Hairspray, 7/23 Review - Haylie was good!

The last in my theater-going marathon. For this week, at least. The show is holding up pretty damn well. The music is infectious, the story is great, and the cast is tip-top. However, there's no beating the originals.

Absent today were Cassie Levy as Penny (Lindsay Nicole Chambers went on) and Stephen DeRosa as Wilbur (Scott Davidson went on).

Shannon Durig - her voice got on my nerves at the beginning, but she was great, no matter what. No, she can't really hit the high notes, but she makes up for it with the physical comedy. She's currently signed as Tracy for another 9 months. Everyone should get to see her.

Blake Hammond - he's no Harvey, but he's doing pretty damn well. His voice, obviously, is not like the one you'd hear on the cast album, and that works to his advantage. He makes the part his own (and was able to make Scott crack up during Timeless to Me).

Scott Davidson - as someone who covers 6 parts, he's great. His Timeless to Me was wonderful. The laughs he broke down with during one of Blake's voice-changes brought the audience down. He couldn't contain himself and the audience loved it.

Darlene Love - an excellent performer in an excellent part.

Aaron Tveit - still finding his footing on Broadway. With the experience he had on tour, he'll find his sea legs very quickly.

Isabel Keating - also, still finding her footing. Give her a few weeks and she'll be up to par with the rest of the cast. However, she does look a bit old in the part.

Tevin Campbell - what rhythm he has. Excellent to watch.

Lindsay Nicole Chambers - the lovable nerd. She should get the part....eventually.

Last, but not least, Haylie Duff. I had my doubts, but she pulled it off. She looks like a seasoned veteran, sings fairly well, and does a great job.

During the intermission, I was thinking about how Megan Hilty could make a great Tracy. Any thoughts?

All-in-all, it was a great afternoon viewing of what I believe is one of the best shows on Broadway.

Thanks, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, and the whole creative team for making such a steadily enjoyable show. It never gets old!

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 07:30 PM

I think Megan would make a good tracy

"Haylie is neither "seasoned", NOR a "veteran"..."

He said that she looks like a seasoned veteran, not that she necessarily was one.

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"not that I normally post, but..."

Does that statement have a point? What a completely unnecessary thing to say.

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Shoshana Bean understudied Tracy. She just had to wear a fatsuit when she went on. Megan Hilty is very talented. Broadwayguy2 even though most of Wicked's material isn't the best there are very talented performer's in the show.

"She is too tall, too thin, and don't give me a crock about padding......"

I'll give you a crock about padding. Shoshana Bean wore padding...why not Hilty? There are ways to make the appearance work you know.

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Most of the crowd won today. I did SRO and it was perfect for $20.

Well, like her or not, everyone is talking about Hairspray since Haylie joined the cast and sales went up. Im sure the producers of the show are happy with Miss Duff.

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Shannon Durig wears padding doesn't she?

Shannon looked THIN at the stage door last fall. She did NOT look as big as she did on stage.

Wait so padding is different from a fat suit?

Because Shannon admits she wears a fat suit.

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=515147

Padding and a fat suit are technically the same type of construction, but used for different purposes.... as I said, several of the Tracys have had padding toa lter their SHAPE.. and every Tracy DOES have a fat suit on hand at all times in case she begins to lose weight from the outragous amount of dancing that she does... but they Do work to get them back up to weight ASAP.

also, Mary Bond Davis has also admitting to having a fat suit onhand in case she lost weight.. darlen wears a fat suit, though she isn't a skinny-mini offstage at all...

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:24 PM

ok, Broadwayguy2. you are right on most points, but HELLO, i saw it, this girl is bad, really bad, does not look the part and then had no credentials, and then does not act it, sing it, or even dance it?! And her eyes, are just so? dead?? But, yes, they are doing what so many other Broadway shows are doing, bringing in "names" or "sorta names"to keep it afloat. And, as to the "fat suit", so many girls start out "over weight" but 8 shows a week in that role, well again "hello" you lose weight bigtime and I believe one is so tired by the time they get home from the show probably, who cares to eat? Just my opinion, but i have seen alot of the shows, and it is not what it used to be, but then again, if it is closing by the Holidays, who cares?? It will always be one of my favorite scores and i am thankful it made it to Broadway, even though I have spent WAY too much money seeing it there and on tour!!!

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:43 PM