Singing, dancing, confetti and excited guests filled Shea’s Buffalo Theater for days as the Broadway musical “Funny Girl” touched down in Buffalo from Feb. 13-18.
“Funny Girl” originally opened on Broadway in 1964, and many famous faces — from Barbara Streisand to Lea Michelle — have played Fanny Brice, the show’s lead character.
Katerina McCrimmon, who plays her in the tour, showed she belonged in their company last week. Her vocals soared, and her comedic timing was impeccable. Although at times it was difficult to hear when she was speaking — likely due to a production or technical problem — the crowd didn’t seem to mind given how entertaining she was.
Fan-favorite numbers like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” were wonderfully executed and made up for any lack-luster performances or technical glitches. McCrimmon could sing her heart out — the crowd’s standing ovation after she belted at her last notes of Act 1 were proof that everyone was mesmerized.
The audience buzzed when Izaiah Montaque Harris, who plays Franny’s main love interest, Eddie Ryan, came on stage with an unbuttoned shirt, revealing a six pack of abs. Every older woman in the crowd “oohed and ahed,” making for one of the most comedic scenes of the night.
The only thing that may have been hard for some was the timing of the show. Act 1 was very long and Act 2 seemed to fly by. The whole show together was nearly three hours long — a runtime that feels like an eternity if you aren’t used to watching a Broadway musical.
The dancing was superb, although at times the performers didn’t seem to be the most in-sync. Each dancer was terrific and there is a lot happening on stage at all times.
Overall, the show was well put together and featured outstanding vocal performances.
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at josh.pawlik@ubspectrum.com
Josh Pawlik is an assistant arts editor for The Spectrum. His hobbies include playing guitar, working out and reading. He can be found on Instagram @joshpawlik
