Funny Girl
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
19th - 24th June 2017
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
19th - 24th June 2017
The first time I saw Natasha J Barnes on stage was when she played Heather in American Idiot at the Arts Theatre. She stood out for me because her voice was arguably one of the best in the production and so it came as a pleasant surprise, when I saw Funny Girl at the Menier Chocolate Factory, to find that she had been cast in the role of Emma early last year, with Sheridan Smith in the starring role of Fanny Brice. The show moved on to the Savoy Theatre in the Strand later in the year and when Sheridan Smith had to take a break from the show due to ill health, Natasha - as her understudy - took over the role to huge acclaim and garnered great reviews during this time. From this, she was cast in the title role of Cinderella at the London Palladium for the prestigious panto producers, Qdos Pantomimes.
Natasha J Barnes and Sheridan Smith have been alternating the role of Fanny Brice on this touring production of Funny Girl which has been on the road now since February. Therefore, I was quite dismayed to hear quite a few audible groans of disappointment in the audience on Press Night, when the announcement was made that Sheridan Smith would not be performing due to ill health, (she has had mumps and doctors have advised her to rest) and that Natasha would be playing the role of Fanny Brice at the Cliffs Pavilion all week.
Imagine, if you will, standing in the wings ready to go on stage and hearing that reaction?
What I can tell you is that whatever thoughts were going through Natasha J Barnes’ mind in those moments, certainly did not detract from her performance and resulted in a truly exceptionally emotional finale.
Natasha J Barnes and Sheridan Smith have been alternating the role of Fanny Brice on this touring production of Funny Girl which has been on the road now since February. Therefore, I was quite dismayed to hear quite a few audible groans of disappointment in the audience on Press Night, when the announcement was made that Sheridan Smith would not be performing due to ill health, (she has had mumps and doctors have advised her to rest) and that Natasha would be playing the role of Fanny Brice at the Cliffs Pavilion all week.
Imagine, if you will, standing in the wings ready to go on stage and hearing that reaction?
What I can tell you is that whatever thoughts were going through Natasha J Barnes’ mind in those moments, certainly did not detract from her performance and resulted in a truly exceptionally emotional finale.
Funny Girl is based on the true story of Fanny Brice, a Jewish girl brought up by her single mother in Brooklyn, New York. Lacking the height, looks and dancing skills needed to become a showgirl, Fanny drew on the basis that essentially the roots of Jewish humour are tangled up in the capacity to laugh in the face of adversity.
Told in flashback, the plot centres around her rise to stardom and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein, as she is torn between her blossoming career and trying to help the man she adores.
Darius Campbell, never one to be short in confidence and, indeed, height, looks every bit the dapper wheeler and dealer, Arnstein, who steals Fanny’s heart. I think it’s safe to say that any cheesy memories of his Pop Idol days are far behind him, now that he seems to have found his niche in musical theatre. His duet with Fanny, ‘Who Are You Now’ is just lovely.
Other noticeable performances come from Rachel Izen (fresh from playing Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables on Broadway) as Fanny’s proud, no nonsense mother and Joshua Lay as the long suffering wannabe boyfriend. Their devotion to Fanny is lovingly battled out in their song, ‘Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?’
Natasha’s comedic portrayal of Brice will make you laugh but also conveys an endearing vulnerability that will make you completely invest in everything she says and does.
The show stopping numbers are of course given to Brice and the iconic ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ will absolutely blow you away. Natasha’s voice is emotive and powerful.
With slick scene changes, beautifully executed choreography from the hardworking ensemble and fabulous costumes, this production has all the traditional qualities that one expects from a show such as Funny Girl; it’s especially pleasing to see these qualities transferring from the West End to a touring production.
One thing is for certain, whatever preconceived ideas anyone in the audience had about not seeing Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice, were certainly diminished by the time Ms Barnes had stormed her way through the show. She was clearly overwhelmed with emotion from the well deserved cheers and standing ovation she received during the final bows. I’m not ashamed to say that I had more than a tear in my eye as I left the auditorium too.
Don’t miss out on seeing the sensational Funny Girl at the Cliffs Pavilion this week.
Tickets are available on www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Told in flashback, the plot centres around her rise to stardom and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein, as she is torn between her blossoming career and trying to help the man she adores.
Darius Campbell, never one to be short in confidence and, indeed, height, looks every bit the dapper wheeler and dealer, Arnstein, who steals Fanny’s heart. I think it’s safe to say that any cheesy memories of his Pop Idol days are far behind him, now that he seems to have found his niche in musical theatre. His duet with Fanny, ‘Who Are You Now’ is just lovely.
Other noticeable performances come from Rachel Izen (fresh from playing Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables on Broadway) as Fanny’s proud, no nonsense mother and Joshua Lay as the long suffering wannabe boyfriend. Their devotion to Fanny is lovingly battled out in their song, ‘Who Taught Her Everything She Knows?’
Natasha’s comedic portrayal of Brice will make you laugh but also conveys an endearing vulnerability that will make you completely invest in everything she says and does.
The show stopping numbers are of course given to Brice and the iconic ‘People’ and ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ will absolutely blow you away. Natasha’s voice is emotive and powerful.
With slick scene changes, beautifully executed choreography from the hardworking ensemble and fabulous costumes, this production has all the traditional qualities that one expects from a show such as Funny Girl; it’s especially pleasing to see these qualities transferring from the West End to a touring production.
One thing is for certain, whatever preconceived ideas anyone in the audience had about not seeing Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice, were certainly diminished by the time Ms Barnes had stormed her way through the show. She was clearly overwhelmed with emotion from the well deserved cheers and standing ovation she received during the final bows. I’m not ashamed to say that I had more than a tear in my eye as I left the auditorium too.
Don’t miss out on seeing the sensational Funny Girl at the Cliffs Pavilion this week.
Tickets are available on www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
