Hairspray Tour - Washington, DC; my review

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:28am

Hairspray (Tour) Review

I'll start off by saying I have seen the show 9 times (6 –Broadway; 3 – tour). I was fortunate enough to have seen the tour when it first opened in Baltimore nearly 2 years ago. At that time I felt the tour was wonderful (both in cast and overall production values). For once I was experiencing a road company that really resembled a Broadway show (search for "Hairspray Tour; 9/14") from 9/2003).

Traveling has definitely taken its toll on this show. I noticed significant cuts in sets and costumes. I have to agree with the critic from The Washington Post, "bring back the rest of the vanities set for "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now"!! My main criticisms lie with the venue (Kennedy Center Opera House); too big. This show would be much better suited for the National Theatre. I had a great front row seat in the first tier, but a lot of the sound was lost. I thankfully spotted a great seat in the orchestra area and moved during intermission. That seat change made a whole lot of difference. It was like I was watching a different show.

Regarding the cast, I felt they were all strong. Keala Settle as Tracy; great voice!! One of my favorites happened to be Chandra Lee Schwartz as Penny. She was wonderful. I have seen 6 different actresses play this role and she, by far, had the most different take of all of them. Hearing Charlotte Crossley bring down the house with, "I Know Where I've Been" was breathtaking. Her rendition gave me chills and one would never know she has been with this tour from the very beginning. Worth Williams as Amber is also worth mentioning. I will say that all of the roles have been wonderfully re-cast. Not a weak link in the bunch. Special mention to the ensemble of this show. The energy level of the cast was great. After seeing the show so many times, I like watching what's going on in the background, and it's great to see everyone remain in character.

What brings me back to "Hairspray" again and again? I absolutely love the music for this show and there's nothing like seeing it performed live. It was also nice to hear an audience that appreciated the "political" references (something that has been lost on the Broadway audiences the last couple of times I have seen it).

Updated On: 7/18/05 at 11:28 AM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:50am

i often feel that when they bring stuff into the opera house it just doesn't work... shows need to be designed for that space... broadway musicals are much better in the national (though the sound is very synthesized there...) and i would like to see them given a shot in the eisenhower (which i like a lot better than the opera house.)... ford's theatre was not too great for miss saigon.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:54am

I heard Jon Pinette is back in playing Edna... How was he?

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:54am

Thanks for the review!! Sorry I don't have much to say...I thought the tour was absolutely fantastic when I saw it--but It wasn't playing in an opera house. The sound at our theatre was amazing. Besides, I don't really watch a show to give a review, I just wanna enjoy it the best that I can!! So glad you got to see it.


Did you do any stagedooring??

Updated On: 7/18/05 at 11:54 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 12:03pm

I went by the stagedoor to introduce myself to those who know me from this site. I was the only one there.

John Pinette was very funny. The audience loved him. It cracks me up when I hear people saying that they couldn't believe that Edna was a man!! My sister saw the tour when it played in Atlanta and she said the same thing. I kept telling her to read her playbill, because Edna is played by a man.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 12:05pm

"I had a great front row seat in the first tier, but a lot of the sound was lost."

That's disturbing to hear. Especially after the center spent MILLIONS of dollars renovating and upgrading the Opera House.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 12:34pm

I can't wait to hear the cast in EJ Thomas Hall, University of Akron. It is supposed to have the best acoustics of any US performing arts venue.

[MojaniD]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:54pm

Thanks for sharing. I'll be seeing it in Philly.

[yarn769fink034]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:47pm

I'm going next week,I saw the OBC so I hope I'm not disapointed.

[loganp37]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:31pm

Has the set and costume downsizing been showing up in every city?

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:37pm

I can't imagine that the cutting of scenery has anything to do with the city the show is playing. The backstage of the Opera House is cavernous. To see what that backstage is like, look at the fist pic in my fan photos.
Updated On: 7/18/05 at 03:37 PM

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:49pm

I (somehow) missed seeing the tour when it was here in Baltimore last time, but it's coming back this December and I think we're going to go then. We saw Rent on Christmas Day last year, so we're thinking of making a tradition out of going to the Hippodrome on Christmas.

~Jessica

[bwaystardust2]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:54pm

I saw the tour Friday night, and I thought it was amazing. It was the first time I've seen the show, so I couldn't really tell what was left out or anything, but I did notice at some points the sound was lost(I was in Orch Z). I agree about Chandra, she was my favorite in the show :) I love Penny(and Seaweed).

For future reference, where exactly is the SD at the Kennedy Center, anyways?

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:56pm

"For future reference, where exactly is the SD at the Kennedy Center, anyways?"

The what?

[bwaystardust2]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:57pm

Sorry...Stage Door.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 4:02pm

It's on the entrance plaza end of the Hall of Nations. Very well marked.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 4:24pm

Hairspray is coming to Boston's Opera House in October.
The Lion King got lost in the Opera House...I don't want to think about how small Hairspray is going to look. Ugh!