Padding and Tracy Turnblad

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:59am

What do you guys think of some of the Tracy's in Hairspray using padding. I read on the Hairspray forum that someone thought that Carly Jibson wasn't "fit" for the part b/c she uses padding on her hips and backside. I mean, she's very very flat there, so she has to. And then Shoshona's like uber-skinny, so she definetely has to use padding. I have heard of some people having a problem w/ it, or something against it, and then some thinking nothing of it. Some people think that if they are not "fit" for the role w/out the padding then they can't relate to the character. I don't see nething wrong w/ it. What do you think?
MJW: From A Fan's Eyes

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:02am

If the talent's there, I say go for it.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:04am

Personally, I believe it's bullpoo that anyone has such a huge problem with that. So Michael McKean shouldn't play Edna becuase he can't relate do to his lack of female "parts?"

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:09am

You have to be a Tracy Turnblad to play a Tracy Turnblad. You really have to understand where she's coming from." Then she adds with her snappiest 'tude: "And you can't put no skinny girl up in this role and expect her to know."

thats what carly jibson thinks of it, i agree.

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 02:09 AM

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:25am

What if it's a skinny girl who used to be fat? Technically, she would know how it felt to be a Tracy Turnblad.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:29am

I remember when the original Tracy did an interview and she said that she was chosen because of her weight and whatnot but during rehearsals, she kept dropping pounds really quickly so they had to keep putting food in front of her so she wouldn't get too skinny for the part.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:37am

Ebonic_Singer: Bullpoo. Cool word.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:04am

Haha I just made it up!

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 3:44am

Personally, it pisses me off majorly. John Waters said one of things he hopes to come out of this is that when high schools put on the show, the chubby girl will get the lead role....

How many roles are there for young, talented, chubby women? Very few, and the most prominent is Tracy Turnblad. To turn down a talented girl who is larger just to pad another is disgusting, in my opinion. The point of Hairspray is that fat girls should have a chance too. So why do we cast the slimmer ones instead, like Shoshana? I think she's a great singer, but why take a role, the ONE role, that should be played by a larger, young, teenaged girl.

It drives me ballistic. I understand how some people think it's perfectly okay, but take it from a talented fat person: It sucks.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 5:11am

As an overweight individual, I am deeply offended when a thin person is padded to play a role. It's the same as a white person using blackface to play an African American, or prosthetic slanty eyes to play an Asian.

When Keivn Kline played Falstaff, he stole a role from an actual fat actor.

JUST KIDDING!!! Updated On: 8/31/04 at 05:11 AM

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 5:22am

Yeah Jon!

[That Groovy Guy]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:05am

While I think it would be *preferable* to have a real fat girl play the part, a thin one with enough talent can do it as well...it's called ACTING. To demand that ONLY a fat actress play the part would be like saying ONLY real British actors can be in My Fair Lady, only real French actors can be in Les Miserables, only real gays can play Roger and Carmen in The Producers, only real teenagers can be in Bare etc and so on...it's ACTING, not real life.

[citi79boy]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:36am

Hope this cools you a few degrees....Shoshana never "had" the role she was only an understudy. All the girls who play Tracy loose weight while rehearsing and performing the role, a good thing for them. The role is like running a marathon 8 times a week and would kill someone who is truely overweight. The padding allows them to keep the needed shape and still eat healthy and stay in shape. They have all hired nutritionist to help them eat the right amount of healthy food and still be capable of doing the dancing. They have all been "fat" girls they are just now healthy in shape larger women.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:38am

amen citi.


carly has mentioned in an interview that she has a flat butt, so they padded THAT up.. at least when she first started on tour.

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:10pm

The role won't kill someone at all if they are physically fit. You can be overweight and be in better shape than most thinner people.

Regarding the excellent points made by Citi, have these actors been rejected? They can put on an accent and act it out. It comes from within. They don't need costumes to simply act the part. However, weight also comes from within, and I don't think anyone should need to be padded to play the role. I understand there is often minimal padding, like with Carly, to give a rounded look. Which is alright by me, as long as overall the girl is staying true to the role by actually being the larger girl!

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:20pm

well, of course Tracy should be a large girl--it's key to the plot. Hamlet can be played by an actor of any color, because no mention is made of his race, other than Danish of course. Sweeney Todd has to be played by a man old enough to have a grown daughter. The script dictates the casting....

