The 2022 Broadway revival of the 1964 long running musical (that moved Barbra Streisand from quirky curiosity to living legend) has stirred up a lot of controversy because of casting issues and conflicting publicity, and that revival owes its existence to this production from England. For those who bashed Beanie, perhaps they should see the special events recording of this production that reveals several things about the show and recordings of live musicals in general.

If they were going to show leading lady Sheridan Smith as she was on stage, the camera needed to be moved back, or possibly Smith needed to be reigned in. She comes off as if she's screaming to the top of the balcony because the camera insinuates that she could swallow those in the front rows with her extremely bombastic performance that is accelerated thanks to the placement of the camera that makes Fanny Brice an unappealing ham. The book, spruced up from the original, has gotten worse with those revisions, making me prefer the original which I saw in a faster moving and tighter production as Paper Mill in the late 1990's.

She's got a good voice, but unfortunately, with the way this is filmed, she comes off as a greedy songbird desperately trying to keep focus on her even when other characters are in control of what's going on at that time. I didn't like Fanny as she came off in this cheap looking production. I much preferred to the actors playing her mother and Nick and Eddie. It looks like an over-ambitious high school stage production where the results just make me lose interest in seeing it on Broadway regardless of who played the role. I much preferred the production done as a fundraiser with an all-star Broadway cast and multiple actresses playing Fanny.

I can and have watched this over and over again. An absolute delight each time. A lot of detail in the production, while obviously not on the scale of a Broadway show. And I think the play benefits from this increased intimacy. Sheridan certainly makes the character her own. For Americans, if you enjoy Sheridan in "Funny Girl," make sure to watch her in "Cilia." (the tv production, not the new musical that is coming up with Sheridan in the UK .)

I'll be upfront right off the bat - I've never cared for Funny Girl, so if you're a super fan of the show, you can probably throw my opinion away immediately. I saw this to see if the show would be better with the new rewrite and if Sheridan Smith (an actress I like and respect) could bring something new to the material to shake off the ghost of Barbra Streisand.

Unfortunately, it seems like neither the rewrite not Smith can do much to lift this show up. That beautiful score is still intact and just as tuneful and catchy as ever and I can't find a single flaw in that, but this production feels a little cheap, sluggish, and light on laughs.

The first act is better than the second with a mostly engaging backstage/star is born story involving vaudeville legend Fanny Brice who is a self-professed "bagel on a plate of onion rolls." She makes her way from small theaters to the Ziegfeld Follies by her sheer talent and will of steel. Soon, she's a star and attracts the attention of handsome Nicky Arnstein who sweeps her off her feet and leads her down a dark road of heartbreak and hardship.

Though still a bit sluggish, the first act at least entertains, but the 2nd act is a complete slog with the main conflict being Nicky's gambling issues which doesn't make for very compelling theatre. Sheridan Smith tries her best, but while a capable singer, she tends to speak a lot of her notes before ending every song with a socko final note as if someone once told her to always end with a bang and they'd forgive you for slacking elsewhere. Some of her comedy lands, but she seems to be under the impression that making wacky faces is all you need to land a punchline and it hurts her more than it helps her. It might not even be her fault. This show was written and tailored to Streisand's unique talents and, without her, the show suffers.