Review: This 'Funny Girl' has a lot of charm, and a few laughs
By NANCY STETSON, nrstetson@naplesnews.com
November 4, 2004
It used to be thought that female performers were either pretty or funny, and that comedic women really couldn't be leads. But Fanny Brice bridged the gap.
Admittedly, she wasn't a conventional beauty. She had a vivaciousness, a way about her that made her attractive.
"Funny Girl," the musical about Brice's early career, plays at the Naples Dinner Theatre through Dec. 5. It begins with Brice looking in a mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous."
Does she believe it?
Initially, no, but despite her insecurity, there's an unquenchable inner drive that propels her towards the stage and into stardom.
Lindsay Packard portrays a winsome Brice with gawky charm and a tendency to just blurt out what's on her mind.
It must be difficult to step into a role so defined by Barbra Streisand. But Packard does an admirable job and makes the role her own, playing a more toned-down Fanny Brice. And she does a good job with the show's two best-known songs: "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade."
Dominic Quin-Harkin plays her knight in shining armor, Nick Arnstein, the wealthy gambler who makes her believe in her own beauty.
Quin-Harkin cuts a gallant and dashing figure but there doesn't seem to be much depth to his character. I would've liked to have seen more to him, and more chemistry between the two. We see how his love makes Brice bloom, but he remains a cipher.
Debi Guthery portrays Mrs. Brice with the right amount of sass and outspokenness. You can see where Fanny gets her drive and humor.
She's especially funny when playing cards with her cronies (Maryanne McKerrow, Johanna Lavelle and Marilyn Hilbert). And she breaks into song and dance with Eddie Ryan (Christopher Noffke), the two of them boasting "Who Taught Her Everything."
Noffke, the show's choreographer, also plays one in the show. It's one of the show's leads, and it's great to see Noffke have more stage time. His character has a crush on Fanny. He winds up being a loyal friend even though he initially sings "If a girl isn't pretty/Like a Miss Atlantic City/She should dump the stage/And try another route."
Thank goodness Brice knows enough to ignore his advice.
Noffke's tap dancing is entertaining, and during the ensemble's infectious "Rat Tat Tat Tat" military dance number, the audience interrupted with applause more than once.
And though she doesn't have many lines, special mention must be made of Johanna Lavelle, whose delightfully quirky character is one of Mrs. Brice's card-playing neighbors.
Set design by Jason Bolen is simple and functional, with a horizontal row of stairs dominating the stage.
"Funny Girl" is a classic ugly duckling fairy tale, where the female lead discovers not only her beauty but her inner strength. And while this production isn't uproariously funny, it has a certain charm that wins you over.
By NANCY STETSON, nrstetson@naplesnews.com
November 4, 2004
It used to be thought that female performers were either pretty or funny, and that comedic women really couldn't be leads. But Fanny Brice bridged the gap.
Admittedly, she wasn't a conventional beauty. She had a vivaciousness, a way about her that made her attractive.
"Funny Girl," the musical about Brice's early career, plays at the Naples Dinner Theatre through Dec. 5. It begins with Brice looking in a mirror and saying, "Hello, gorgeous."
Does she believe it?
Initially, no, but despite her insecurity, there's an unquenchable inner drive that propels her towards the stage and into stardom.
Lindsay Packard portrays a winsome Brice with gawky charm and a tendency to just blurt out what's on her mind.
It must be difficult to step into a role so defined by Barbra Streisand. But Packard does an admirable job and makes the role her own, playing a more toned-down Fanny Brice. And she does a good job with the show's two best-known songs: "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade."
Dominic Quin-Harkin plays her knight in shining armor, Nick Arnstein, the wealthy gambler who makes her believe in her own beauty.
Quin-Harkin cuts a gallant and dashing figure but there doesn't seem to be much depth to his character. I would've liked to have seen more to him, and more chemistry between the two. We see how his love makes Brice bloom, but he remains a cipher.
Debi Guthery portrays Mrs. Brice with the right amount of sass and outspokenness. You can see where Fanny gets her drive and humor.
She's especially funny when playing cards with her cronies (Maryanne McKerrow, Johanna Lavelle and Marilyn Hilbert). And she breaks into song and dance with Eddie Ryan (Christopher Noffke), the two of them boasting "Who Taught Her Everything."
Noffke, the show's choreographer, also plays one in the show. It's one of the show's leads, and it's great to see Noffke have more stage time. His character has a crush on Fanny. He winds up being a loyal friend even though he initially sings "If a girl isn't pretty/Like a Miss Atlantic City/She should dump the stage/And try another route."
Thank goodness Brice knows enough to ignore his advice.
Noffke's tap dancing is entertaining, and during the ensemble's infectious "Rat Tat Tat Tat" military dance number, the audience interrupted with applause more than once.
And though she doesn't have many lines, special mention must be made of Johanna Lavelle, whose delightfully quirky character is one of Mrs. Brice's card-playing neighbors.
Set design by Jason Bolen is simple and functional, with a horizontal row of stairs dominating the stage.
"Funny Girl" is a classic ugly duckling fairy tale, where the female lead discovers not only her beauty but her inner strength. And while this production isn't uproariously funny, it has a certain charm that wins you over.