Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

What Do Happy People Do? See Funny Girl at the Orpheum, of course! I’m not alone when I say I found the drama behind the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, the story of young performer Fanny Brice and her rise to stardom, far more compelling than the show itself. Naturally, when it was announced the production would go on tour, it was met with some skepticism. Having now seen the touring production, I find it a shame as all that time there has lain a beautifully directed, stunningly designed, and (of course) phenomenally performed rendition of the Streisand classic. Immediately, Michael Mayer’s direction shines, opening with ghosts from Fanny’s past performances visiting her as she reminisces on the highlights of her career. This scene returns in Act II, giving the show a dreamlike quality like the events are occurring as memories. Mayer demonstrates his strength as a director through the musical numbers. To prevent monotony across Fanny’s many solos, Mayer changes the tone to reflec...

  Axel Duke Funny Girl Peculiar, Amusing, or Laughable Funny Girl is the quintessential Post Golden Age musical. Funny Girl is defined in equal part by its innovations upon the Golden Age formula, and its inability to free itself from the expectations of the Golden Age formula. But unlike how Funny Girl struggled to free itself from the shackles of the golden age, the 2023 US Tour of Funny Girl triumphs over the expectations of its predecessors. The Post Golden Age can be most easily defined as the bridging era between the Golden Age, and the Pre-Contemporary Era of Broadway. Funny Girl stands as that bridge. It perfectly encapsulates the stylings of the Golden Age, while also displaying the first inklings of the high concepts and power ballads that would grow to define the Pre Contemporary Era. The 2023 US Tour of Funny Girl has managed to build out and reinforce the bridge between the eras its predecessor acted as by fully embracing both what the original Funny Girl was suc...

  Just Too Funny The show Funny Girl is a vibrant one full of odes to classic broadway, but also an interesting modern sort of undertone that sets it apart from other broadway shows. From the beginning, Fanny Brice believes herself unpleasant to look at but incredibly talented. She climbs the ladder of material success and finds the man of her dreams. Through the second act, her marriage falls apart as her wealth overtakes all marital strife which ultimately results in her marriage ending. By the end, Fanny realizes her true beauty, shown by her bright attitude and shining red flapper. This show is truly one to behold with its incredible visual effects, awe inspiring cast, and nuanced plot. From the backdrops, to the scene transitions, to the lighting effects, Funny Girl exhibited captivating visuals. The scene changes were incredibly clever, incorporating dance and dialogue. Each backdrop was intricately beautiful with little hidden details that brought it to life, such as a p...

  “Fanny” Girl Certain musicals rely on an ensemble to hide the imperfections in the writing. Funny Girl puts this responsibility on its lead, Fanny Brice. Funny Girl follows the life and trials of up-and-coming comedienne Fanny Brice and explores her rocky relationship with Nick Arnstein. The show has been criticized as a superficial star vehicle without much of a sustainable plot, and despite how much I enjoyed the ensemble, I must agree. When Barbara Streisand originated the role of Fanny in 1964, the show cemented her status as a performer and boosted her fame instantly.    The spellbinding Katerina McCrimmon steals the show as Fanny. Her commanding stage presence, acting, and dancing make her a delight to watch. But what really sold her to me was her voice. McCrimmon’s voice is clear, exceptionally on-pitch, and piercingly emotional. It is hard to pick a singular song she shines on, but her “The Music That Makes Me Dance '' had me weeping in my seat.  That being...

Funny Girl - Nearly ‘Gorgeous’ National Tour Company of Funny Girl, Photo by Mattwew Murphy, 2023 After years of hearing my friends belt out the music score on karaoke nights, I was thrilled to finally see Funny Girl unfold at the Orpheum Theatre! Undoubtedly, my friends were disappointed that I had never experienced this Broadway gem, but on January 16th that changed. As part of my new year’s resolutions, I want to widen my knowledge on classical shows, which is why Funny Girl couldn't have come to town at a better time! Funny Girl is a Broadway comedy featuring iconic hits including “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People''. The story follows Fanny Brice, a young woman from the Lower East Side, as she chases her dreams of becoming a star. She was told she could never succeed and achieve her dreams, but did she let them stop her?  While I anticipated a night of jazzy music, the real surprise was the abundance of dance sequences! The choreography done by Ellenore Scott, wit...

  Funny Girl on Hennepin: Fanny’s Flauntin’ Into Town When I think of classic musicals, there’s one name that comes to mind immediately: Funny Girl. Whether hearing Barbra Streisand in the ‘60s movie or Lea Michele on Glee, Fanny Brice is a staple to my personal theatre experience. Which is why I was excited to see the National tour of the 2022 Broadway revival, which originally didn’t have the most favorable reviews. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this show. Funny Girl at the Orpheum is a fun and interesting take on the famous musical, and, while not perfect, delivers a fantastic dose of classic musical comedy.  It’d be amiss of me not to address the leading woman, Katarina McCrimmon, for her portrayal as fast-talking, joke-cracking Fanny Brice. McCrimmon’s Fanny was whimsical, dynamic, and hilarious, balancing comedic timing with vulnerability. She also doesn’t disappoint with iconic numbers such as “People,” “I’m The Greatest Star,” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” Ho...