Hairspray, 7/23 Review - Haylie was good!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:30pm

The last in my theater-going marathon. For this week, at least. The show is holding up pretty damn well. The music is infectious, the story is great, and the cast is tip-top. However, there's no beating the originals.

Absent today were Cassie Levy as Penny (Lindsay Nicole Chambers went on) and Stephen DeRosa as Wilbur (Scott Davidson went on).

Shannon Durig - her voice got on my nerves at the beginning, but she was great, no matter what. No, she can't really hit the high notes, but she makes up for it with the physical comedy. She's currently signed as Tracy for another 9 months. Everyone should get to see her.

Blake Hammond - he's no Harvey, but he's doing pretty damn well. His voice, obviously, is not like the one you'd hear on the cast album, and that works to his advantage. He makes the part his own (and was able to make Scott crack up during Timeless to Me).

Scott Davidson - as someone who covers 6 parts, he's great. His Timeless to Me was wonderful. The laughs he broke down with during one of Blake's voice-changes brought the audience down. He couldn't contain himself and the audience loved it.

Darlene Love - an excellent performer in an excellent part.

Aaron Tveit - still finding his footing on Broadway. With the experience he had on tour, he'll find his sea legs very quickly.

Isabel Keating - also, still finding her footing. Give her a few weeks and she'll be up to par with the rest of the cast. However, she does look a bit old in the part.

Tevin Campbell - what rhythm he has. Excellent to watch.

Lindsay Nicole Chambers - the lovable nerd. She should get the part....eventually.

Last, but not least, Haylie Duff. I had my doubts, but she pulled it off. She looks like a seasoned veteran, sings fairly well, and does a great job.

During the intermission, I was thinking about how Megan Hilty could make a great Tracy. Any thoughts?

All-in-all, it was a great afternoon viewing of what I believe is one of the best shows on Broadway.

Thanks, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, and the whole creative team for making such a steadily enjoyable show. It never gets old!

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 07:30 PM

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:35pm

I saw the show back in April, and Shannon, Darlene, and Tevin were phenomenal. Blake was on for John Pinette, and I originally was disappointed, but completely forgot about John as soon as Blake started. Blake also made Stephen DeRosa laugh when I saw the show, that Stephen had to turn away. It was absolutely hilarious, and the audience lapped it up.

[Ready 2 Defy Gravity]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:48pm

I think Megan would make a good tracy

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:52pm

not that I normally post, but... have you been drinking or doing heavy drugs?

Haylie is neither "seasoned", NOR a "veteran"... she openly admits to never having been on a stage before and you can't be seasoned after half a week....

as far as Hilty as Turnblad.... she has a voice on her, yeah.. but TRACY?!? WTF?!? She is too tall, too thin, and don't give me a crock about padding......

opinions are opinions, but geez... why don't we cast Idina Menzel as Jesus Christ.. oh wait, the Wicked fans already have. Now can we just crucify her?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 7:59pm

"Haylie is neither "seasoned", NOR a "veteran"..."

He said that she looks like a seasoned veteran, not that she necessarily was one.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:02pm

I'll quote my own review:

"She looks like a seasoned veteran, sings fairly well, and does a great job."

Never did I say "She IS a seasoned veteran."

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:05pm

"not that I normally post, but..."

Does that statement have a point? What a completely unnecessary thing to say.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:11pm

not that I normally post

- Why don't you post another "I'm leaving thread." Those are normal for you!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 8:48pm

Shoshana Bean understudied Tracy. She just had to wear a fatsuit when she went on. Megan Hilty is very talented. Broadwayguy2 even though most of Wicked's material isn't the best there are very talented performer's in the show.

[bunger12]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:06pm

Saw it Friday night -- I'm digging the new Prudy/Gym Teacher...etc. Lisa Jolley. I've never seen her before and she made me pee.

I LOVED Isabel Keating as Velma! I thought she played her like nervous little dog.

Maybe I saw a weird night, but Haylie Duff just didn't do it for me, and neither did Aaron. I loved Andrew's Link -- thought he had much more of a command of his voice. Once Haylie sang, "watch me fly" that was pretty much it for me.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:55pm

"She is too tall, too thin, and don't give me a crock about padding......"

I'll give you a crock about padding. Shoshana Bean wore padding...why not Hilty? There are ways to make the appearance work you know.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:57pm

Btw, how is lotto now that Haylie is in? I heard lotto was a near guarantee before.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 9:58pm

Most of the crowd won today. I did SRO and it was perfect for $20.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:05pm

I received this from broadwayguy2:

"as far as shoshana, homegirl was the second cover for the role, she was never TRACY on Broadway.. simply the second cover who only went on when the standby couldn't.

