A White Black Guy In Hairspray?

[WarnTheDuke]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:02am

Hi All!

So I saw Hairspray tonight, and when I opened up the Playbill, three understudy notices fell out for Tracy, Prudy and Sketch. Fine, I love watching understudies go on. However, when the show started, I noticed that the character of "Tammy" was strangely missing and replaced by a character named "Tommy" who I had never seen or heard of before and also the black guy who always carries around the radio was replaced by a white guy (who was a fabulous dancer, but ultimately white). It was great to watch, but now I'm so confused.

Can someone tell me why there wouldn't be an understudy/swing available for Tammy and why there wouldn't be a black understudy/swing available for a black role?

Thanks!

[mateo]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:07am

not enough understudys to go around?


I have heard many people occasionaly getting a Tommy - when an alternate girl can not go on.

[PJ]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:17am

A few weeks ago at the 'spray, so many people were out that they actually had to cut some scenes/songs. I think they need a few more swings in that company because this is just sad.

[respeck]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:20am

Must be a flu going around or something!

Where is missed-half-a-performance-Harvey when you need him?

[WarnTheDuke]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:24am

Wow, which scenes and songs did they cut? Are they even allowed to do that?

[PJ]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:27am

Not sure. I wasn't working that night, I only heard from co-workers.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:43am

Wow, a WHITE guy played the role of "the black guy who always carries around the radio"? It has been a while since I have seen the show but that is a pretty major role, isn't it? I can only think of two reasons this may have happened. One is that there just aren't enough talented "black guys" in New York. The second reason, and this is a long shot, but stay with me, is that IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!!! I am happy the message of the show wasn't lost on you, however. Now would you mind defining "ultimately" white?

[respeck]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:45am

What's next? Blacks dancing on a white tv show!

[WarnTheDuke]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:50am

Thanks so much for your thoughts SueleenGay! Somehow, I managed to follow your extemely wordy, complicated post.

In a show that contains a topic such as integration, it usually serves the plot to have the black characters be played by black actors and the white characters played by white actors, however small the role is, otherwise what's the point? If I follow your skewed logic, then a character such as Mrs. Von Tussle could be played by a black actress and Motormouth Maybelle could be played by a white actress, because in the end, "It just doesn't matter." I was actually thinking I may audition for the role of Tracy soon because despite being a black male myself, I feel that the producers will see past all that because "It just doesn't matter." Thanks for your input!

P.S. "Ultimately" white needs no further clarification unless you're dense.

Updated On: 5/3/06 at 12:50 AM

[respeck]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 12:59am

Guys chill!

Rememeber. While his skin may be white, his soul is black!

[WarnTheDuke]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:01am

Don't worry Respeck, it's all in fun! Thanks for trying to keep the peace.

[pandajen14]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:05am

respeck- the first time I saw the original movie I think I swallowed my gum on that line XD!

[respeck]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:10am

Haha! I know!! I'm so glade they kept that rat in the stage play too, and right in the opening number!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:37am

I saw a white guy (Ryan Wilson, if I remember correctly) go on as a black guy twice in Toronto. There weren't any black male swings.

Akiva

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:42am

I am sure where it matters to the plot the characters would be played by race appropriate actors. My point is that it was "a guy with a radio" NOT Tracy or Mrs. Von Tussle.

[DG]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:44am

"extemely wordy, complicated post."

You have GOT to be kidding me! The only words used in that post were the ones necessary to make it obvious what an immature, bigoted creep you are. And if that was actually complicated for you, feel free to add ignorant to the list.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:44am

Don't you think when they cast the show, they think about this? I dunno, just seems like whoever did the hiring sorta messed up.


PS
When I read the topic, I thought you meant there was an albino in the show. haha. i was like "cool!" (is that how you spell albino?) Updated On: 5/3/06 at 01:44 AM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:45am

And to be fair they handled it really well and sort of made it a joke. He was trying to be all wiggerish and they were just laughing at him. They didn't completely ignore the fact that he was white.

Akiva

[DG]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:48am

Akiva - at the risk of my blood pressure - possibly even my heart itself - may I ask what you meant by 'wiggerish'?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:50am

Hah...now that i think about it I may get into trouble for using that word...not sure how politcally correct it is....but it is a really white suburban kid who pretends to be from the ghetto, but fails miserably.

Akiva

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:51am

ha, no need to be P.C. on these boards. "Wigger" would be the noun form of the word.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:52am

Let me guess, it is a mix of the word "white" and "Jigger"?

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:55am

...

exactly. (wouldn't wanna give DG a heart attack)

Akiva
Updated On: 5/3/06 at 01:55 AM

[DG]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 1:59am

Wow.

I'm kind of stuck in the whole 'message of the show' thing that Sueleen mentioned. It's definitely best if I just shut up.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/3/06 at 2:00am

Hah...I think if anyone needed to shut up it should have been me.

Akiva