HAIRSPRAY is next NBC Musical...- Page 18

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 11:45am

LOL

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 1:33pm

Theater_Nerd said: "By the looks of it, this is shaping up to be better than the film adaptation. They've assembled some real heavy hitters in the cast.

I'm not a huge fan of the film. I do not outright hate it but I do have an issue with some of the edits and John Travolta did not cut it for me as "Edna Turnblad"."

I think a friend of mine feels the same way. She thought the film adaptation was good, but not great. It was really some of the casting she had problems with (she tends to overanalyze a person's vocal performance).

As for me, the 2007 film adaptation of Hairspray is one of my favorite big screen adaptations of a Broadway musical...
https://www.culturalist.com/l/best-movie-versions-of-broadway-musicals-18349

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 1:37pm

Jordan Catalano said: "HUH? Because she "used" to be big it makes sense for her to now sing a song about being big? 

Does that mean she can next play a baby because she used to be a baby?"

Oh my, that is hilarious Jordan!

 

 

 

 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 1:46pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Theater_Nerd said: "By the looks of it, this is shaping up to be better than the film adaptation. They've assembled some real heavy hitters in the cast.

I'm not a huge fan of the film. I do not outright hate it but I do have an issue with some of the edits and John Travolta did not cut it for me as "Edna Turnblad"."

I think a friend of mine feels the same way. She thought the film adaptation was good, but not great. It was really some of the casting she had problems with (she tends to overanalyze a person's vocal performance).

As for me, the 2007 film adaptation of Hairspray is one of my favorite big screen adaptations of a Broadway musical...
https://www.culturalist.com/l/best-movie-versions-of-broadway-musicals-18349

 

Hi Jeffrey!

"Hairspray" is not a bad film overall, as I've noted in my previous post I have a problem with some of the edits and changes to the material - and I'm not referring to changes that were necessary to accommodate the switch from stage to film. I'm talking about changes made to the character of "Edna" to justify the casting of John Travolta in the role and also cuts made to some of the songs - including "You Can't Stop the Beat".

I think Nikki Blonsky, Queen Latifah, Elijah Kelley, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Brittany Snow and Michelle Pfeiffer were very good in their roles.

Wow! Can't believe that this time next year we will be approaching the 10th anniversary of the film's release.

It hit theaters on July 20, 2007.

 

Updated On: 7/11/16 at 01:46 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 2:05pm

I know you didn't hate the film, my friend didn't ether. The thing is, you just can't please everybody.

I actually recently listened to both audio commentaries on the Blu-Ray. I first listened to the one with Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, and then I listened to the other one with Nikki Blonsky & Adam Shankman. They talked a lot about what went into the casting process as well as why several of the changes had to be made.

Plus, you have to keep in mind that the Broadway musical also took liberties from the original John Waters film.

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 2:08pm

Hi Jeffrey.

Yes I'm aware that the "Hairspray" musical took liberties from the original John Waters film. Sadly, I do not own this particular film so I am not able to listen to any of that commentary unless I purchase it which I don't see myself doing in the foreseeable future.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 2:46pm

I can't believe no one has commented on the original film. Am I the only one here who saw it?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 3:02pm

I saw it many times. But I wouldn't even compare it in the least bit to the musical version, so most probably follow suit. 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 3:04pm

Jane2 said: "I can't believe no one has commented on the original film. Am I the only one here who saw it?

 

Hi Jane!

No absolutely not. I can attest that I also saw the original non-musical version of "Hairspray" directed by John Waters.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 3:10pm

we've probably all seen the original film (it's on Netflix if you haven't) but it isn't really relevant to the conversation.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 3:56pm

Watching the 2007 film is always a fun time for me, I've seen it many times. I have huge problems with the casting of John Travolta, perhaps for other reasons than many others. His performances was fine, and at some points even funny. But, as I've mentioned a couple of other times here, there is no point to tell the story of "Hairspray" without casting actual fat people. It undermines the story completely. It would be like trying to tell it without casting any black people. There's no point to tell it, and there is no story to tell. For that alone, I have issues, but otherwise, I think for a movie musical, it's well made, and it is very commercial, which is what they needed.

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:31pm

But the point is she understands the struggle of being overweight, she's lived that experience, it's part of who she is. And yes we've all been baby's but that's not a time in our life that we remember. As someone who has struggled with weight, it's not something that you forget. She may not be fat anymore but she could play a fat person much more convincingly than someone who never has been, plus to hear her sing those songs will be worth it. But you are entitled to your opinion 

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:36pm

"we've probably all seen the original film (it's on Netflix if you haven't) but it isn't really relevant to the conversation."

It is to me.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:37pm

bwayboy, that makes absolutely no sense at all. 

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:39pm

Ok Jordan. 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:45pm

Maybelle's weight isn't a plot point though. Big doesn't necessarily have to translate to fat - in the context of the song, it can mean her personality is big, or she's brassy. It's not the same as Edna and Tracy - this conversation would be more relevant if they cast Tracy as a skinny person who is using a fat suit. 

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:48pm

Cinders your post might have cleared up some confusion for me! I'm saying she'll understand thepsychology of being overweight, but I had the idea that she would be padded in this production, it would be kind of ridiculous if they didn't. I mean she sings about being big and she's no longer big. 

[smidge]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 4:58pm

I'm so confused! Does bwayboy think Jennifer is playing Tracy? When does Motormouth sing about being overweight?

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:01pm

smidge, the character of Motormouth Maybelle sings a song called: "Big, Blonde and Beautiful".

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:02pm

"I am not afraid to throw my weight around, Pound by pound by pound"

 

She's a big woman. When she sings "Big Blonde & Beautiful", she's not singing about having a "big personality". She's singing that you can be BIG and also beautiful. Saying it's not about that is just...stupid.

 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:06pm

Jordan Catalano said: ""I am not afraid to throw my weight around, Pound by pound by pound"

 

She's a big woman. When she sings "Big Blonde & Beautiful", she's not singing about having a "big personality". She's singing that you can be BIG and also beautiful. Saying it's not about that is just...stupid.
 

Thanks clarifying the confusion with the actual lyrics to the song. I don't know them verbatim and didn't bother to look them up. 
 

 

"

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:06pm

I apologize, I completely forgot that lyric. Well....ugh.

[smidge]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:10pm

Thanks Jordan.  Me too Cinders. I sort of blocked out everything after the movie

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:11pm

Right. Because her being large just like Tracy and Edna IS the point. She's the one who tells them that they're perfect just the way they are and even desirable...just like she is. 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/11/16 at 5:14pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Right. Because her being large just like Tracy and Edna IS the point. She's the one who tells them that they're perfect just the way they are and even desirable...just like she is. 

 

"

 

Bingo.