Actor won't be donning a dress for 'Hairspray'- San Jose

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 3:46am

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14718023.htm

Actor won't be donning a dress for 'Hairspray'

By Mark Lowry
Knight Ridder

A Paul Lynde-like icon within the gay community, actor Jim J. Bullock would have seemed a natural fit for the part of Edna Turnblad in the musical ``Hairspray.'

After all, that status worked for Harvey Fierstein, who originated the role on Broadway after it was played by the equally iconic drag performer Divine (born Harris Glen Milstead) in John Waters' movie in 1988.

Bullock already had performed in the show on Broadway, as the Male Authority Figure, who plays five characters. But when he wanted to audition for Edna for the tour, which brings the show to San Jose this week, the producers offered him the part of Wilbur, Edna's husband.

``If you look at the actors who played Edna on Broadway -- Harvey, Bruce Vilanch -- they are personalities,' says Bullock, probably best known as the dim-witted neighbor Monroe on the '80s TV show ``Too Close for Comfort.'

``That's why I was hoping I had a shot, because I'm probably more known as a personality than as an actor. I was hoping to bring Jim J. Bullock to the role . . . but apparently not.'

So instead, Edna will be played by J.P. Dougherty, Fierstein's understudy on Broadway.

Actually, Edna needs to be on the flabby side, and Bullock's muscular build wouldn't look right in Edna's sleeveless house dress. (Hmm. What does this say about John Travolta, who'll play Edna in the 2007 movie version?)

Not that Bullock's complaining about Wilbur, played by Jerry Stiller in the original movie. As Bullock notes, ``I've got two really good scenes, a great song and third call in the curtain call.'

The impossibly bubbly ``Hairspray,' with doo-wop music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, scored eight Tony awards in 2003, including best musical.

Like Waters' movie, it's set in 1962 Baltimore and centers on a plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, who wants to dance on an ``American Bandstand'-like TV show. In protesting the show's whites-only rule, Tracy and her friends fuel civil-rights outrage.

In San Jose, Keala Settle will play Tracy, for which Marissa Jaret Winokur won a Tony on Broadway. In the original film, the role was played by Ricki Lake.

`Hairspray'

Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, based on the film by John Waters; presented by the American Musical Theatre of San Jose

Where: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.

When: Tuesday-June 18 (8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays)

Tickets: $46-$73; 408 453-7108, www.amtsj.org

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 11:34am

Don't worry about Travolta's "muscular build"...He has SOOOO let himself go since the height of his fame.
Updated On: 6/5/06 at 11:34 AM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 11:35am

You are right. "Stayin' Alive" was decades ago.

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 11:50am

I mean the difference 30 years makes...

Updated On: 6/5/06 at 11:50 AM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 11:59am

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 12:01pm

I think I had that poster up in my room a long time ago...I think i'll go find it now.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 12:02pm

Those were the days!

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:11pm

I heart Staying Alive, if only for it's Cheese factor!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:13pm

The "Staying Alive" dance numbers are rivaled only by those found in "Showgirls".

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 5:51pm

"Far from Over" from "Stayin' Alive" makes for great bad drunken karaoke.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 6:41pm

I don't think he looks all that bad, now. As long as he has those eyes, that smile and those dimples, he will never have to worry about getting laid...