How Long till Hairspray in London Flops

[winston89]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:38am

So, it was just announced that Hairspray will play the cursed shaftsbury theatre in the fall. For those of you that don't know the shaftsbury theatre for years had shows that only ran at most 9-10 months before closing. The only show in the past ten years to play there that ran over a year was RENT. Other then that it has been filled back to back with closing show after closing show.


But, Hairspray being put in this theatre would not bode well for it. I am not that big a fan of this show. But, putting it in the shaftsbury is a bad idea for anyshow.

So, back on topic. How long do you guys think it would take for this prodcution of hairsparay to cloes?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:40am

I think it will do well.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 2:56am

Winston, the fact that you're not a fan of the show doesn't mean that it won't do well. Most people *love* HAIRSPRAY. It is not only a feel-good show, but it has a great message. Add to that upbeat music, a big black lady, and a man in drag hamming it up. I can't imagine this show being anything BUT a huge success in a large, eclectic theatre-going city as London.

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 02:56 AM

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 3:25am

I'm just wondering if the release of the motion picture version which should be hitting the UK on or before the stage versions opening date will hurt it's box office. Why pay more for essentially the same thing that's showing at the local cinema.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 3:26am

Hairspray is a success here, but what people like here doesn't necessarily reflect the tastes of people in London.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 3:29am

I wud like to say it's gona run long cuz it's a GREAT GREAT show BUT Shaftesbury Theatre havent had long-running show there for quite some time now! Hopefully the joyfulness, quirkiness of the show will scare away the curse!... let's hope so anyway!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 8:57am

Oh come on

London loves shows like Hairspray, the big fun shows do so well here especially the ones which aim at a youthful audience(Fame,Footloose, Saturday Night Fever, Dirty Dancing)

Hairspray will be a massive hit here

[D2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 9:06am

Jeez, let the show open before starting to predict its demise! As for cursed theatres, we could say the same thing about the Gershwin (nee Uris) here in New York, which in 35 years has only had 5 productions open there which ran for over a year.

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 09:06 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 9:20am

I think Hairspray will experience the opposite of a backlash because of Wicked: Wicked was hated and I think UK critics will say that Hairspray is a bit Broadway show that is everything Wicked is not- ie it has something to say and a witty way of saying it.

Cast well- and that means Des Barrett as Edna- the show will have at least 2 years at the Shaftesbury. I worked there years ago and I love it. It's a great venue with great visibility. All it needs is a great show... like Hairspray!!!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 9:24am

i would hardly say wicked was hated here

Plus the whole curse thing is silly

the shows closed coz most of them were rubbish,

Fame is going in there in a few months and if that show had an open ended run it would go for years because its a massive hit already(i hardly see a theatre changing that)

[Weez]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 9:29am

'Wicked' is no more hated in the West End than it was on Broadway. I seem to remember reception being mixed on both sides of the Atlantic.

I think 'Hairspray' could really work over here. I know that it's pretty different to 'Caroline, Or Change', buuut critics really liked 'Caroline...' (and kept comparing it to 'Wicked', which led to a silly period where my housemate and I would say "that green thing's okay, but this is BETTER because it's BLACK!" about anything and everything after a particularly silly article in the Guardian one day) and I remember audience reception being good too. If 'Caroline...' (a modern American musical with a fair ol' bit to say about race) can work, why can't 'Hairspray' (ditto), which is a much brighter, far more fun show? If anything can break the Shaftesbury curse, I reckon 'Hairspray' could. As long as it PUSHES itself and manages to sell the required amount of tickets!

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 09:29 AM

[jjoey076]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:22am

Hairspray may have something to say, but we must keep in mind that the civil rights movement was primarily an American ordeal. Perhaps the brits can understand that and look past it, but they may not be able to relate to this specific event? Sure everyone can relate to acceptance of others, but the civil rights movement in the 60s?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:25am

Lets be honest the whole cival rights thing in the show is secondary to this been a fun show

and the UK are a lot more accepting of fun shows than broadway is.

If stuff like the wedding singer, all shook up etc would hve played in london they would have done very well and i think the same will be true about Hairspray.

[jjoey076]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:29am

Oh I totally agree with the fun show aspect, I was just saying Plot B may be a little harder to relate to.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:31am

If they can sustain four or five returns of the dreadful "Fame - The Musical" in the West End, then they should be able to support a quality show like "Hairspray"!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:34am

Sorry- I should have said by the critics.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:35am

Hairspray is such a wonderful, fun-filled show, that I can't imagine it flopping anywhere ! I think it will be a HUGE Hit in London !!!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 10:40am

Believe it or not we know about the civil rights movement over here so i don't think that will be a problem.
Remember the uk went through something similar , also it only touches on it in hairspray it doesn't go in to detail of what was happening at the time.

I have to disagree with the Fame been terrible comment to(but only because i was in it for years haha).Plus its now one of the longest running and most profitable shows in West End history.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 11:28am

jjoey076 - you pretty much missed my entire point there. We may not have had the '60s civil rights movement of the United States of America over here in the UK, but we do know about it and we did love 'Caroline, Or Change', so there's no reason that it would stand in the way of our enjoyment of 'Hairspray'. :P

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 11:28 AM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:01pm

Since it is not brand new i think it will do very well. I am sure the theatergoers in England have heard the music before. It is a wonderful show and so much fun, what is not to love. I think it was a smart move for the producers to wait before bringing it over.

Updated On: 3/10/07 at 12:01 PM

[RainbowHigh2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:25pm

"I'm just wondering if the release of the motion picture version which should be hitting the UK on or before the stage versions opening date will hurt it's box office. Why pay more for essentially the same thing that's showing at the local cinema."

I guess it depends on how good the movie is. When the Rent movie came out, attendance at the Broadway show went up phenomenally. I heard that people wanted to see the real thing because they were so disappointed with the film. There's also the live factor - people will definitely pay more for a fun night out seeing a show they're familiar with. You can see the film anytime you want, but how often can you see the real thing acted and sung onstage? Look at how many people are flocking to Dirty Dancing, when the film is on television every five minutes and free!

[Paulyd]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 12:31pm

Is there really a curse at Shaftesbury, or is it due to the fact that most of the shows that have played there in the last 10 years have just been very poor shows.

Make up your own mind

Daddy Cool
High Society
The Far Pavillions
Bat Boy
Thouroughly Modern Millie
Calamity Jane
125th Street
Umoja
Peggy Sue Got Married
Napoleon
Lautrec
Rent
Tommy

I'm not a huge fan of Hairspray, but after Wicked made a mint over here there's no reason why this shouldnt be a hit, regardless of which theatre it lands in.

If Billy Elliot started at the Shaftesbury, would it have closed by now?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 6:53pm

The only 2 good ones on that list were Rent and Tommy

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 7:52pm

although they are good RENT flopped majorly in the West End...so the west enders did not want a season of love.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/10/07 at 8:16pm

Hairspray has majorly flopped in both the Toronto and Las Vegas sit-down companies.
It is entirely possible, and probable.