hairspray - George Wendt and Marissa Perry.. WOW!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/31/07 at 10:31am

First off.. George Wendt. Not BAD, but still VERY uneasy in the role and not landing very many of the jokes. Hopefully he will settle in better. Sadly though, he is not physically up the role and from moment one looks as though he is in pain and about to pass out.. He was far too winded to make it through the finale. Theere is a rather awakward key change for his verse of Welcome to the 60s. The rest is in the original key, but they changed that one section only. It doesn't come off as a key change in the music. It seems like it was a mistake and not an intentional transition. Hopefully that can be fixed.

Now, onto the star of the show.. Marissa Perry. WOW! Quite possibly the stringest Tracy the show has had. The girl can sing, dance, and act like a dream. She fully inhabits Tracy like very few before. She is a VERY welcome addition to the show. If you have the chance to see her, you MUST!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 10/31/07 at 10:35am

I'm sure you mean "strongest", and I agree.

The key change in Welcome to the 60s has actually improved remarkably from last Tuesday, when it was first introduced.

[Kev]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 1:54pm

The key change in Welcome to the 60s has actually improved remarkably from last Tuesday, when it was first introduced.

Agreed, it's barely noticeable. And Wendt has a very pleasant voice.

His stamina gives me pause, though. It looked as if he was about to have a stroke on multiple occasions.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 2:51pm

I was there on Tuesday and have to agree. Marissa was wonderful. You would never know she was new to the show. I liked George, but yea, he looked exhausted (even after, "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now").

It was my first time seeing Niki Scalera as Penny. She was great, too. I'm sorry that Michele Pawk was out that night, because I was looking forward to seeing her as Velma.

The show is in great shape.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 3:50pm

I've heard that's improved... but when you knmow the score, it doesn't sound like an intentional change.. hopefully it improves more.


I am very much hoping the George's stamina improves.. I was very concerned while watching him

[Switz78]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 4:06pm

Marissa is padded right, at least it looked that way from the first row and it she looked a bit odd in the prison dress because it's so tight and looked like a pillow shoved under there. Her body didn't move, not even her chest when she danced. But anyway I saw her very first performance last Friday and I never would have guessed she was just great.
On to the topic- my mom was in town and wanted to see it because she enjoyed the movie and her only 2 comments were, she wished Lance would have been in because she knows who he is and she thought George was going to have a heart attack several times thru the show. But I'm sure he will get better, we saw his 5th performance I believe.

Also props to the woman playing the Fem. Auth. Fig. she is just BRILLIANT!!!!!

[Kev]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 4:19pm

my mom was in town and wanted to see it because she enjoyed the movie and her only 2 comments were, she wished Lance would have been in because she knows who he is

She missed nothing with Lance. Michael Cunio, his temporary replacement, is one of the best Cornys out there.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 4:25pm

I agree with you, Broadwayguy! Marissa is wonderful, while George leaves much to desire. And I definitely noticed how tired he looks.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 4:40pm

Kev, I totally agree. I'm glad I was able to see Michael.

Can we talk about what a bummer the lottery was the night I went (Tuesday). My name was the only one NOT called.

Thankfully I was able to get standing room.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 6:23pm

Michsel IS one of the best Cornys that you will find out there....

As far as Marissa and her body, that is just how she is built.. not a result of padding.

[Tenor2]

Posted: 11/7/07 at 8:08am

You're WRONG about Marissa's body....she WAS padded on that stage. If you stayed around to see her after the show, you would have seen that she has a very sexy curvy body! They shouldn't pad her. They should let Tracy be curvy and sexy like Marissa! She is the sexiest Tracy's to date! SHE WAS AMAZING!!!! George Wendt...not so much. I hope Marissa will be doing the part all the time....LOVE HER!!!

Posted: 4/30/08 at 1:41pm

I saw Marissa last summer at the Weston Playhouse, she was really great. I also got to see the show on Broadway before the change over, I have to say that Ms. Shannon was looking pretty sick of the show, wasn't suprised when I heard she was leaving a few weeks later.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 4:22pm

I saw George in the role in January and I didn't pick up anything wrong with his stamina. He made the role his in a different way than Paul Vogt did. The night I went there was no ad-libbing during "Timeless to Me" and it was more of a romantic song than a comedic one.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 6:46pm

George Wendt was easily one of the worst theatrical experiences I've ever had ! He looked awfully bored, tired and completely indifferent, when I saw the show in April ! Thank God Sharon, Aaron, Darlene and the rest of the cast were great !

Posted: 4/30/08 at 7:51pm

And a Broadwayworld.com welcome to Constantine Rousouli, who took over last night as Link Larkin. From the balcony at today's matinee, it looked like Wendt has grown into the role, definitely not winded or weary. Then again, he has another show to do tonight...

Special shout out to Jennifer Lewis as Motormouth Maybelle, who really landed "I Know Where I've Been" in Act Two. And Tevin Campbell as Seaweed, whose dancing is as good as his singing.

[zamedy]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 10:24pm

Broadway Local... I've been wondering about Ms. Lewis' performance as Motormouth Maybelle. How do you think she's handling it? Does her version of "I Know Where You've Been" give you chills and blow the roof off the Neil Simon like Darlene Love's did? Ms. Lewis had some pretty mighty shoes to fill. Is she making the part her own?

[Joshua488]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 6:20am

Constantine Rousouli, direct from the national tour of Hairspray, took over on Tuesday for a temporary run while Ashley Parker Angel is still on leave.

I've heard brilliant things about Jenifer Lewis' performance, especially "I Know Where I've Been."

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 10:16am

Yay, Constantine, a great LINK!

[burnsy]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 11:00am

Anyone knows how long Constantine Rousouli will cover for Ashley Parker Angel? Is he going on every performance? I'd love to see Constantine play the role. Does that mean Arron Tveit has left the show? I thought he was scheduled to be in the show til 5/4.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 11:09am

Constantine is playing all 8 shows/week for at least this week and next, beyond that I think Ashley is scheduled to return.

Posted: 5/1/08 at 1:27pm

off subject for a second - Speaking of the tour...does anyone know if Brooklynn Pulver is staying on tour for another year as Tracy????

on subject - I saw the show in Feb and thought old Norm from cheers was going to fall over, and it was really hard to watch him, he just didn't seem to comfy in the role.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 3:44pm

Yeah!!! Constantine on Broadway, now if only Brooklyn and Jerry get their chance.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 7:03pm

Give me Brooklyn, Hold the Jerry.