FUNNY GIRL – THE MUSICAL. Directed by Matthew Wild, with Ashleigh Harvey, Clyde Berning, Kate Normington, Diane Wilson, Michele Maxwell, Mike Huff, Cameron Botha, Grant Towers, Lucy Tops, Sven-Eric Müller, LJ Neilson, Jenna Robinson-Child, Ambre Chanel Fulton, Michéle la Trobe, Sibusiso Mxosana, Daniel Fisher, Tamryn van Houten, Tyla Nurden. Music: Jule Styne. Lyrics: Bob Merrill. Musical Director: Charl-Johan Lingenfelder. Choreography: Louisa Talbot. Set: Saul Radomsky. Costumes: Birrie le Roux. Lighting: Daniel Galloway, Benjamin du Plessis. Sound: Mark Malherbe. At The Fugard Theatre, Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm.
SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews
WHAT happens when you live in an era when you don’t conform to “accepted norms” of female beauty and have show-girl ambitions? (If a Girl Isn’t Pretty). You do exactly what Fanny Brice (Ashleigh Harvey) did in the 1920’s … show the powers that be that wit, being a funny girl, and having a voice to go with it, can be just as attractive. And, worth casting. (I’m the Greatest Star). Boosted by her friend Eddie Ryan (Cameron Botha) she persuades Mr Ziegfield (Mike Huff) to try her out in his legendary Ziegfield Follies.
Fanny can’t help her comedic side surfacing and in her first show – a glamorous bridal number (His Love Makes Me Beautiful) – she steals the scene as a tipsy, very pregnant bride, walking down the aisle, surrounded by “regular’ Ziegfield beauties.
The most stunning episode
With its all-white lace wedding gowns, and leggie girls dancing up and down a flight of stairs against a white scalloped curtain, this is possibly the most stunning episode in Funny Girl – which Fanny turned into a “scream.” Initially angry, Ziegfield has the grace, and humour, to see Fanny’s act “made” it.
From there Fanny’s career takes off. She becomes a star. All goes well until she falls for wealthy gambler Nick Arnstein (Berning), and they marry (Sadie, Sadie). As too often happens with gamblers, he gambles and loses everything – including Fanny’s money.
Fanny, wrapped up in a pseudo-leopard skin coat, begins to tell her story in retrospect. The period is just after World War I when Fanny is waiting Nick’s return from prison where he has spent 18 months for embezzlement. Their meeting is a moment of pure poignancy and heart break as they decided to separate.
But Fanny didn’t reach the top of her profession by being a weakling, so she gathers herself together, throws off her coat, and head high she is ready to begin again as Funny Girl ends.
Move and sing like a superstar
Harvey, like Fanny, is not a “regular” beauty, but she is a gifted comedienne who can move like a clumsy comic when required, or move and sing like a superstar. Her eyes tell all manner of stories, and she wears Birrie le Roux’s gorgeous gowns with the kind of easy sophistication that Fanny herself would have done. Petite against tall, handsome Berning, they had a special rapport, although she dominates him. Suave Berning looked a lost soul as he left Fanny to go his gambling way.
It’s a while since I saw Kate Normington. Happily as Mrs Brice (Kate Normington), she has lost none of her triple threat skills. Neither have Diane Wilson as Mrs Strakosh, or Michele Maxwell as Mrs Meeker. This trio of card playing, wise-cracking Jewish ladies, were an absolute joy to watch, bringing as they did, their collective years in theatre experiences to their characterisations (Who Taught Her Everything?).
Matthew Wild’s directing can barely be faulted. With help from the revolving stage, he kept the large cast (18) moving without them ever looking cramped. It’s good to see young up-and-coming Louisa Talbot choreographing novel and interesting steps ranging from tap to classical ballet (although her hilarious Swan Lake wouldn’t make the Royal Ballet!).
The combination of Saul Radomsky’s sets, Le Roux’s divine costumes, Daniel Galloway and Benjamin du Plessis’ lighting, and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder’s excellent band all contributed to a top rate performance. However it’s Mark Malherbe who deserves a laurel for his sound design. For once earplugs aren’t required to prevent ruptured eardrums.
What: Funny Girl
Where: The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town
When: Tues – Fri, 8pm. Sat, 4pm, 8pm
Tickets: R130 – R350
Book: 0861 9158 8000, Computicket, Fugard 021 461 4554
Web: http://www.thefugard.com/
WS
