If you’re in a musical, playing a lead role made famous by Barbara Streisand and singing songs with titles such as ‘I’m The Greatest Star’, then you’re going to need chutzpah.
Fortunately, actor Nicola Pratley has chutzpah in spades as do the whole cast of this passionately delivered version of the Broadway classic Funny Girl, loosely based on the very colourful public and private lives life of Fanny Brice, an early 20th century American star of the stage.
You’ll be glad to hear that this particular presentation of Funny Girl by Oxford Operatic Society (OXOPS) at Oxford Playhouse is at times very funny, but there are sad times too in this bittersweet comedy.
On the surface, the musical is a convenient vehicle for gorgeous dresses, joyous dancing, witty gags and glorious songs (chock full of ‘em, this show is) but just below the surface there is tale being told of the dangers of blind love, misplaced loyalty and problems presented by class barriers and male pride.
Newly successful Fanny and gambling con-artist Nick Arnstein (played appropriately suavely and mysteriously by Alex Williams) together bravely try and make a go of things despite these obstacles getting in their way.
‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ (so good, they play it twice!) is the standout song of this musical, not only because it’s a banger, but also because it seems to contain the central message of the musical: life is tough when our parades are rained on but we have battle on. Fanny Brice’s spirit did seem water-proof judging by her exuberant performance by Nicola Pratley.
I also loved the details of this production: the ‘Noo Yoik’ accents, the revolving stage, the invisible taxis, the see-through dressing-room mirror and last but not least, the production band’s feisty interpretation of Jule Styne’s original score.
An equally exuberant and feisty round of applause to director Ed Blagrove and the whole OXOPS team.
Edward Bliss
Funny Girl is at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday July 13. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/funny-girl
