How's HAIRSPRAY holding up?

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.

It's still the most fun show on Broadway.

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.

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

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

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.

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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?).

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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.

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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!

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

Matthew Morrison's Link was an inspired creation.

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

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

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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.

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

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!