Replacing Harvey Fierstein in HAIRSPRAY

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 4:55pm

It will be interesting to see who the Broadway replacement is, we know Bruce Vilanch is doing the tour...

How about:

Joan Rivers, she would be divine (so to speak) or

Andrew Dice Clay?

Clearly we would also think of John Goodman and resist the temptation to think of Jerry Lewis in his current condition and age:))

Any thoughts?

Updated On: 9/3/03 at 04:55 PM

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 4:57pm

I can't imagine who's going to replace Harvey in HAIRSPRAY. I haven't even seen the show yet, but I can tell it's going to be difficult.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 4:57pm

"Vilanch."

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:03pm

hmmmm.
John Goodman

Vilanch is obvious.

I wish Nathan Lane would give it a whirl. :)

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:05pm

Rikki Lake

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:12pm

Lea Delaria (if they wanted to freak out the audience, and play up the androginy!)

or

Wayne Knight (Newman the chubby post office friend from Seinfeld, and the guy who steals the embryos in Jurassic Park) I was watching old episodes of Fox TV's THE EDGE with Jennifer Aniston, and Wayne did a skit where he was a jewish lady getting her hair done and he reminded me Sooooo much of Edna Turnblad! Updated On: 9/3/03 at 05:12 PM

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:12pm

That is a very easy answer.
Harvey can never be replaced. He is wonderful.
But another choice would be Dame Edna.
Nathan would be perfect but so would Gary Beach.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:22pm

I hear William Shatner is available, now that he in not doing URINETOWN!

Updated On: 9/3/03 at 05:22 PM

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:23pm

Wayne Knight would be hilarious!

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:38pm

Unfortunately, there are some personal demons Mr. Goodman is trying to deal with that may prevent him from taking the role.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:42pm

I saw Goodman on T.V. not too long ago and he was HUGE! Now he has always been a big boy, but his weight is way out of control. Is this what you were refering to, Robbj? Or something else?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:45pm

It's fairly common knowledge that Goodman has some problems with the bottle as well.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:48pm

I think a lot of the jokes have to do go with the fact that Edna is a male and the audience knows that. A woman might be extremely good at this role, but I would like it to stick with a male.

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:48pm

And, sad to say, the white powder.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:50pm

That makes me sad. He is a very talented actor.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 5:50pm

Wayne Knight? I like it!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 6:29pm

Wayne Knight is a fun choice......will his "name" do anything for the boxoffice?

Posted: 9/3/03 at 6:31pm

well, think of it. hairspray has already made a name for itself, i think it will do just fine without a name!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 6:38pm

robactorguy, I suspect the producers of The Producers thought the same thing:)))

Posted: 9/3/03 at 6:42pm

yes buts that not a better show than hairspray, at least in my opinion. i mean i got the cd, listened to half of it, and sold it the next month. it was terrible... in my opinion, don't know how it won 13 tony's...

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/3/03 at 10:12pm

I agree with you robactorguy. I hate it.

[alterego]

Posted: 9/4/03 at 2:54am

Dame Edna Everage (aka Barry Humphries) probably wouldn't do it. He gets something like 40% of the gross of his own shows as writer/performer and now producer. It would be one hell of a pay cut. He is also 67 and probably wouldn't want to commit to a long contract.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/4/03 at 6:02am

The Perfect person alas is no longer with us. The late John Candy used to do Divine impersonations that were Bang on the money. *sigh* the show he never got to give.

[kyle.]

Posted: 9/4/03 at 7:45am

robin williams would be the ultimate edna.

[orion59]

Posted: 9/4/03 at 8:59am

Wayne Night is a hilarious choice, I can just imagine it

Some other possibilities;

Louie Anderson
Drew Carey (what's he doing now? Is his show still on the air)?
Mike Myers, it would be Linda Richmond as Edna