As for the lack roles for large woman, that is part of show business...there just isn't alot of work out there and it's even more competitive for women because there's fewer roles and more actresses...

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:24pm

Which would be why I gave up any inkling of hope that I would become an actress, successful or otherwise. I'd rather do something else and be able to afford rent then pursue the dream of acting. I'll survive.

Note: Not to say I don't respect people who decide they want to act. I respect everyone greatly, because they have the courage to take risks!

[shesings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:25pm

My friend Shannon is Tracy's understudy and she has to wear padding. She's not the tinest girl in the world, but shes not that large either. I definatly think any girl who feels insecure about her weight could understand Tracy, or any other physical trait for that matter. Some girls have big noses, or small boobs - channel that emotion into what it would be like to be fat and I think you could do it. Acting is all about taking our own life experiences and using them to help us understand and correctly portray a character.

[lildogs]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:31pm

well, shesings, that's certainly one school of thought about acting...

but the actor who plays tracy need not BE tracy. a heavy girl might have more insight into tracy, or she might not.

the actress playing Mrs Lovett doesn't have to be a cannibal herself to do the role justice

[bially082]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:43pm

Think of it this way. The casting directors don't give two craps about what fat talented people out there might think. All they care about is who is going to bring in the money. If the best singer and voice for the role happens to be skinny they have no problem with casting her if she'll bring in the dough. Why should they. should they really take into account whether not not it will hurt the chubby girls' feelings? Thats rediculous! They are not here to make chubby people happy. They also don't care whether or not she actually FEELS the role, or if she just convicingly plays the character. If this were a play it might be different, but in a big Broadway musical, CONVINCING is fine. There aren't in the business to watch out for peoples feelings, they are there to make money. I say, cast the very best person reguardless of looks.

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 01:43 PM

[bially082]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 1:45pm

I don't want to sound rude, but by the way shira467, you can't be overweight and still in better shape than most thinner people. Where did you get an idea like that? That is utterly untrue. How old are you?

Updated On: 8/31/04 at 01:45 PM

[shira467]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 2:06pm

Please..I'm 19. I'm also heavily involved in an obesity, health, and fitness program at UCLA. I'm not a dumb kid. Granted, these articles were written a few years ago, but they still are important.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/18/fat.fit/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2001-07-17-fat-and-fit.htm

Note, when I say you can be fit and fat, I am referring to being overweight, not obese, because that is when there are higher risks of everything. It's controversial, but I don't think it's the key to ending obesity, but hopefully encouraging health even when people are overweight.

And perhaps I phrased it wrong...You can be in better shape, not healthier than thin people, but have similar risks of heart disease in diabetes. It simply brings your risk level down considerably.

[bially082]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 6:15pm

I see. That I can understand. I thought you meant that an obese person is in better general health. I think it's possible to be in equal health. I have nothing against overweight people. I was one myself at one time. I'm ont anymore, and I feel much better now than then. I will agree that the number of roles is greatly reduced for larger women simply because beauty sells tickets and today's "vision" of beauty is smaller. I don't think thats right, but that doesn't affect casting decisions.

My whole thing with this smaller girl playing Tracy is that if she is the best, why shouldn't she get the role. it is her role. It's not like she "stole" it from a heavier girl.

I certainly hope they never have a woman play Edna, that would stealing the role from a perfectly good actor.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 6:44pm

I absolutely agree with Shira.

As a 'pleasently plump' fifteen year old, I think it's very important that Tracy actually be real. I mean, it's different if it's just to parts, but I mean, just to put her up in a fat suit? No. I've had to go through torment by my pears for the past few years of my life. I've actually considered ending my life because of it. But when I found Tracy Turnblad, my outlook changed. Those were REAL fat girls, on stage. My dream, and I knew I could possibly have the part some day. Now I am thrilled with my life, and I enjoy it. If it's only a few parts, fine, but the whole thing, no. We're obviously gonna see her legs are skinny, and her arms and hands and neck and face. So what's the point trying to hide it?

Tracy is sent as a role model. I also agree to play the part, you have to know the experience. To know Tracy. Plus LET THE FAT GIRLS HAVE THE FAT GIRL PART! There are such a lack of them, that they need to be left open for us.

But yeah, there's my opinion.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 7:02pm

yeah, i agree in some aspects, but if the talent is there, go for it! even if she is skinny! it's not like you're mad at idina menzel for not being green in a "green" persons role. if there is a large girl who is good, and a skinny one who is better, go for the skinny one!