Thinnest Edna Turnblad ever?

[zamedy]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:05pm

Love the voice, energy and dancing... just can't help but think that this talented actor almost makes a plump Edna look sick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMtA6iVZICc

And either the actress playing Penny or Tracy messed up the "rain from above line." Shannon Durig did the same thing on her final night in the show on Broadway. Kinda funny how those verses can still get ya, no matter how many times you've sang them.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:25pm

Yep, I like Brian's energy, too. He's just much too thin. I believe he went into the audition, and they were a little taken aback by his weight. They thought he would be larger.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:33pm

What's with the fat suit? He looks pregnant. Not fat.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 10:54pm

Is there a reason he's not even attempting to act like a woman?

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:02pm

"What's with the fat suit? He looks pregnant. Not fat."

"Is there a reason he's not even attempting to act like a woman?"


^ I agree with both of those. I really didn't dig it.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:04pm

CHLÖE HART sounds & looks like the love child of Marissa Jaret Winokur & Shannon Durig.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:04pm

Trust me, he is not the thinnest.. LOL. Michael McKean was slimmer, Jim J Bullock was slim, the stand-by in Las Vegas was pretty slim... HOWVER, Kenny Morris is by FAR the slimmest Edna I have EVER seen.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:06pm

He does come off as a butch drag queen.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:10pm

The only enjoyable solo there was Tracy's.

I wouldn't say that Michael was too thin.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:13pm

He does come off as a butch drag queen.

He looks and sounds like he's playing Albin in La Cage Aux Folles.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:16pm

Theatrefan,
the Timeless picture doesnt show it.. the gown hangs loose and makes him look larger..

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:28am

"Jim J Bullock was slim"

Didn't Jim play Wilbur?

Also, I thought that Brian as Edna was awful. He was literally a drag queen with the deepest man voice I've ever heard. Just rotten-nothing feminine or maternal at all.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:55am

CATSNY is right, he just looks like he's pregnant.


And oh hey, Liz Robertson. I had been meaning to look up some clips of her earlier today.

[hairspraydude1962]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 1:32am

"Didn't Jim play Wilbur?"

Bettyboy72, Jim DID play Wilbur, but before that, he played the Male Authority Figure, which requires covering the roles of Edna and Wilbur as well.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 3:52am

Yes, Jim J assumed the role of Wilbur after playing the Male Authority and covering Edna and Wilbur, as hairspraydude says. Originally, he was offered the stand-by position, but for other reasons, the then-male Authority Figure became the stand-by and Jim J took on the MAF.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 3:59am

I have pictures of Kenny as Edna. He was skinnier.

I can't stand this Edna. And I've given birth to 5 of them.

For every reason listed above.


But then I keep seeing the video clip of the HUGE Edna in the upper right corner, and I don't even want to click on that...

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 6:58am

upcoming new London cast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7kg7cFkJqs

[frapperia]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 9:20am

I don't think this performance showcased the cast particularly well. Although nobody will ever top Shannon Durig and Paul Vogt for me (I saw them on a trip to NY a few years ago) Brian and Chloe came a close second when I saw the show a couple of months ago. I also saw Michael Ball do it during his run but felt it fell very flat, actually. I know Brian's not fat at all, but I think he was a great choice for the role, as were the other two newbies.

The fatsuit didn't look like that at all when I saw it, and the reason why Brian sounds so much like a man is because his voice is deeper than the people they've had in before, so they've transposed the songs so he can hit the notes without trouble (at least, this is what I've read).

He's actually really fantastic as Edna, sparkling and energetic and funny and sympathetic. He's got a lovely voice and it's interesting to hear it done differently - and to have a comedian playing Edna. Chloe Hart's voice is much better live - she sounded pretty wibbly to me there - and the Penny you saw in that video was not the normal Penny (I think Verity Rushworth is her name), who has the most incredible belt and I can't imagine would have cocked up a lyric.

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 10:40am

Watching the clips just makes me miss the show in NY that much more.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 11:58am

Diva, I am still slightly scarred by the visual of Kenny in the Edna frocks!

The Penny in this video would be Jenii Hicks, who normally appears as permanently-preggers Brenda.

I must agree about Paul Vogt, he is a divine (pun intended) Edna and I wish his performance had been preserved... (and that the show was still running.. with him in the frocks)

[clever name]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:38pm

He does look pregnant! lol!

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 12:45pm

Thirded about Paul Vogt. Saw him the first time I saw the show. He was also a total sweetie at the stage door. :) There was a particularly large crowd that night, but no one seemed to recognize him, so I got to hang with him for a long time.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 10/17/09 at 3:28pm

"the reason why Brian sounds so much like a man is because his voice is deeper than the people they've had in before, so they've transposed the songs so he can hit the notes without trouble (at least, this is what I've read)."

Then they shouldn't have cast him, if he couldn't sing the part the way it's written.