Would HAIRSPRAY be as successful if a woman played Edna? — Page 2

Travolta insisted on playing the role as authentic to being a woman as possible which I believe ruined the whole idea. Travolta was definitely the main reason the film just didn't work.

Thank you! This is exactly what I've been saying since the film came out. He ruined the film for me, pretty much. And he didn't stick true to John Water's original message. If they wanted a woman to play the role, they wouldn't get John Travolta to play it. They'd get a woman. But he wanted the audience to believe he was a woman, and I think that that ruins the whole point of the character.

In my opinion, it would have, but I definatley prefer Edna as a man. Either way, the story has a good message, there's a great score and it's a fun family show. I think that Edna as a woman wouldn't keep families from going to see Hairspray.
However, I still would hate for Edna to be played by a woman. It's a funny little quirk to have a man in drag play a woman's part.

edit: In the movie version of Chicago, if you recall, Mary Sunshine was played by a woman and I don't think it affected the movie's sucess yet, it still upset me. But then again, the audience watching Chicago is very different from the audience of Hairspray.

Updated On: 5/28/08 at 08:20 PM

"Also, Mary Sunshine is not a lead."

True, but I still believe that in either case it takes something away from the show.

Back on the blood, I've always loved Jerry Seinfeld's lin: "Hey, I heard that Cheer detergent now says it's great for removing bloodstains. Frankly, if you have a t-shirt soaked in blood, laundry is not your most pressing problem."

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