate, and the stage was less busy to allow you to focus more on the story, and songs that were being told then who was where and what was that? Had it of been a bigger cast it may have lost its uniqueness. As it was the Matinee and also with my sister I didn’t go to the stage door this time but i would have loved to have seen Natasha, and Darius, maybe next time.

Funny Girl is performing on a limited run until the 8th October, and you can purchase tickets here at the ATG website. From the e-mail that was sent to me prior to seeing the show I believe Sheridan is due back on the 16th July but nonetheless please don’t let this put you off, don’t get me wrong if I get the chance to see the show again and have the money to pay for tickets then yes I would love to see Sheridan in this show, and see her take on Fanny Brice but I was not disappointed and loved every moment of this show that if I don’t I would be completely satisfied. So go and buy tickets, but if you can’t get to London then good news for you as it has just been announced that it will be touring the UK once leaving the West End, the casting is yet to be confirmed (but I do hope Natasha carries on). So you can still get a chance, and again if this does come to a theatre near me then how can I say no?