Here's How HAIRSPRAY is Holding Up

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:47pm

I had posted a thread a few weeks ago asking what shape HAIRSPRAY was in currently and the reaction was very mixed. So the other night I decided to just go and check it out for myself and for the most part, I enjoyed it. The last time I saw the show I thought it had lost every bit of magic that it once had so it made the night drag on and on. That was a while ago so I'm glad to say that things (in my own opinion at least) are running a little better now.

I'll start with the positive -

Shannon Durig is brilliant as Tracy. Her voice is spectacular and she's just hilarious. Her reaction at the end of "It Takes Two" had me laughing harder than I'd laughed in days. I've seen some pretty awful girls step into this role and besides Marisa, Shannon hands down is the best I've seen so I hope she stays around for a while. A friend of mine told me that when I see Caissie Levy I'd forget all about Kerry Butler and boy was he was right! She's one very gifted comedienne and delivers those lines brilliantly and has a fantastic voice to top it off. If you see the show for one reason see her before she leaves. As for Haylie Duff, she was quite good. She fit the role very nicely, has a good voice and seemed to know all her lines so there was really nothing I could fault her for.

Now for the not so good.

Blake Hammond as Edna might just be the most grating, annoying person I've ever seen on stage. I can describe his performance as this - Have you ever seen somebody do an AWFUL impression of someone and just not stop because they think they're being funny? It was like he was trying to do a Fierstein impression for almost 3 hours that didn't even come close and since nobody's ever told him he's awful at it, he just refused to stop. That's a tough role to play anyways and sadly I don't think he really understood the character. Some of the funniest lines were just lost on him so inturn, they were lost to the audience as well. Watching him on that stage I simply could not understand how he was cast in this show. Surely there are others out there who can sing and act and are actually GOOD. I don't have enough words to say how much we disliked him. And pairing him with Stephen DeRosa's equally annoying Wilbur was another bad choice because the two together ruin some perfectly wonderful scenes, especially the funny and very touching "Timeless to Me". They ham it up and when the audience doesn't laugh they keep on going until they finally hear a chuckle or two to validate their "performances". That number is no longer funny nor touching, it's not just schtick. And I'll be perfectly honest with you. That pisses me off. :)

But I would definately suggest checking out Durig and Levy because they alone make HAIRSPRAY worth seeing currently.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 12:57pm

Caissie Levy was awesome! She had a great voice, great comedic timing, and the craziest facial expressions. I loved her!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 3:33pm

Caissie Levy is horrendous. I can't wait to see Diana DeGarmo return.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 3:42pm

Shannon Durig is wonderful. She has lungs of steel and I'm so happy to hear that she has just signed for another 9 months with the show.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Blake and Stephen. I personally think they're a great couple onstage, and in particular, Stephen has the balance of goofiness and affection that's perfect for the role of Wilbur.

[WeddedBliss22]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 3:48pm

I want to see this when Miss DeGarmo returns, I love her so very much!

Is the new Link cute?

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 3:54pm

Wedded, indeed the new Link (Aaron Tveit) is cute. All Links have to be cute, it's a casting requirement.

Updated On: 8/17/06 at 03:54 PM

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 4:50pm

I love Shannon!!!!!!!! She's already been in the show for a year, and was standby for a while before that - she's a real trooper if she's doing another 9 months in the show.

Mary P x

[kate2]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 4:54pm

I thought Blake and Stephen were perfect together! I'm sorry you didn't enjoy them.

[javertim]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 6:24pm

I must be the only person on earth who is terrifically underwhelmed by Ms. Durig's performance. I feel that she lacks volume and uniformity in her voice and cannot stand the way she drops syllables. Most people comment on her "amazing voice," but I honestly thing she is the least vocally capable Tracy I have seen (and, yes, I am including Marissa).

On the other hand, I think Mr. Hammond does a fine job and never once thought he was immitating Harvey. While I much preferred him with Scott Davidson (who is an utterly fantastic Wilbur), I think he works just as well with Stephen.

