review - Funny Girl

Karen Volpe as Fanny Brice

RECOMMENDED
Funny Girl
book by Isobel Lennart; music by Jule Styne & lyrics by Bob Merrill
directed by Marsha Moode
Downey Civic Light Opera, Downey
through June 19

In a rare revival, the first in 17 years, DCLO (Downey Civic Light Opera) is now presenting the 60s' mega Broadway smash Funny Girl. What made Barbra Streisand a household name due largely to her overwhelming vocal range and to the huge success of "People" is now in the capable hands of talented Karen Volpe under the skilled direction of Marsha Moode.

Tracing the early career rise of Fanny Brice, Funny Girl is a demanding show for its star. She must be a dynamic singer and actress, who also must show that flair for being, needless to say, consistently funny. Streisand certainly proved it, and more recently the fabulous Vicki Lewis in Sacramento, and now it's Karen Volpe's turn...and she does not disappoint. Volpe is blessed with a great set of pipes and does a courageous job of being open, innocent and thoroughly appealing. She puts her own stamp on the role, and nothing more can be asked from her. Supporting her as Nick Arnstein is Robert Standley. Not overpoweringly stunning, Standley, nonetheless, is a strong actor who comes off best in Act II in his steamily agitated confrontations with Brice. Also in more than steady hands is the role of Mrs. Brice, played by stage vet Sandra Tucker who makes her knowing, naturally amusing and wise at every turn. The rest of the ensemble do some fine singing and move quite well to choreographer Denai Lovrien's uncomplicated but enjoyable steps.

Robert Standley as Nick Arnstein

Sandra Tucker as Mrs. Brice

I love Elizabeth Bowen's costumes, especially the lovely dresses for Volpe and admire the way Moode staged the show in three separate areas of the large space. Most of the action is center stage, with Brice's dressing room in a small curtained off stage right and Mrs. Brice's kitchen on Henry Street on an equally small stage left. This space is also used for the lavish restaurant room in "You Are Woman, I Am Man". Mark W. Keller is credited for designing the appropriately functional sets. Moode has removed "Who Are You Now?" as a solo for Volpe, keeping in only a few instrumental bars of it for orchestra, and added "Funny Girl" originally written for the film. Interesting! And it will be a curiosity as well to see just what producers will do in 2012 with the first major revival of the show opening in January at the Ahmanson and bound for Broadway directed by Barlett Sher.

Volpe with Peter Schueller as Eddie Ryan

This was my very first visit to DCLO and I was completely impressed by Marsha Moode and her vivacious manner. She greeted the audience individually upon first entrance and proved quite charming and eccentrically amusing on stage with her announcements during the intermission.

This is a mostly fine rendering of the theatrically splendid Bob Merrill/Jule Styne musical. Surely not a Funny Girl for the ages, but at least worth remembering for Karen Volpe's excellent star turn. To prove just how spontaneous Volpe can be, she accidentally tripped coming down the staircase for her curtain call, but covered it ingeniously by taking off her shoes and adding just another comic move or two equal to one of Fanny Brice's delightfully self-deprecating little curtsies.

4 out of 5 stars

visit:
www.downeyciviclightopera.org