Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

#1

Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:31pm

If we're talking about total fluff/fun musicals, why do some become smash hits and others don't? For instance, if you just look at some of the purely fun ones out there now... Why do you think Hairspray is still doing relatively well after 5 years (I know we're in the winter doldrums now, but in general) while other shows like Legally Blonde and Xanadu are struggling a year or less into their run?

Just wondering what others think. BTW.. haven't seen Xanadu, saw LB on MTV and liked it.. but for me, there's just something about Hairspray that makes it irresistable.

#2

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:35pm

Several reasons, first and foremost, Hairspray is actually about something. It also has a much better book & score, and came to NYC with a lot of buzz based on its out-of-town run.

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#3

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:36pm

Is Xanadu struggling? I thought it was doing well, especially since it's playing in a small theatre.

I haven't seen Legally Blonde - but isn't MTV planning a reality series to cast the next Elle Woods? That should boost attendance.

And Hairspray is just a wildly, energetic, enthusiastic, amazingly fun show! I LOVE IT!

#4

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:40pm

Hairspray is just a much better show. The book and score are far superior to LB and Xanadu, but most importantly Hairspray has characters that you care about, IMO.

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....but the world goes 'round

Updated On: 2/11/08 at 01:40 PM

#5

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:13pm

As much as I like Xanadu, Hairspray is similar a far superior show...it's that simple.

#6

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 4:26pm

Can't speak for Xandadu, but I feel that pretty much all of the production and creative elements of Hairspray (score, book, choreography, staging) are far superior to those of Legally Blonde.

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"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

#7

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 4:33pm

I agree with everything that's been said about Hairspray thusfar. I especially echo tazber's statement; there are several characters you can empathize with, and the story is engaging enough to keep you interested in what happens.

Xanadu is complete camp. I am not bashing the show, I really enjoyed it, but it's not even in the same league as Hairspray.

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"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball

#8

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 4:42pm

Hairspray also has other things going for it too, being set in the 60s with lots of period references, adults enjoy it just as much as younger theatre fans, which I havent personally found with LB & Xanadu.

#9

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 4:45pm

:raises hand:
is an adult
enjoys Blonde
(not so much Xanadu, though)

#10

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 4:48pm

I love all three but for very different reasons.

I love Hairspray because Tracy Turnblad is a character to which I connect with well, and the music and performances are so high energy that you really CANT not love it.

Legally Blonde is fun and high energy and the music is so much fun and the character of Elle Woods has a great journey from ditzy sorority girl to chic law student. She and Tracy have semi-similar journeys in that in the end, they discover who they are as people.

Xanadu is campy, hysterical fun. Its music is catchy and the cast is charming and loveable [Hello, Cheyenne.]
Also they seem like their always having a good time onstage.

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"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#11

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:02pm

It's nice that the people on stage have a good time; it's imperative the people in the AUDIENCE have a good time.

#12

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 5:06pm

Their good time translates to the audience having a good time, Joe.

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"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#13

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:07pm

Most of the songs in Legally Blonde are pretty bad. Most of the songs in Hairspray are great. Hairspray also has a much better plot.

#14

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:08pm

Hairspray also happens to deal with deeper meanings than Xanadu and LB. So fluff? Maybe not.

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I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

#15

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:13pm

How can you call Hairspray 'fluff'?

It deals with acceptance, racism, and many other topics without being preachy.

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#16

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:14pm

Prrrecisely.

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I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

#17

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:16pm

"How can you call Hairspray 'fluff'?

It deals with acceptance, racism, and many other topics without being preachy."


Odd, I felt like it was incredibly preachy and could not wait to get the heck out of there when I saw it.

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And hang on, when did you win the discus?

#18

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:17pm

I dunno, any "preachiness" was pretty subtle.

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I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

#19

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:20pm

One of the things I love about Hairspray is that it deals with deep issues in a fun way. I'm not familiar with Xanadu, but there isn't any depth to Legally Blonde. I would like Legally Blonde a lot more if the songs were better.

Updated On: 2/11/08 at 07:20 PM

#20

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:21pm

Same goes for Xanadu, but at least Xanadu is enjoyable and fun to watch. Xanadu really is some good fluff. Hairspray isn't fluff, I don't think. Legally Blonde...is...well it's not possible to describe.

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I mean, Denzel Washington? Gun to my head..of course.

#21

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 9:41pm

The simple truth is that I could name you ten or eleven songs from Hairspray but I could only name you two or three from Legally Blonde or Xanadu.

I also think Hairspray happens to be more family oriented than the other two.

#22

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 9:59pm

HAIRSPRAY actually has a good, solid story, and memorable, high energy songs. Plus, the replacements have always been consistently good.

LB's music is alright, but the story is not very good, and the cast changes, at least to me, have been horrible. As much as I love Asmeret and Tracy Jai, Asmeret doesn't have the dazzle that DeQuina did, and Tracy Jai isn't as good an actress as Leslie. Plus, they cast Cara Cooper in that show, and while I'm sure Cara is a nice girl and she's an incredible dancer, she cannot sing. At all.

XANADU is wonderful and so much fun, but I forgot the songs as soon as I walked out of the theater. The show wasn't as memorable as I thought it was going to be.

#23

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:15pm

Hairspray has taste..Xanadu not so much...

#24

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 10:34pm

Yeah....search Cara Cooper Wedding Singer on that site and you'll see..not a great singer

#25

re: Why Hairspray and not LB or Xanadu?

Posted: 2/11/08 at 11:24pm

Elphie and Maya, while Cara Cooper and the others you mentioned may or may not be great in their roles, it has NOTHING to do with the question asked. The reason people love Hairspray is simple, it's a much, much better show than LB in every way. The songs in Blonde are, for the most part, terrible, the topics don't have the weight of Hairspray and Tracy Turnblad has a journey you actually care about. I could go on but those are 3 very obvious reasons.