Nothing Can Rain On This Parade

“Funny Girl” Thursday night, Aug. 3, by the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre

What a pleasure to see such an unalloyed triumph.

When Jennifer Niederloh took her bow on opening night, she looked up to see an instant, and totally deserved, standing ovation.

This moment, and the accompanying emotion evident in both performer and audience, mirrored the moment achieved by her character, Fanny Brice, when she first triumphed with the Ziegfeld Follies in the 1920s.

The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s production is a model of theatrical savvy, professionalism and just plain talent. Director Maureen Gri has a rare knack for shaping every scene into a miniplay all by itself, with its own tension, plot and wealth of dramatic and visual interest. One example of this is a hilarious scene-setter, in which a trio of waiters set a table at a fancy restaurant.

In the hands of Gri and choreographer Lorna Hamilton, this becomes a campy ballet in which the waiters do leaps and pirouettes. How often does a throw-away set-changing scene earn its own ovation?

This is the flashiest example of Gri’s clever direction, but by no means the most important. Every scene is packed with detail and interest. Undercurrents abound, even in such apparently simple scenes as a bunch of women sitting around and playing poker.

This great direction lays a perfect foundation for what I can only term a tour de force performance by Niederloh. With her rubbery comedienne’s face, her right-on Brooklyn accent, her fine voice and her knack for physical comedy, Niederloh is absolutely the ideal choice for this role. She brings elements of Barbra Streisand to the role, but I would have to describe her more as Bette-Midler-cum-Fanny-Brice.

Actually, she is strictly Jennifer Niederloh, a complete original. Just watch the way she collapses to the floor as she is offered a big contract; the way she attempts, unsuccessfully, to do the “Chicken Scratch” dance; the way she belts out “Cornet Man” like the earthiest blues singer; the way she melts into a puddle when Nicky Arnstein kisses her on the neck.

Then watch her put every ounce of feeling into “People,” and every ounce of energy into the big act-one curtain number, “Don’t Rain On My Parade.”

She’s not alone up there, of course. Great supporting performances abound, especially from Frank Jewett, who is lovable and somehow sad as Eddie; Bobbi Kotula, funny and feisty as Mrs. Brice; Stu Cabe, crass and crude as Keeney; and especially Matt Flanders, who is so smooth, polished and refined as Nicky Arnstein that it seems inevitable Fanny will fall in love with him.

In the second act, when life turns darker, both Flanders and Niederloh demonstrate that they have dramatic range to spare.

“Funny Girl” is sometimes derided as a good star vehicle but a mediocre musical, but it seems anything but in this production. “Who Taught Her Everything” becomes a likable vaudeville number; “I Want To Be Seen With You Tonight” becomes a Fred-and-Ginger-esque top hat number. The recurring motif (“Hey, Mr. Ziegfeld, here I am”) works well to tie the entire show together.

The physical production is not elaborate. The sets are not flashy and occasionally even seem cheap, especially when they are attempting to mimic a gaudy Ziegfeld set. But this doesn’t matter one iota. Our eyes are glued to Niederloh, and her thoughts are too occupied with the story.

This is, by miles, the best show so far this year at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. If you want to see a genuine star performance, get over to North Idaho College’s Boswell Hall by Saturday.

, DataTimes MEMO: “Funny Girl” continues through Aug. 12 at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre. Call 1-800-4-CDA-TIX, or (208) 769-7780 for more information.