Weekly Margin 2023, W4: Funny Girl, Heathers: The Musical

1/17/23: Funny Girl

What: A repeat visit, but this time with Lea Michele as Fanny Brice and Tovah Feldshuh as her mother.

And? Well hot damn. They even made act one seem like a good show (act two is still act two). I know people are crediting Lea Michele's pipes for rejuvenating the show, and they're half-right. Her voice is perfectly suited the role and she sounds amazing. But she's also acting the hell out of the part with full, grounded commitment. This role needs someone hungry, and Lea Michele is hungry for sure. And, oh what a gift Tovah Feldshuh is! She brings full Jewish Muthah energy without even trying. Another instance of my not realizing how much we were missing til we finally had it. Glad this show and production were able to get a partial redemption for me, even if it's never a show I'll love.

Tovah Feldshuh and Lea Michele as Mrs. Brice and Fanny Brice. Photo by
Matthew Murphy. 

Streaming Theater Related Content I Watched

• The UK proshot of Heathers: The Musical on Roku.

Weekly Margin 2023, W3: Eddie Izzard Performs Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Kimberly Akimbo, Leopoldstadt

1/10/23: Eddie Izzard Performs Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

What: A one-woman play adaptation of Dickens' novel by Eddie Izzard. Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, born to a humble life but granted a chance at the more carefree life of a gentleman, thanks to an anonymous benefactor.

And? First show of 2023! Not perfect (the beginning in particular was a bit rough for me), but damn, Eddie Izzard is just such a good storyteller. Her skill at awkward humor had us cackling, and her emotional commitment to the heavier sections is also quite good.

Eddie Izzard. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

1/11/23: Kimberly Akimbo

What: The Broadway transfer of Atlantic Theater's musical adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire's play, about a teenage girl with a disease that causes her to age rapidly, making her appear to be in her seventies.

And? A bit of a repeat, as I saw the Off-B run in December 2021. But ugh, still so wonderful. I cried five times. The entire cast is wonderful. Special shoutout to understudy Miguel Gil, who was on for Justin Cooley's role of Seth, and absolutely killed it with his sweet humor. It was lovely to see the entire cast celebrating him at curtain call.

Bonnie Milligan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Alli Mauzey, Victoria Clark, Michael
Iskander, Steven Boyer, Justin Cooley, Fernell Hogan, and Nina White as 
Debra, Delia, Pattie, Kimberly, Aaron, Buddy, Seth, Martin, and Teresa.
Photo by Joan Marcus.

1/13/23: Leopoldstadt

a repeat visit