#1
Posted: 5/20/08 at 11:02pm
This is the only show on my schedule where I am not sitting within the first 5 rows and I asked for advice in a previous thread as to whether I should try for front row lottery (as I love being close) or to keep my tickets in N row.
I am glad that I kept my seat in N - the theater is so intimate (no leg room however but that's a small price to pay).
This was the first time I had seen Hairpsray and as I expected I really enjoyed it.
Marissa Perry gave a great performance as Tracy Turnblad; George Wendt was ok as Edna, however he really played it as man in a dress. Therefore I did not find a real mother/daughter connection between Edna and Tracy. Sometimes it worked well as he got laughs with his deep voice but I wished I saw him as a female rather than a man in a dress. Even Divine had a femininity about her in the original film.
I was disappointed with both Karen Mason (Velma Von Tussle) and Ashley Spencer as Amber. Funnily enough when Spencer first came on my eyes were drawn to her and I thought she was a great chorus girl however as soon as it was apparent that she was Amber and started acting and singing I wasn't that impressed. Both actresses were ok but not what I was hoping for.
The standout for me was Niki Scalera as Penny. She made me laugh constantly and totally seemed to be having a ball. Both Mason and Spencer seemed a little bored by it all in comparison.
The choreography and lighting was wonderful and I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to have seen this on opening night before all of the hype started. It would have been mindblowing.
4.5 stars
I am glad that I kept my seat in N - the theater is so intimate (no leg room however but that's a small price to pay).
This was the first time I had seen Hairpsray and as I expected I really enjoyed it.
Marissa Perry gave a great performance as Tracy Turnblad; George Wendt was ok as Edna, however he really played it as man in a dress. Therefore I did not find a real mother/daughter connection between Edna and Tracy. Sometimes it worked well as he got laughs with his deep voice but I wished I saw him as a female rather than a man in a dress. Even Divine had a femininity about her in the original film.
I was disappointed with both Karen Mason (Velma Von Tussle) and Ashley Spencer as Amber. Funnily enough when Spencer first came on my eyes were drawn to her and I thought she was a great chorus girl however as soon as it was apparent that she was Amber and started acting and singing I wasn't that impressed. Both actresses were ok but not what I was hoping for.
The standout for me was Niki Scalera as Penny. She made me laugh constantly and totally seemed to be having a ball. Both Mason and Spencer seemed a little bored by it all in comparison.
The choreography and lighting was wonderful and I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to have seen this on opening night before all of the hype started. It would have been mindblowing.
4.5 stars
'Downtown Elaiggghhhy?'
