Funny Girl - Nearly ‘Gorgeous’ - by Leah Rimstad

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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, with tap by Ayodele Casel, was nothing short of ‘Gorgeous’! Making his Broadway National Tour debut, Izaiah Montaque Harris (Eddie Ryan) welcomed the audience in “Eddie’s Tap” yelling, “how are y'all doing” or “I see you there in the back”.  “Rat Tat-Tat-Tat” was another notable number, showcasing a strong collective tap sound. The cast also established a strong connection using eye contact, visibly keeping the crowd engaged all night long!

Katerina McCrimmon, a Cuban-American identifying actor, portrayed the role of Fanny Brice. While witnessing her breathtaking vocals of “Don't Rain on My Parade”, I couldn't shake off a sense of guilt due to the backlash of casting a non-Jewish actor in the role. Stars, including Jennifer Apple, stated, “The content of this show is specifically about how she was not considered a pretty Jewish woman, that she had to change her name and change her looks to ‘fit in’ that she had to assimilate because of her Jewish identity. To have somebody not be Jewish and do that could perpetuate stereotypes.” Alongside Jennifer, I am very disappointed in the casting team (Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger, CSA) who misrepresented the Jewish community, especially during a time of rising antisemitism. There is no denying the fact that Katerina McCrimmon was phenomenal on stage, but I would have felt a stronger connection to the character if it was correctly represented by a Jewish actor. 

Funny Girl transformed my view on tap – I never considered myself a fan until now! The vocals were breathtaking throughout the night, and the precise choreography served as the cherry on top. If the show had the correct representation of Fanny Brice, it had the potential to exceed being nearly ‘Gorgeous’! Catch Funny Girl running in Minneapolis now - January 21st.

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