Funny Girl Has Cast Its Fanny Brice

She looks young, which is good because Fanny Brice is very young at the beginning of the story, and it should not be any more. But I think first and foremost, you need someone who is a singer, because there are many strong songs, and what is the point if the song is just OK.

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well at least i don't have to pay to go see it.  this is the worst idea since McCain/Palin.

Next up, Christopher J. Hanke in The Sammy Davis, Jr. story!

I don't hear a great range there, or variety of tone or emotion.

There is MGM film of the actual Fanny Brice singing this song. She acts it, with a matter-of-fact masochism and understated elegance. She is actually asking the audience "What can I do?" while defending the sonofabitch. Sound familiar, girls? It's a universal song in any era. Alice Faye did a beautiful job of it playing a sort-of-Fanny in "Rose of Washington Square" (Brice  sued and won.) And Streisand was so galvanizing, the arrangement so spectacular, she did what few performers can do: take a song that BELONGS to another, stellar performer and made it her own.

If Lauren Ambrose is indeed cast and the revival has been retitled "Honky Tonk Fanny, the Vamp of Alabammy," she'd be swell.

She's dreadful. Terrible voice, lousy stage presence, and throws away the song.

Michael choux,  On listening to the video you provided, it occurs that Lauren Ambroce cannot sing better than Pierce Brosnan cannot sing.

Barbra was only 22 years old when she originated the role - that boggles my mind.

She'll be great - she can act - and will play Fanny Brice, not another Streisand knock-off like Lea Michele.

She seems a little blech in this clip.  Like maybe with some good patter she'd do a nice cabaret act.  I think they should have cast one of the great drag Babs imitators!  It would be Babs, in-person, youthful-again!  Fun!  This gal seems more like bright, sass, but not long on soul.

Since everyone will see it no matter what (especially the tourist contingent), why not cast a fabulous unknown who can sing Broadway style and make the songs their own.

She was such a downer in "Six Feet Under."  Has she ever cracked a smile?  Next you'll be telling me her understudy is Claire Danes.  (P.S. Judging from this rendition of "My Man," you'd think Fanny Brice was a stripper and not a Ziegfeld star.)

She gets a laugh after "He beats me too/What can I do?" which is definitely, um, different.

She looks young which is good because Fanny Brice is very young at the beginning of the story and it shouldn't be someone elderly. But I think first and foremost you need someone who's a singer because there are a lot of powerful songs, and what's the point if the singing is just okay.

I love her. Here's why people may object: she doesn't sing in a diva's key, but neither did Merman...She'll do swell. She'll be great.

I'm told that Lauren plays a pushy publicist type on Torchwood.

Phew!  I'm cautiously optimistic.....xo

I think it should have been Lauren Frost. Any true Barbra fan knows who she is, and why.

Give her a break. At least she's not a Barbra type and won't be doing an impersonation.

Oh No!!!!!!