“I’m the Greatest Star, I am by Far”
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
Funny Girl is a musical that’s not been performed on stage very often. In fact, this production at the Shaw Festival is only the 3rd time it’s been done in Canada. There’s a simple reason – the decision-makers are afraid that no one will be able to act it and sing it like Barbra Streisand. Streisand played the role when it first opened on Broadway in 1964 and then in the iconic movie version in 1968.
There have been various revivals on Broadway, including one where the star was replaced because, well, she wasn’t Barbra. But here, in Canada, we have had great success.
Funny Girl is the story of Fanny Brice, who rose to fame as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway starting in 1910. She was a crowd-pleasing comedienne and singer.
At the Shaw Festival, Sara Farb is a perfect Fanny Brice and does it with the style of Streisand. Canada’s previous Fanny Brice performers are Gabi Epstein at the Centre for the Performing Arts in Montreal, and Cailin Stadnyk at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre. I know them both to be excellent singers/actors and from all reports, they were both flawless in Funny Girl. We Canadians are fortunate to have three successful stagings of this daunting musical. The talent is here, and that should allay the worries of hesitant artistic directors.
For those who may not know the Fanny Brice story, she is a stage-struck young New Yorker in the early 1900s who wants to be a star. She pushes her way into auditions and doesn’t give up until the famous Flo Ziegfeld sees her and she lands a leading lady role. There is one problem. Ziegfeld wants her to sing about being a beautiful bride, wearing a white gown. Fanny is no fool, she knows she isn’t beautiful. She can sell funny, but not beauty. So, she dresses in the bride’s costume with a pillow over her belly, and sings about being “a beautiful reflection of her love’s affection” while appearing eight months pregnant. The audience loves this saucy bit and a star is born.
(Spoiler Alert: Don’t read the next paragraph if you don’t know the story and you want to be surprised. I just assume everyone knows the story. I first saw the movie when it was just out in theatres and I was 14 years old. I have seen it on TV many times since. Believe me, I’m excited to finally see it on stage. I forget some folks don’t share that enthusiasm.)
Fanny has another ambition: she wants to be a married lady. When Nick Arnstein comes back stage to meet her, she doesn’t understand why such an oh-so-handsome man is interested in her, but she falls for him hard. Everything is wonderful, he’s rich, they get married and have a baby. But Nick earns his living by gambling – card games, horses – and as we know, eventually luck runs out. Nick gets some money through illegal activities and ends up in jail. Even their once-perfect marriage can’t survive incarceration. If you’re not in tears, you will, at the very least, have a lump in your throat.
This entire production is very well cast. As I said, Sara Farb is simply perfect – she tosses out the witty lines just right, getting all the laughs. She sings the funny songs and the heart-break songs equally as well and lands them like Barbra, whether she is belting or singing sweetly. Her big numbers, “I’m the Greatest Star”, “Nicky Arnstein”, “People”, “Don’t Rain on my Parade”, “Sadie, Sadie”, and the sad “Finale Act Two” are filled with joy or emotional impact.
Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein has the looks of Omar Sharif, who was the very handsome Nick Arnstein in the movie. In fact, I don’t think they could have found a better match. Khan’s Nick looks at Fanny with eyes full of love, tugging the audience’s heart-strings.
Special mention goes to understudy Cheryl Mullings who played Mrs. Brice (Fanny’s mother) the day I was there, and she was excellent. Her card-playing cohorts, Janelle Cooper as Mrs. Strakosh, Alana Bridgewater as Mrs. Meeker and Sharry Flett as Mrs. O’Malley provide laughs as the neighbourhood busybodies.
Matt Alfano as Eddie Ryan, Fanny’s friend who wants more than friendship, does the best dancing, tapping with delight and landing with perfect splits. Taurian Teelucksingh demonstrates his wonderful voice as the Tenor Singer. The rest of the cast are all doing great work.
Costumes are gorgeous, especially the show girls in the “His Love Makes me Beautiful” number.
As well, a strong 13-person orchestra provides wonderful music.
So why has it taken 57 years after seeing the movie, for me to see the live stage musical? Come on Canada – we certainly have all the necessary talent! Thank you to The Shaw Festival taking the plunge to bring us Funny Girl and for having faith in director Eda Holmes. Congratulations to her for such a wonderful show.
Funny Girl continues at The Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake until October 3. For tickets, visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW(7429).
Photo: Sara Farb as Fanny Brice the bride singing “His Love Makes me Beautiful” with members of the Funny Girl ensemble. Photo by David Cooper.
Funny Girl
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Book by Isobel Lennart
Directed by Eda Holmes
Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli
Choreographed by Parker Esse
Set & costumes designed by James Lavoie
Lighting designed Sonoyo Nishikawa
South designed by Corey MacFadyen & Kaitlyn MacKinnon
Performed by Sara Farb, Matt Alfano, Qasim Khan, Damien Atkins, Alana Bridgewater, Cheryl Mullings, Janelle Cooper, Sharry Flett, Patty Jamieson, Cheryl Mullings, Jeremiah Sparks, Taurian Teelucksingh, and ensemble.
Note: on the date I saw this production, the role of Emma was played by Madelyn Miyashita and the role of Mrs. Brice was played by Cheryl Mullings.
Shaw Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake
April 24 to October 3, 2026
Reviewed by Mary Alderson