It looks like no one rained on Lea Michele's parade as she has reportedly earned rave reviews from critics on her successful rebirth of Fanny Brice in the 2022 Broadway revival of "Funny Girl."
Michele's casting on the role up to her debut performance has been nothing but controversial. From being cast as the lead role because of a departing Beanie Feldstein, the former "Glee" star has been in the headlines almost every week as she continues to hammer down detractors acussing her racial microaggressions.
A month after her much-awaited debut at the August Wilson Theatre, the nail-biting reviews for Lea Michele's Fanny Brice are now in.
From the very beginning, Lea Michele's performance is expected to blow the roof off as she had been belting the notes of "Don't Rain On My Parade" in 2009 in the musical-comedy series "Glee."
Undoubtedly, Michele received the rave reviews that the producers first expected that Beanie Feldstein would get when it first opened in theatres. Feldstein received overwhelmingly lukewarm to negative reviews on her portrayal, a thing that theatre insiders have been mumbling about earlier this year that points out to be the real reason for the actress' exit from the production.
According to New York Times, "Funny Girl" has finally found their Fanny Brice in Lea Michele, noting that with her in the spotlight, the show was now "worth watching again."
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"Watching Michele as Fanny, then, allows you to acknowledge a few things simultaneously. You can believe the fallout around Feldstein's reviews, and her subsequent departure wasn't fair to someone compared to both Streisand and Michele before she ever stepped on stage," Entertainment Weekly says.
On the other hand, Deadline compliments Michele's undeniable chemistry with on-screen partner Ramin Karimloo - noting how the two adapted easily to an accidental mishap on Nick's blue egg gift to Fanny during the performance.
Meanwhile, The New York Post sang praises of Lea Michele's vocal prowess. "Michele brings real singing power to the table as Fanny - the role made famous by Barbra Streisand - which was sorely lacking in the revival and is beyond vital. If you know the show, you're aware you don't come for the gripping scenes. It's all about the songs. "Don't Rain On My Parade," "People," and "I'm The Greatest Star" now all sound buttery, strong and satisfying."
Funny Girl is playing at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. Tickets for the production are available on the show's official website.
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