my hairspray review

[wwasser]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 8:33pm

well i just got back from seeing hairspray this weekend...and i must say i was pretty disapointed. First off, I must say that the last 20 times I have seen hairspray on broadway, there has been at least 5 understudy/standbys on. Is this "Broadway Divas" I smell???? Julie Halston, as much as I love her work..is absolutly bland and boring in her role...they need to get the tour penny's mom/female authority up there...she is wonderful and actually makes her lines funny..the way they are supposed to be. Shannon Durig, is obviously too tall for the role and needs to pronounce her words correctly...I would have to say that about 98% of the jokes in the book were dropped last night...by all of the performers. Tracy Miller was amazing, and so was Andrew Rannells...John Pinette walked through the role and had zero chemistry with Shannon...the understudy for Motermouth was great and also Michael Cunio as Corny (who may as well take over Corny he has been on so much). Very upsetting performance and must say that the producers should possibly start to think about doing what the producers did for Les Miserables on Broadway several years ago...like hire the tour cast and re cast the broadway cast in the mean time! But..hairspray is still in my heart as it always is...the national tour cast is the real thing...good job guys!

[PJ]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 8:35pm

In my opinion, John has gotten himself into a bit of a performing rut. So I agree with you about him.

But for the most part, people seeing the show for the first time always love it. It's only those of us who've seen every possible cast that find it to be less satisfactory upon revisit.

[BroadwayThoughts]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 9:40pm

I have to disagree with you about John. I saw him perform with the tour when they came to D.C. and I must say he is the most "real" Edna I've seen so far. Please don't shoot me for saying this .. but I prefer his rendition to anyone else's and think listening to his voice is much more tolerable and yet, he still manages to make his part funny with out the phony voice. I haven't seen him perform with Shannon so I really don't know about their chemistry but I do know that his chemistry with Stephen probably makes up for it.

I also enjoy his originality with the songs ... I've never seen any other Edna riff to 60's or Beat!

Sometimes the pauses in Timeless are a little uncomfortable for me with other people I've seen play the part. However, he fills them out well with his own ad libbing of "Carry me up stairs" and other jokes.

I love the show and still laugh at all the same jokes. I do understand your dissappointment... after all, after you see a show 20 times or more you will start to pick out minor things that a person seeing the show for the first time would never pick up.

I hope the next time you see the show you will be let down! :)

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 10:31pm

ive also seen hairspray over 20 times, but totally disagree with you. i think john and shannon have a great relationship on stage, or atleast have the 2 times i saw them together. john is one of the better endas ive seen and ive seen 5.and every time ive seen shannon durig in the role she keeps getting better and better. ive seen the tour cast and though they were greaat i prefer the broadway cast.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 10:37pm

I think they should bring back in a big name as Edna. John Goodman perhaps? Think of the sales!

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 11:01pm

Completely disagree with you, especially on Shannon. She is terrific, sweet, lovable, and may be taller than whomever you saw on the tour, but she is phenomenal. Michael Cunio does as good a job as Jonathan, whether or not he's the understudy. I can see what you are saying about John Pinette, but he has improved steadily.

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:51am

I think john is a very good edna, i havent seen him with shannon but he seemedto have chemistry with michelle dowdy. But i do agree with you on julie halston and funny women but, you'd never tell that in this show. bring back jackie hoffman. And carly too!