I gave myself a challenge on a recent trip to London's West End, which the locals call "theatreland," vowing to see a show that wasn't also running on Broadway. I chose the London revival of the 1963 musical, Funny Girl, based on the life and career of Fanny Brice, a Ziegfeld Follies star in the Twenties and Thirties. This production currently gleams from the overture to the finale, thanks to the talent and charisma of Natasha J. Barnes, who was originally cast as understudy to Sheridan Smith, the show's once and future leading lady. And even if Ms. Barnes' prominence is temporary, I feel grateful to have seen this rising star, age 26, in one of her first major roles.
Funny Girl, which will run until October at the Savoy Theatre on the Strand, has music and lyrics by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart that has been newly revised by Harvey Fierstein. The production recently moved from the tiny Menier Chocolate Factory to the large 1881 house built to showcase the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, and at both venues Sheridan Smith received five-star reviews. But shortly before I flew to London, I received an email announcing that Natasha Barnes would step into the lead for a few weeks while Ms. Smith recovered from exhaustion. (I was not familiar with either actress, and as a veteran of last-minute cast changes on Broadway, I wasn't concerned.)
From the moment Natasha J. Barnes made her entrance on June 7th, I was charmed. Barnes commands the stage with faultless comic timing, a versatile mezzo soprano with an impressive belt, and an inner glow that makes you root for her version of Brice, a rubber-faced duckling who morphs into a lovely swan-princess. She is strong, yet vulnerable, sometimes in the same moment.
Though I've seen the film version of Funny Girl, I'd never seen the musical, and I enjoyed watching Fanny's unlikely climb to stardom and stormy romance with the well-meaning gambler she marries. Fanny's clear-eyed mother is played with ironic humor by Marilyn Cutts, supported by two feisty neighbors, Valda Aviks as Mrs. Meeker and Gay Soper as Mrs. Strakosh. The gifted hoofer who loves Fanny to no avail is nicely acted (and danced) by Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.
Nick Arnstein, who steals Fanny's heart, is portrayed by Darius Campbell, whose sultry good looks and mellow baritone bring allure to the love story. His chemistry with Barnes is palpable, and they shine in their mutual scenes. The ensemble is also fine, including Maurice Lane as Mr. Keeney and Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld.
If the iconic voice of the show's first star, Barbra Streisand, is lodged in your ear warbling "I'm the Greatest Star," "Don't Rain on My Parade," and "The Music That Makes Me Dance," it's worth hearing a fresh voice that makes the resilience and heartache of Fanny Brice new again. So if you're heading to London this summer, don't miss this superb revival, replete with Brooklyn accents.
Sheridan Smith is held in high regard by British critics and her fans, so I hope she can return on July 11, the date announced this week. As for Natasha J. Barnes, her tears of joy at the curtain call were nearly as moving as her performance, and I predict this young actress will soon see her name over the title of her own show.
Natasha J. Barnes in Funny Girl. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Funny Girl opened at the Savoy on April 20, 2016, and will run until October 8, 2016.
For tickets, visit http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/savoy-theatre/