Hairspray at the Bowl - Reviews- Page 2

[Popular]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 2:29am

I'd like to preface this by saying that due to the size of the venue, my expectations are usually pretty low with shows at the bowl. I go to enjoy a "concert" rather than escape into the story like in an average sized theater.

Anyway, aside from a few sound issues, I'd have to say that I was really impressed with how well HAIRSPRAY worked in the large space. The entire cast was wonderful. Diana DeGarmo was especially impressive to me, LOVED HER! Now I am off to bed with the songs still stuck in my head. What a fun night :)

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 5:19am

"but that doesnt excuse using sets made of cardboard and duct tape."

They are Union made, and built. No duct tape or card board any where. They are three times larger than any set out there.

Why so bitter?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 8:59am

Sounds like many of the people posting have never been to a Bowl concert before. They don't know what to expect. They don't understand either the advantages or disadvantages of playing a beautiful historic venue such as the Hollywood Bowl. All they want to do is compare it to something they know ... a fully realized production in a legitimate/traditional theatre.

Look around you, folks! It's the Hollywood Bowl! Try to enjoy the new experience. Enjoy it for what it is, and stop comparing it to something it was never intended to be. Bring your picnic dinner, your binoculars, your bottle of wine, look around the hills, listen to the sounds of nature, not just the orchestra and the performers. Check out the Art Deco architecture ... and relax.

[Popular]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 10:40am

THANK YOU, best12bars! You made my point much better than I did. Re-reading my last post, I should have said "different" and not "lower" when describing my expectations for the bowl.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 10:47am

But I knew where you were coming from, Popular!

I just don't understand what people were expecting. Didn't they know what the Hollywood Bowl was like or how they do things there? A little advance research might have helped them out, too.

I remember when I first went to the Bowl. I saw Sarah Vaughan in concert and sat in the cheap seats. I brought my binoculars and my dinner and had a wonderful evening, too.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 10:47am

I wish they filmed some of these Bowl productions. I was thinking of going, but really did not want to deal with the Nick Fangirls screaming throughout the show.

And Besty, how dare you bring a thoughtful comment and perspective into the discussion...

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 10:56am

LOL Beg pardon, YWIW.

... and I don't blame you a bit for skipping out on the screaming fangirls. I'm sure filming these productions would be financially impractical, at least commercially, but you usually find plenty of videos posted on line, dare I say.

Not that I ever did it myself (!), but I've seen many cameras whirring away at Bowl events.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 11:15am

Yes, I have seen a number of clips, but I have not been able to find anything on the intro to the show, which I have always loved.

There are about 20X as many clips of Nick as anyone else - what a surprise!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 11:24am

Now that's a shock!

But I thought this was billed as "Nick Jonas IS HAIRSPRAY!!!"

As TheatreDiva mentioned earlier, I don't know how he deals with it.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 1:56pm

What annoyed me were the ignorant comments from the Nick Jonas fan girls throughout the show. They have clearly never been to theatrical productions and treated the event as merely Nick's show without a care for anyone else. They would also say things like "Why are they singing this song? It wasn't in the movie!" when "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" came along. They were disappointed that Tracy wasn't the girl from the movie. And they were also trying to figure out who Drew Carey was. I felt bad for them since many of the 60s themed jokes just went over their heads.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 2:15pm

Those pre-pubecent twats needed to stay home.

Everyone of them filmed the hundres of clips you can see on Youtube, and they are all close ups of Nick Jonas. Even if he wasn't doing anything in the scene. The disprespect for the rest of the performers was shocking.

And , NO, he's not going to sing 'Ladies Choice' because it's not in the show. You Baltimorons.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/8/11 at 11:53pm

Besty, it was my first time at the Bowl and I loved the venue, loved the show. Why I thought some where not as good as others, getting the chance to finally see the show with Harvey and Marissa where worth the fan boys/girls going insane every time nick walked on stage.

Most go and book a ticket to Dolly

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 1:50am

LUCKILY other clips of other numbers and shots of the company are making it to YouTube now, bit by bit, for all to enjoy The Nickfest was disturbing to say the least and I was very offput watching videos... the Jonas fan tweens literally had NO respect for the other cast members and it is very apparent.

[wkdfan]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 12:32pm

zamedy:"A few questions or observations..
-Did Darlene go for the high note when she sang the final "where I've BEEN!"? I saw her final performance on Broadway (4.20.0. She got a standing o after that song. It will stand as one of the best performances ever."


I was at that show too. And I was of the fools in the front row leading the standing O. We went specifically to see her final show and were not disappointed. I'm so happy that people are getting to see her and Diana DeGarmo. I know neither was an original but they were two of my favorites in the production.

Not sure how Nick Jonas would be though I thought he did ok in the anniversary version of Les Mis in London. Of course he wasn't the focal point there the way he'd need to be here. I will say that another former teen idol, Ashley Parker Angel, was actually quite good in the role.

Seems like a good cast overall. Well, except for Drew Carrey. But I can't imagine why they thought he would be good. He's never impressed me and he's horrible on The Price is Right.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 2:50pm

To counterpoint, I LOATHED Ashley Parker Angel's Link, though he did improve considerably over the course of his time with the show.

Darlene's vocal pyrotechnics are appreciated in concert, but for me, I felt that in the show itself, it cheapened her Motormouth because it didn't jive with who her Motormouth was in the book scenes. Jenifer Lewis's performance of "I Know" was very 'diva', and so people were not find of her riffing, but so was her Motormouth, so it didn't feel like a smack from nowhere..

I mean this in NO WAY to belittle Diana Degarmo, because she is wonderful actress with a powerful voice and a spot-on sense of comic timing, but she had the advantage of following the WONDERFUL Tracy Miller into the role and a lot of what makes Diana a fantastic Penny - vocals aside - are the quarks, ticks and line deliveries that observed from Tracy Miller. I just want to give credit where credit is due to a special and underrated former Penny.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 6:21pm

The National Anthem ROCKED!!!

[zamedy]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 10:45pm

Wkdfan - I think we were separated at birth. I too went to Darlene's final show just so I could see her in her final show and she did NOT disapoint in the least! I loved her "goodbye everybody!!" while walking across the front of the stage before she belted out her final "BEEN!" Thanks for leading that standing o! IT was so amazing!

Also can't stand Drew Carey on TPIR. Can't even watch it anymore with him, which is quite sad because it is/was my favorite game show. I long for the good 'ol days with Bob Barker and his original Beauties.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 10:50pm

Yes, the National Anthem did rock, TheatreDiva! I think I've watched it on YouTube 50+ times.

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 5:27pm

http://www.mogaffney.com/blog_18.html

Go to the above link for Jerry Mitchell'ss final word on Hairspray

[darreyl102]

Posted: 8/13/11 at 12:24am

That was one of the things i was excited to see to. i was very curious if she would do the high note as she pretty much stopped and changed to a riff later in her run. But both nights i saw the show she hit the note and knocked it out of the park. She seems to only get better with age! Had there been a roof it would have been blown off!