Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?- Page 2
Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
ashbash1990
Broadway Star Joined: 10/15/06
#25re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:40pmTravolta was great... I'm really curious what Michael Ball will be like in the role, so though he's not really "famous" or American, I say Michael Ball...
mateo
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/06
#26re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:41pm
I think they had every intention of making Edna more like the Broadway version, from the body, costumes, cadence, mannerisims. But John didn't want to play her that way.
I think John referred to it like a Brooklyn-esque Edna
-Adam Shankman.
"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"
"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
Jonny boy
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/07
#27re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:41pmI loved Bruce Vilanch when I saw him in the tour. He would have been perfect for the role
#28re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:52pm
Louie Anderson or Kevin Meaney would be my choices. But then I really liked Travolta's take on it.
I have mixed feelings about the accent. I think, considering the "reality" with which he chose to play the role, he needed the accent in order to take it further away from us seeing/hearing "Travolta in drag." I think he succeeded in that respect. If he had not used the accent I think it would have been much more difficult to forget who he was. I'm not too woried about the inconsistancy of the accent because 98% of the people who see the film won't know what a Baltimore accent sounds like anyway.
I think the problem lies more with the director. The fact that Travolta is the only one with an accent is the problem. The director should have seen this and either told Travolta it had to go. Or he should have told the rest of the cast to step up and do the accent as well.
mateo
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/06
#29re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:53pm
Had it not been John and had he not made Edna the soft-maternal-introspective-agoraphobic with dysmorphic disorder- it would have been a WHOLE different movie.
Who knows how critics would have received it, good or bad. Putting Harvey or Bruce in the movie however WOULD increase the camp factor and may have lost some of the believability.
To some that might be what Hairspray needed or IS- and to others may have been off-putting.
-Adam Shankman.
"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"
"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
LoringsGuy
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/04
#30re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 3:00pm
I agree that the accent maybe wasn't the best choice, but from the accounts I've read, it was basically "my way or the highway" before Travolta would agree to do the film. And the big wigs at New Line wouldn't greenlight the project unless Travolta was attached. Just speculating here, but I'm guessing he was more or less given free reign to do whatever he wanted because the film getting made at all was contingent on his involvement.
#31re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 3:26pm
...Kinda like "Evita."
You either get the film with Madonna, or you don't get a film made at all.
I understand the problem. It's not just "how recognizable" somebody is. TV personalities are VERY famous. They can reach an enormous audience.
BUT... that has nothing to do with whether or not they can "open" a big Hollywood MOVIE.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
TapTapTapioca
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#32re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 3:31pmShoot me but Martin Short.
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#33re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 4:12pm
How come he's the only Baltimorean in the film to speak with a Baltimore accent?
Because John wanted the accent. And what John wanted John got.
Loringsguy, I agree. Had pressure not been put on them from New Line to get Travolta, I imagine he might not have been the first choice in the end.
Updated On: 7/24/07 at 04:12 PM
#34re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 4:28pm
Actually, having lived in Baltimore for more then a couple years, you would be suprised how many people talk with different accents and live in the same family. It is very likely that someone like Edna couuld have been raised in Highlandtown and would have an incredibly different accent from someone from Townson or Glen Bernie or one of the other outside cities.
They should be very careful when they say he is doing a Baltimore accent... it is really a strong Highlandtown (in Baltimore) accent.
LoringsGuy
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/04
#35re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 5:15pmJRybka, very true! The accent that everyone equates with Minnesota (thanks to movies like FARGO and DROP DEAD GORGEOUS) is the most prevalent in the smaller towns the further away you get from the Twin Cities. Many people in the larger metropolitan areas don't have the accent as strongly as those who live in smaller towns. So it's entirely possible that a child raised in one area wouldn't have the same accent as the parent who was born and raised in another.
