Miri Mesika has moved from the audience’s goodwill to a full-fledged stage success, according to this review of the new Israeli production of 'Funny Girl.' After her acclaimed performance in 'The Band’s Visit,' she was cast in the musical, and the result is described as outstanding, with every song, line and performance landing perfectly. Director Natn Detner is quoted as saying, 'She has it.'
The show is presented as a fresh Hebrew adaptation of a timeless Broadway classic, one of the most beloved and successful musicals of all time. The production features dozens of actors, dancers and crew members and is said to deliver a Broadway-level spectacle. The review also notes that the live orchestra on stage adds significantly to the experience, along with the rest of the cast.
The plot follows Fanny Brice, played by Mesika, a young Jewish woman from Brooklyn who does not fit any conventional mold but has exceptional comic talent and relentless determination. Despite the odds and despite manager Nick Arnstein, played by Bar Aba in the source text, she rises to prominence in New York and becomes one of the era’s biggest stars. Her mother, played by Hana Laszlo, does not fully recognize her talent.
As Fanny joins the prestigious Ziegfeld shows, her personal life becomes unstable. Her relationship with Nick Arnstein, played by Yaron Barnovski, is central to the story, as he is charming, ambitious and deeply involved in gambling. When his troubles force him to leave the country, she follows him, changing the course of her life. When they return, she is torn between her career and a love that threatens to destroy everything. The reviewer says the production runs two and a half hours with an intermission, a bit long in their view, but still offers Broadway quality without flying to Manhattan.
