Unmasked's Review of HAIRSPRAY in Birmingham, Alabama 3/14/06

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 12:47pm

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night was Opening Night of HAIRSPRAY here in Birmingham, Alabama...it was AMAZING !!!!!!

The Crowd here was PACKED and the crowd loved every minuet of it.

As soon as the lights dimmed it was shear pandemonium from there.

Alright here a review of the show

1.) Prologue: Good Morning Baltimore
From the momen Keala Settle opened her mouth I knew we were in for a show. This number was AMAZING the cast was getting much energy from the audience who loved every minuet of it. The cast in this whole scene was AMAZING there voices were in GREAT shape and they did a hell of a job.

2.) The Nicest Kids in Town: The cast in the scene was GREAT then ensemble was having a great time. Tara Macri was Amber Van Tussle she was GREAT.

3.) Mama I'm a Big Girl Now: This scene was sung very well. J.P. Dougherty is EXCELLENT as Edna Turnblad he was hilariously funny and the audience loved every minuet he was on stage. Susan Henley was AWESOME as Velma Von Tussle she was pure bitch in the show and was perfect. Caissie Levy IS Penny Pingleton and we she sung what came out of that thin frame was PURE AMAZING she can SING and she was hilarious.

4.) I Can Hear The Bells: The scene was so funny they did a great job with it and the audience kept feeding them energy and they ate it up.

5.) It Takes Two: Aaron Tveit was Link Larkin and his voice was soooo good. He played the role really well KUDOS.

6.) Welcome To The Sixties: WOW the Dynamites were WOW the whole scene was WOW..Standing Ovations WOW.

7.) Run and Tell That: Alan Mingo Jr. was AWESOME he was funny, could sing and dance and that was Seaweed. Naturi Naughton was funny as Lil Inez......everytime she came on stage I kept thinking about The Wiz and how she would make a GREAT Dorothy in The Wiz. From 3LW to theatre...Naturi I think you've found your calling and its Theatre !!!!!

8.) Big, Blonde & Beautiful: Charlotte Crossley is Motormouth Mable and she would later on the night recieve a standing ovation for "I Know Where I've Been" which was AMAZING

Let me stop here...but the whole show was GREAT the crowd enjoyed every minuet of it and the Cast as awhole was AWESOME....they did the damn thing and they did it well.

OOOOOOHHHH Jim J. Bullock was Wilbur Turnblad and when him and J.P. did "Timeless To Me" they recieved a standing ovation...they were hilarious in this show and worked together really well.

If you get a chance to see this cast run to the theatre and go see it...this could easily beat The Lion King as the best show for the Birmingham Broadway Theatre Season.

Well g2g PEACE

Updated On: 3/15/06 at 12:47 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 1:24pm

Cool. I'm going to see it Thursday. Can you actually review the technical elements of the show? ha. Don't tell me it was "amazing" - but like how was the set? Could you tell it was scaled back, etc.?

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:08pm

From a technical aspect it was cool eye candy I like all the lighting and the sets were really neat they either rolled on or flew in. I very impressed.


I wish we had more shows that everyone can actually enjoy because it was packed everyone was having a good time.

[brdwyalicia04]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:57pm

That's great that you enjoyed the show! :) Did you go to the stage door? If so, is the cast friendly?

[fxy2003cmu]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:22pm

I've seen the Hairspray Tour 3 times, the last time being 3/1/06 and every single time it was awesome. I saw Keala as Tracy every time and she's really nice. The entire cast that i've met is really nice and willing to take pictures, sign autographs, etc. So it's definitely worth it to wait afterwards if you want to!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:49pm

There are tons of shows everyone can enjoy. You should have seen Bombay Dreams in Huntsville, AL. Or check out some of the really cool and interesting community theater going on around Birmingham.

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 8:17pm

Oh there is ALOT of enjoyable communtiy theatre here in Birmingham I'm a product of it !!!!!

I wanted to see Bombay Dreams but with the College Night Musical..which we won, and rehearsals for SIDE SHOW I haven't had a chance to get up to Huntsville to see there season this year.

Updated On: 3/15/06 at 08:17 PM

[Steve2]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 10:56pm

Thanks Unmasked for taking the time to write a review. I am glad you (and everyone else) had such a good time.

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 11:55pm

Oh NOW I'm going to have another review for Saturday's performance !!!!!