How's HAIRSPRAY holding up?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 7:07pm

I've got some family coming into town who want to see a show and I immediately thought that HAIRSPRAY would be perfect but I wasn't thrilled with the cast the last time I saw it about a year 1/2 ago. Everyone really seemed to just be going through the motions and it was dissapointing because it's one of my favorite shows still playing.

So I was wondering if anyone here has seen it lately, how they thought it was holding up. Thanks.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:18pm

I have seen "Hairspray" 5 times, and I must say that I am very disappointed with the current cast. Blake Hammond, in my opinion, is wrong for the role of Edna, and I must say that I miss Tracy Miller as Penny. I think that if you are looking for a show that is just a lot of fun and will leave you happy, go to "The Drowsy Chaperone."

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:20pm

It's still the most fun show on Broadway.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:20pm

Supposedly, I'm hearing that the only good things about this show are the current Tracy, Link, Seaweed, and Corny. They bring the most fun to the show. Of course, I can't verify, but still, Hairspray is the kind of show that's so strong that a bad cast shouldn't mess it up too badly.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:25pm

the current corny and seaweed arent the greatest. there probably the worst ive seen in the roles.lisa jolley, blake hammond and shannon durig are the best thing about the current cast. aaron tveit is fun to look and a decent link, but defiantly makes me miss andrew rannells in the role.

Updated On: 7/30/06 at 08:25 PM

[Tag]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:38pm

How does Caissie rank with other Pennys?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:53pm

Shannon Durig is far and away the best Tracy the show has had.

[vontusslegirl87]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 8:55pm

Caissie is AMAZING!
I saw her as Penny in Toronto!
I heard reviews and people said she is the best Penny and closest to Kerry!

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 9:07pm

I just saw Hairspray Thursday night and loved it. Shannon is a fantastic Tracy. Blake Hammond is not the best Edna, but has his moments. Aaron Tveit, and Caissie Levy are making the most of their Broadway Debuts as Link and Penny. They are just as fantastic as they were on tour. Despite the many reviews to the contrary, Haylie Duff is not a half bad Amber. she's not the best I have seen in the role (I reserve that honor for Tara Macri from the tour), but she's not the worst either. She is getting better every show. Darlene Love is by far the best of the cast. She gives a stunning performance as Mototmouth, the best I have seen.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 10:06pm

I saw Caissie on tour and she was great in the role of Penny!

The show is worth seeing...it's fun.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:43pm

I loved Shannon as Tracy when I saw the show in March. Cassie was a fine Penny. She doesn't have a character voice, really...and she doesn't seem as nerdy as other Penny's have been, so she's just playing the part different. Aaron was fine, I thought. Nothing too special. I liked Andrew a lot. Darlene is incredible--her voice...ahhhhh. Blake...I liked him, but it was my first time seeing the show--so I didn't have anything to compare him to. I thought he was fine in the role though (he was an understudy at the time--so he's probably gotten...a little bit better?).

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:48pm

I read somewhere on this board earlier today that they got rid of Little Inez and replaced it with Inez who is played by just a smaller adult. I am not sure if this is on Broadway or on the tour.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:00am

They did it on the equity tour--I know that. The girl was fine until she started getting all spastic. When Inez is played by a real teenage girl, it's much more believeable, I think. I think they now have Inez in the Broadway show too. I wish they'd go back to Little Inez. The girl playing Little Inez and I had a moment back in March when I sat front row :-P. She TOTALLY was checking me out during the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:11am

Yikes. Doesn't sound much better, sadly. I think I'll pass on it and take them to *gasp* WICKED. (They'll be tourists, they should like it)

[BoxFive]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:50am

I too saw the show again, I must admit it was light years better than the dismal mounting I caught a year ago, BUT there is something lacking in the production, something very important.... HEART and MAGIC! It was sorely missing the night I saw it. Truth be told ever since the OBC left it's been a tad musty, save for the manic glee that John Jeffrey Martin brought to the role of Fender, John Hill was a wet rag in the part.