My favorites in the cast right now are Darlene Love (I have never been so moved as when seeing her perform "I Know Where I've Been"), Lindsay Chambers (especially when she understudies Penny -- WOW!), and Donna Vivino. Caissie used to be my favorite Penny, but after seeing Ms. Chambers' incredible performance, I don't seem to enjoy her as much as I once had.


Updated On: 8/17/06 at 06:24 PM

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 6:32pm

i adore Shannon soooo much!!! judging from the recording, i like her voice a lot better than Marissa's, and she is absolutely hilarious!!!! She is perfect in the role, and that wouldve been cool if she was in the movie!
and she was super nice when my sis and i went backstage and met her!
:)

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 6:33pm

Javertim, I was also underwhelmed by Durig's vocal performance. Her acting was great, but I don't think her singing was Broadway-worthy. However, I also feel that way about Tina Maddigan, so I guess I'm a tough critic.

[curly120]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 7:04pm

For me, the voice of Tracy in general bothers me. Every actress that plays her has a squeaky voice (yes, on purpose, I know). But it takes away from the actual quality of the actresses' voices. I know it's part of the character, but I'd love to see the show and hear Tracy's songs without that voice.

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 7:49pm

SNLMedia- I agree, Aaron is very cute ..and I also enjoyed Stephen's and Blake's performances.

I saw the show yesterday (I won the lotto! :)) I looved Cassie Levy! She was so great, definitly one of my favorite Penny's. I thought Haylie was a good actress, but the stage door was insane! I didn't realize how popular she was.

[basketcase]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 8:30pm

Wow...Fosse76, even on an off day I can't ever imagine Caissie Levy being "horrendous".

And I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Aaron Tveit is the cutest Link since Matt Morrison. Not as good, but very good looking.

[misto625]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 9:43pm

I saw Cassie, Aaron, and Stephen on tour (2 different performances) and like them all. Aaron did a really superb job as Link and I can't recall specifics about Cassie, but I remember Stephen DeRosa was really funny as Wilbur, playing the character as that type father who is wacky but lovable.

[Days of Inspiration]

Posted: 8/17/06 at 9:50pm

Donna Vivino (Shelley) is amazing.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:09am

Caissie and Shannon are amazing.

Thanks for the review!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:26am

hows isabel keating doing as velma?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:27am

Isabel is a very good Velma, but it's Isabel as Judy as Velma which was really funny to see.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:07am

You guys should see Keala Settle - I think that's her name. She is the tour Tracy (at least she was when I saw it this past year) and her voice was "butta." She has this natural r&b/pop voice that just soars. I hope she comes to Broadway because I thought she was great. I can listen to the cast reocording now - damn Marissa - because I know how good it COULD sound.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:44am

I'm sorry but I saw Keala and she didn't go for it. Her voice was not near as powerful as Marrissa's, She let the mic. do all the work for her. I will, however give her props for the dancing. But singing.. I was just hoping for a little more.. BROADWAY BELTNESS.. not i'm gonna mix it because i'm leaving for vacation for the rest of the weekness.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:49am

marissa? powerful? There was NO power in her voice... how can anyone claim she had power behind her voice? it carried because it was grating. marissa has a VERY weak voice and is the weakest tracy the show has had.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:51am

Maybe it was an off night? When she was here she belted it out like crazy. I thought she had great comedic timing and sung beautifully. Her "I Can Hear The Bells" was perfect, tons better than Marissas grating voice. But I guess it's a matter of opinion and what you prefer.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:08am

I saw Shannon almost 2 years ago when she was standby for Carly Jibson, I loved her. Of course I went back and saw Marissa when she did her one month engagement and she was just the penultimate actress in the role, the definitive. But Shannon was just a great performer to see in the spotlight.

[javertim]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 10:37am

I totally agree with you, RentBoy86 -- Keala is definitely the best Tracy I have seen! I would love to see her reprise her role on Broadway.