Favorite Edna?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:42am

Just curious to know who is your favorite Edna in Hairspray? For me, the casting of Edna is important

[Salene]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 10:59am

Michael Ball

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 12:24pm

Chris Sieber is playing the role at the Papermill Playhouse in NJ, beginning today through 10/24.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 12:27pm

Edna May Oliver.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 12:31pm

Paul C. Vogt

[allyk]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 1:09pm

That I've seen so far? Harvey.

But I'm seeing Chris Sieber next week. (I've also seen Bruce Vilanch, Paul Vogt, Blake Hammond and George Wendt)

[Pianist3912]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 1:17pm

That I've seen, Harvey Fierstein for sure!

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:07pm

I'm spoiled. Seen the show twice - once with Harvey Fierstein and once with Michael Ball. I know, lucky me! Both were just amazing. If I "had" to pick, I'd probably choose Michael Ball just because he can Harvey's gravel voice is sometimes hard to understand.

John Travola - no thanks.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:15pm

My favorite Edna is Edna Garrett-no question. However, my favorite Edna Turnblad is Jay Brazeau, the Toronto Edna. He was a great character actor and infused Edna with a lot of humanity.

Least favorite-Harvey. I know he won a Tony and is a legend, but me and my companions could not understand a word he was saying. His voice was shot.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:19pm

Harvey Fierstein and Jon Pinette.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:21pm

Of the Ednas I've seen onstage, I'd go with Paul Vogt. I'm curious to see how Sieber will be. I agree with Bettyboy - I was not a fan of Harvey.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:31pm

Christopher Sieber already played Edna from July 19 to August 7, 2010 at The Cape Playhouse in MA.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 2:44pm

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 6:32pm

Jerry O'Boyle, definitely.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 8:50pm

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/22/10 at 9:05pm

I've only seen Jerry O'Boyle, but he is awesome.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 4:29pm

Bruce Vilanch -- he walked the fine line between being funny and frightening!

[Corine2]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 4:43pm

I've loved every one except Travolta but my favorites:
Harvey and Bruce Vilanch. I also think I saw Blake Hammond and he was fab!

[JP2]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 4:46pm

Paul C. Vogt

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 5:00pm

Well, I will avoid offering criticsim of a number of Ednas, but I will say that while I enjoyed a few of the dialogue changes offered by Harvey - particularly on his return visit (the Asians banter, the Motor Home/Boat/Car/Cycle switch up, the altered Pinky phone call and the addendum to the Jewish joke in Timeless, my overall top two Ednas continue to be John Pinette and Paul Vogt, both of whom offered very different and wonderful Ednas.

I enjoyed the Blake Hammond was light on his feet and truly played Edna as a broken mother. I commend Jerry O'Boyle, who in 2006 in Atlantic City left feeling as though he didn.t have a grasp on who Edna is, to truly having grown to be a wonderful Edna in 2009-2010... the evolution was wonderful to see.

By all accounts, the UK has had a wonderful array of Ednas in Michael Ball, Brian Conley, Phill Jupitus, Michael Starke and Adam Price - any clips and features I have found show them to be fantastic as well..

One of my great disappointments is that David Greenspan and Jim J. Bullock never were able to go on as Edna. Who knows? Perhaps now that the show is flourishing on the regional circuit, they will don the frocks. I dearly hope so.

As this is a "favorite Ednas" thread, I won't name names, but I will say there have been a handful of absolutely GHASTLY Ednas who have really made me appreciate the difficulty and the heart within that role and that Ednas transformation is truly, truly critical to the show. Without that growth, it is still a wonderful and FUns how, but a bit of the heart will be missing.


Edited to add that I am SO excited to Chris Sieber bite into Edna under Matt Lenz's direction at Paper Mill... I have long thought that he could bring a lot to the role. Updated On: 9/23/10 at 05:00 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/23/10 at 5:11pm

I saw George Wendt on Broadway and Jerry O'Boyle on tour....I choose Wendt.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 12:32pm

Michael Ball.

Harvey Fierstein? Ew.

[Flight0017]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 4:51pm

Hearing Harvey sing makes my throat itch.

Updated On: 9/24/10 at 04:51 PM

[Overkill]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 9:22pm

I'm surprised that anyone could not love Harvey as Edna. He was perfect, in my opinion. So, he's my favorite.

But how can we be forget Divine, people??

[strummergirl]

Posted: 9/24/10 at 9:46pm

Bruce Vilanch, he always had fun breaking the fourth wall with the audience and was hilarious.