HAIRSPRAY, when done "right" is one of the most joyful theatrical journeys you can take in the theater, when done with less than the needed heart and soul, it's a deadly if tuneful evening. The current cast delivers for the most part, Blake Hammond takes up too much of Act One laughing at his own jokes, he's much more focused in the second and actually finds some wonderful emotional moments. The role of Edna is one that demands someone with STAR energy, Mr. Hammond doesn't have "it", yet he's not terrible. Shannon Durig on the other hand radiates pure joy and keeps the entire current cast from sinking under from it's at once manic and sluggish energy. The female ensemble is splendid, the male ensemble, NOT SO MUCH.

Perhaps the creative team can check in on this wonderful addition to the Great White Way, it deserves to run long and healthy, ironic that the Non-Eq tour seems to be getting great buzz, the word is that it's full of heart, there's that word again, no shock as Marc Shaiman pretty much equals heart and soul when it comes to his score for the show. Here's to many more "Good Mornings in Baltimore" on Broadway.

Just make sure they get the right "wake up" call going forward, oh and a word about Miss Duff, don't fault her, she is trying hard, but they should of NEVER let her take on the role of Amber without an extended and intense rehearsal period, I felt sorry for her the night I was there.

Give it a shot Jordan, there is still no better finale than "You Can't Stop The Beat", now THAT can't help but be magical!

Updated On: 7/31/06 at 12:50 AM

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:52am

Andrew Rannells was an awesome Link. He will be missed. But I thought the cast still had an insane amount of energy. Shannon and Blake do a hell of a job.

[BoxFive]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:04am

Matthew Morrison's Link was an inspired creation.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:05am

Thanks for that, BoxFive. Seeing the original cast of this show was one of the most joyous nights I have ever had at the theatre. I saw them quite a few times and when I went back the last time, all of that was gone. The heart of HAIRSPRAY was missing and what was left was an imitation of what was once a truly wonderful show. I do hope it's able to get it back. I remember seeing RENT about 5 years ago and not even believing how awful it was. I didn't go back until last December and when I did I was truly impressed. I thought it was the best cast since the OBC. So.... it is possible to regain some of what's been lost. I'll just keep my fingers crossed that HAIRSPRAY will be able to.

[BoxFive]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:08am

Glad to help out J, hope they enjoy whatever you decide on...

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 2:09pm

Parks
If you saw it in March you saw the love of your life Diana Degarmo not Caisse She didn't start till May 22.Diana will be back Sept 8.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 2:22pm

BoxFive- Your review of the current cast is completely on the money!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 2:24pm

I saw the show at the end of June (my 14th time) and I thought the show was in excellent shape.

Shannon's performance has grown by leaps and bounds since I first saw her as an understudy back in March 2004. Caissie Levy was a wonderfully funny Penny. I loved Andrew Rannels as Link. Blake Hammond added his own spin on the role of Edna. It was nice to hear the songs sung for a change, and I love what he did with the choreography. The only person missing the night I saw it was Donna Vivino as Shelley, but Gretchen Beiber did an amazing job with the bridge after "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now." I'm hoping to see it one more time before Caissie leaves and I'd like to see it as well when Diana returns.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 4:19pm

dutch, I also saw the touring company in April in Fort Worth, TX, which Cassie played Penny in . I know I saw Diana in March.

Updated On: 7/31/06 at 04:19 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 6:53pm

How was the new Link? I'm surprised Austin Miller didn't get the role.

[bunger12]

Posted: 7/31/06 at 8:40pm

Aaron's Link was okay, but not nearly as animated and fun as Andrew's was. A little wooden, but at least he and Haylie Duff are a match in that department.

Tevin Campbell's Seaweed could use a little help in the diction and comedy departments, but you end up loving him anyway.

But you should definitely give Hairspray another shot -- Shannon Durig is truly great in this role, and I agree w/Crazy4MattMorrison that Lisa Jolley is an absolute riot. She made up a line in the audience about a guy's shirt that was hysterical, and I'm also loving Isabel Keating as Velma -- I can't really describe how she's playing it, but she's all buzzy and energized -- it's cool. And no, you can't beat that finale. Go see it and let us know -- and post what Prudy says in the audience!