#36re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 7:55pm
Lord, I was one of Travolta's biggest detractors after being cast... he just seemed so wrong for the part on so many levels. However, after seeing the movie I gotta say I really did enjoy his take on Edna - latex face, phony Carol Channing "Baltimore" accent, and all. Obviously, his name sold the picture and possibly the picture never would have gotten made (at least not this decade). And he wasn't bad. I especially enjoyed how Edna's dancing was beefed up for the disco icon. Sure I would have liked a little more of a I don't know "camp" or "John Waters" or "gay" touch or whatever you want to call it but this was his turn at the part and he delivered the goods.
With that being said, I sure thought a hell of a long time over the past months on who I would cast as Edna Turnblad (most of y'all have said them as well):
- Harvey... in a perfect world he would have played Edna but I think after the box office failures of The Producers and Rent studios were probably leery of Broadway actors reprising their roles for the screen and he obviously is unfortunately not a mainstream enough name to sell the film
- John Goodman... a bigger name and he's shown on SNL he can do drag very well but hasn't he often complained of back problems and perhaps the heels and dancing would have taken a toll on his back? Perhaps too much of a liability
- Robin Williams... too schticky. It would become the "Robin Williams Show." I think the same would be said if Mike Myers did it. Too much "I'm doing a CHARACHTER!"
So anyways, the other day I was thinking and it hit me who would have the box office draw of Travolta, the offbeat humor of Harvey, and the pathos and charm of Goodman... Alec Baldwin. Granted his Luther Billis left a lil something to be desired musically but I just think he would have thrown himself into the project with abandon. Ahh well, who knows. Travolta was still good.
Z.
CDuffy5062
Understudy Joined: 6/18/04
#37re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 7:58pmCan't wait to see this show in London; I expect Michael Ball will be a terrific Edna.
americanboy99
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/06
#39re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:10pmJOHN TRAVOLTA. He was absolutely terrific.
Flaunt It
Broadway Star Joined: 10/26/05
mateo
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/06
#41re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:23pm
not bad.
I'd like to see him as Edna.
-Adam Shankman.
"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"
"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"
#42re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:25pmI thoroughly enjoyed Travolta as Edna, but if i had to pick someone else, I would say Nathan Lane. Updated On: 7/24/07 at 08:25 PM
#43re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:48pm
Travolta was definitely great as Edna, and while I think Harvey would have done a dynamic job, I have to agree with the posters who say that you needed a box office draw for the film. Think of it... Danny Zuko as Edna -- it's a definite box office golden ticket.
To the Broadway crazies like us, we would have seen it with any star (within reason) because it's Hairspray, but to a moviegoing public, they need a familiar face, and Travolta is one. That being said he definitely made the part different... I think more maternal, more innocent.
I'm no producer or casting agent... but I think any of the above mentioned would be phenomenal on Broadway, but John T. really made it work on film... kooky accent and all.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#44re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 11:07pm
I have to say that Gary Beach would make a wonderful Edna.
I do love the idea of Harvey as Edna and Vilanch as Wilbur. 
#45re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 11:12pmI always wanted Louie Anderson, too. Maybe there's still hope for him in the stage show ... somewhere ... someday.
jimnysf
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
#46re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 11:17pmIf Harvey or Bruce or Goodman had been cast, the movie would have tanked. They are not box office names and, Harvey on the big screen croaking out the songs would have people running from the theatre. It just wouldn't work on screen.
#47re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 11:23pm
Robin Williams would make a good Edna in the stage show, but agree that his preformance would be "too big" for film.
I think John ended up making Edna really loveable.
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
#48re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/24/07 at 11:30pm
As great as john was, there was something a little off about him.
I wish it had been Harvey, because i heart harvey.
Jay Brazoue- toronto guy (when i saw it at least)
was amazing. I wish they could have gone non name and used him. he was amazing.
alterego
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#49re: Who would you have cast as Edna in HAIRSPRAY?
Posted: 7/25/07 at 3:38amIn a different era, and if he were 25 years younger I think Dom Le luise (sp?) would have been sensational.
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