A SKINNY GIRL CAN NOT PLAY TRACY"

"Homegirl" did in fact play Tracy before. I never said Shoshana Bean actually had the role of Tracy. I was aware that she covered the role when the standby didn't go on.

And I still disagree with you...a skinny girl can play Tracy with proper padding. And as I said Shoshana did go on. If the talent is there, they can make it work.

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:05 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:10pm

Well, like her or not, everyone is talking about Hairspray since Haylie joined the cast and sales went up. Im sure the producers of the show are happy with Miss Duff.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:13pm

oh dear..
can of worms.. opened.

yes, homegirl performer Tracy.. so did Leslie Kritzer, Donna Vivino, Alison Smyth, Natalie Hill, Amy Hillner, and Lori Eve Marinacci.

The fact remains, they were the second covers. Yes, they performed, but they never held the role of Tracy. Lindsay Nicole Chamber, who plays Tammy, covers the role of Prudy and she is fantastic and I have loved her every time she has been on. Does this mean I think she should take over the role? No. She is about 20 years too young.. just like Shoshana, Leslie, Donna, Alison, Natalie, Amy, and Lori Eve are all about 60 pounds underweight to be playing Tracy... JUST like Megan Hilty.

If they talent is there, they can make it work? I know white men who can sing Coalhouse in Ragtime.. should we put them in blackface and send them out on a stage? NO. That doesn't work and this is very much the same thing. Just as they HAVE cast a skinnier man is Edna before and it worked in no way, shape, or form. His perfomance was good, but all believability was lost... I have seen the majority of the above actresses as Tracy and each one of them had more than enough talent to handle the role. Donna blew me out of the water at Tyler Hanes' last performance, but even WITh good padding, the skinny girls look like turtles if you do that to them The costumes are in no way designed to handle the neccessary padding.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:15pm

Shannon Durig wears padding doesn't she?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:18pm

Shannon doesn't wear any padding to make her bigger. Some of the Tracys have worn padding, but not to make them fatter... padding has been used on several actresses just to give them the desired SHAPE, not to alter their size... for example, I know of two Tracys who had padding on their butts, but it was a very minor amount, and not used to make the girl fatter.

On a similar note, Natalie Joy Johnson wore fake breasts in BARE to give her character the desired shape, but she wasn't padded to make her fat.

edited to add - John Waters has also gone on record many times saying that skinny girls should NEVER play Tracy.

No matter how over the top the character or perfomance may get in hairspray, at the very core of the show, its writing, and it's characterizations is HONESTY.. and a skinny girl holding the role of Tracy violates that honesty.
Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:18 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:20pm

Shannon looked THIN at the stage door last fall. She did NOT look as big as she did on stage.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:21pm

Her headshot looks thin, as well.. or maybe that's just the angle. I haven't seen too many pictures of her so I can't judge.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:22pm

Wait so padding is different from a fat suit?

Because Shannon admits she wears a fat suit.

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=515147

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:23pm

Shannon also looks thin in her show card in front of the theatre. Shannon is NOT thin. Party of what helps to emphasize the actress's shape and size onstage is the cut of the wardrobe. The clothes are designed and cut to make her size more obvious.... Shannon's street wardrobe does not have that same effect on her, but believe me, Shannon is a GORGEOUS girl and not thin.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:24pm

Padding and a fat suit are technically the same type of construction, but used for different purposes.... as I said, several of the Tracys have had padding toa lter their SHAPE.. and every Tracy DOES have a fat suit on hand at all times in case she begins to lose weight from the outragous amount of dancing that she does... but they Do work to get them back up to weight ASAP.

also, Mary Bond Davis has also admitting to having a fat suit onhand in case she lost weight.. darlen wears a fat suit, though she isn't a skinny-mini offstage at all...
Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:24 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:24pm

Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:24 PM

[starlight2]

Posted: 7/23/06 at 10:43pm

ok, Broadwayguy2. you are right on most points, but HELLO, i saw it, this girl is bad, really bad, does not look the part and then had no credentials, and then does not act it, sing it, or even dance it?! And her eyes, are just so? dead?? But, yes, they are doing what so many other Broadway shows are doing, bringing in "names" or "sorta names"to keep it afloat. And, as to the "fat suit", so many girls start out "over weight" but 8 shows a week in that role, well again "hello" you lose weight bigtime and I believe one is so tired by the time they get home from the show probably, who cares to eat? Just my opinion, but i have seen alot of the shows, and it is not what it used to be, but then again, if it is closing by the Holidays, who cares?? It will always be one of my favorite scores and i am thankful it made it to Broadway, even though I have spent WAY too much money seeing it there and on tour!!!
Updated On: 7/23/06 at 10:43 PM