For once the vapid, disappointing world of Broadway has thrown me a genuine curve ball. Lauren Ambrose, of “Six Feet Under,” will play Fanny Brice in the upcoming revival if “Funny Girl” directed by Bartlett Sher. This comes as a genuine shock, as I was sure it was going to be Lea Michelle and I don’t think Ms. Abrose was on anyone’s list as a contender for the part. In recent years, Ms. Ambrose has proven herself a gifted, young theater actress in plays such as “Exit the King” and “Romeo & Juliet” for which she received rave reviews.

“It was a wonderful surprise. She wasn’t honestly a front-runner for the part until she called me, asked to audition and came in and blew us all away.” said Bartlett Sher, ”Lauren was the only person I saw with the deepest acting skills, the capacity to sing everything in this role and an emotional richness that really worked for Fanny at all ages.” Mr. Sher added that Fanny Brice is “the toughest role I’ve ever had to cast,” and apparently saw a number of Broadway actresses including Laura Benanti (from the 2008 “Gypsy”), Kelli O’Hara (“South Pacific”), Stephanie J. Block (“9 to 5”), Leslie Kritzer (“A Catered Affair”), and Lea Michele (“Spring Awakening,” the Fox series “Glee”).

“I was drawn to reviving the musical for other reasons, chiefly the story of women who work in the theater and the arts and want love and success and happiness but have to choose among them,” said Mr. Sher, who despite having a checkered track-record at the Metropolitan Opera, directed one of the most revelatory productions of “South Pacific” in Broadway history. Mr. Sher added, “It’s very important that no one think I was trying to cast someone to replace Barbra Streisand. Anyone who thinks they’re coming to see the next Barbra Streisand should not come see ‘Funny Girl.’”

…why?

Kitsch noun \ˈkich\ : “a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“The emotional context of the song wasn’t there. It seemed a bit ‘American Idol’-ish to me. Vocally overwhelming, but not much real human feeling underneath. It will be curious to see what happens with the casting of the revival. I don’t envy whoever gets the role. There’s a reason it’s never been revived, namely Babs.” - Charles Isherwood

And Lea Michele is going to star in this because? To quote Party Down: “That would be like casting Kate Hudson as Ripley in ‘Aliens.’ I’d root for the fucking Alien!”

Poor Lea Michele. It’s one thing to play the ingénue to Kristin Chenoweth’s dipsomaniac belter, which is what she had to do on the fifth episode of “Glee.” It’s quite another to have the show cut back and forth between you and her as you both sing “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret.” Ms. Michele is a fine singer, but really. We’re talking about Kristin Chenoweth. It felt like there should have been a mercy rule, so they could call it off before anyone had to sing “Everybody … loves a winner …” Ms. Chenoweth made it all work with her singular brand of daffy intensity.

“Certainly she can sing, but it worked better on “Glee,” no? The emotional context of the song wasn’t there. It seemed a bit “American Idol”-ish to me. Vocally overwhelming, but not much real human feeling underneath. It will be curious to see what happens with the casting of the revival. I don’t envy whoever gets the role. There’s a reason it’s never been revived, namely Babs.” - Charles Isherwood

Okay, it’s cliche time, but hear me out first. I LOVE Streisand. I admire her so much as an artist but unlike other gaywads, my love for her was aquired much like my love for Callas. Until I studied music, I didn’t realize what a consumate artist and first-rate musician she truly is.

Moreover: she’s unique. Plain and simple. There’s no one else like her, and her artistry is her own. She really is a trailblazer. She managed to defy typecasting and proved herself as a comedic actress and a leading lady through sheer force of will.

Before I continue, I should mention that my feelings towards Ms. Streisand are unrelated to her personal life or who she is as a person because I don’t know her and it’s irrelivent. My adoration is based soley on her artistry. She may be a nutbag, but she’s a fucking talented nutbag.

Which brings me to the impending revival of Funny Girl. All of Broadway has been abuzz of ever since it was announced (this being the first revival since the original production). We still have no confirmation on who Fanny Brice will be, but Lea Michelle (of Glee) seems to be the leading contender. My guess is, the part will be Ms. Michelle’s. She’s the star of the hottest show on TV, and her performances of ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ at the Tony Awards and on Glee, were no coincidence. Maybe I’m wrong, but for arguments sake, let’s just pretend Ms. Michelle has the part because this could apply to any actress given the way Broadway shows are cast these days.

Funny Girl is not a good musical. It’s got an enjoyable first act and a fabulous score, but it’s really a lugubrious melodrama. The driving force - one might say the motor that makes the engine run - is Streisand. Her star turn in the show, was the ultimate synthesis of star and story. Streisand’s life was very much like that of her character, Fanny Brice. Brice was a woman of immense talent, who achieved unbelievable success despite her looks and Jewish persona. She was the kind of performer who could have you laughing hysterically at one moment, and break your heart the next. In other words: Streisand was Brice.

Moreover, Streisand is an idiosyncratic performer who commands a stage - a quality, I’m sad to say, Lea Michelle greatly lacks. She’s a fine singer and an attractive girl, but rather generic. Her duet with Kristin Chenoweth on Glee was a perfect demonstration of Ms. Michelle’s shortcomings as a performer. Both women had great voices but there was a certain daffy intensity to Chenoweth’s singing - a certain “it factor” - that set the screen ablaze. Michelle came of as a pretty girl with a pretty voice which, basically, is all she is.

If Funny Girl is going to be successfully mounted, they need a true star. Someone with more than just a pretty face and voice.