Jupitus has aligned with Hairspray?

Yesterday afternoon I went to see the fabulous Hairspray again, to check out the new cast changes with Scripps.

We got our tickets from TKTS for about a 1/3 off, we didn't have the best seats as we were, far from the stage at the back of the royal circle, however it was not all disappointment, as we were central to the stage.

Run down on the new cast changes;

Belinda Carlisle - Hairspray isn't a place on earth for this pop diva, did not make the role hers, Tracie Bennett and Liz Robertson far superior in the role, good example of poor stunt casting.

Phil Jupitus - The worst of the three Edna's I have seen, this may sound insulting and critical, but who could better Michael or Brian, both professionals, which Phil isn't, however he was surprisingly quite good and very competent in holding together 'timeless to me', also gave the role great presents, just as the other two former Edna's did.

Chloe Hart - played the role very adequately, but not nearly as good as Olivier winner Leanne Jones, but how could she? Could anyone! Saw her play the same role with Brian Conley and has not improved.

Tony Timberlake - A role created by Mel Smith (Wilbur) who I never saw and still regret to this day, as everyone raves how good he was, unfortunately the new Wilbur is not really good, far too young for the role and not a patch on Ian Talbot or Nigel Planer, very inadequate for the role and the worst member of the cast change.

Liam Thame (Link), Gavin Alex (Corny Collins) and Verity Rushworth (Penny Pinkleton), all not as good as there predecessors

Sharon D. Clarke (Motormouth), gave a very good polished performance, as good as the one who played her role previously.

Hairspray still is worth checking out and gives that great theatre buzz as you leave the theatre.

Updated On: 11/15/09 at 11:54 AM

I came out of Hairspray agreeing very much with everything PoL has said.

Let's start with the positives:

Sharon D. Clarke was superb - the best Maybelle I've seen. She brought greater sophistication to the role and a deeper, more passionate feel to her numbers.

I also enjoyed Verity Rushworth as Penny Pingleton.

And who kept pulling my focus in the chorus? Chris Barton who, if not quite intense enough when I saw him step into the lead of Spring Awakening, is ideal for this show. Indeed he should be moved up to play Link, since Liam Tamne didn't seem to have the sunny, funny, silliness that this show seems to need. The same could be said of the new Corny and the new Wilbur.

Infact none of the new cast had it. Techically they were fine. But where was the exuberant charm and enthusiasm that so overflowed into the audience from the original cast? You can't switch this on: it's either there or it isn't. Hairspray has gone down from being a 10/10 cast to a 7/10 cast. And in one case lower than that... I don't know Belinda Carlisle because I was never into chart music, but this just wasn't a West End standard performance: I'm not sure it was even a performance at all.

Phil was OK but the role seems a lot less relevant to the plot in his hands.

And to finish on Hairspray's biggest positive:

Adrian Hansel.

This guy is sex on a space hopper.

I'd like to see him next in something he can get his acting chops into: Franklin Shepherd in Merrily maybe? Or even Coalhouse Walker jnr if Ragtime were to transfer.

I can wish!

It's like watching Adrian Hansel in Hairspray, Mama.

I forget about Hansel an agree with what Princeton stated, he is brilliant every time I have seen him.


I cannot agree with the space hopper thing, lol

I thought Chloe's vocals were alot strong than Leanne's. Guess different people like different things.