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"Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter."

Posted by:	Delvino 06:17 pm EDT 10/30/15
In reply to:	Harvey Fierstein on his rewrite of FUNNY GIRL for the Menier production - Michael_Portantiere 09:52 am EDT 10/30/15

Per all your cogent points, I keep wondering what anyone thinks can be excavated here. It's the most straightforward musical story imaginable, with every root-for built into the almost by the number trajectory, every reversal comprehensible and a love letter to Brice. If anything, it needs texture, grit and something to make it all less of an obvious valentine. Fanny demonstrates few if any negative traits (self-depricatory humor isn't exactly a ball in chain in this tale). She's a great girl who gets a guy who's less than perfect, but still worthy of her. The lyrics, in 2015, are rather blandly generic. Take "Don't Rain on My Parade." Who has tried to rain on her parade? She wants a show-biz career and then wants the guy, too. It's always seemed sort of overcooked outrage. Gee, she has to finish her run in the Follies before she can go after Nick? So she says to hell with it an chases him anyway. The song is wonderful, and it seals the romance. But really, it's devoid of much nuance. Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter? Her life is pretty good, headlining, and she sings the number to make it pump up the first act curtain. Okay. Good lucky, Harvey.

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Previous:	Lisa Kron would've been my choice... - Delvino 10:58 am EDT 10/31/15
Next:	re: Harvey Fierstein on his rewrite of FUNNY GIRL for the Menier production - BrianJ 12:57 pm EDT 10/30/15

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