When I saw HAIRSPRAY very early in the run, the main thing I came a way thinking was "this show has an incredible, infectious energy." Absolutely everyone, down to the very last chorus member seemed to have endless amounts of it. They all "burst" off the stage.
If this production is in any way tired now from a long run, or lacking in any of that full-steam-ahead approach, this would actually remove a lot of its appeal.
And I agree with Michael Bennett---People KNOW who Harvey Fierstein is. Middle America knows. They know him from "Independence Day" and other sidekick roles in A-list movies. They don't know him from Torch Song or La Cage, outside of New York. But he is a draw as a name, more than they originally thought. The minute he left, the show started to lag a bit. So did the box office sales. They have yet to find a replacement with a combination of his "wattage" AND ability. They realize it NOW, of course... and have offered him half of Nevada to come star in the Vegas production.
There is enough good stuff going on outside of Harvey to keep the show running (mostly the appealing score). But the music alone won't keep it afloat forever. This show needs some major "Red Bull" infused in it now.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 11/3/05 at 10:18 AM