My mom and I showed up in New York that morning with no tickets to any show, and about $60 to spend. So, kind of by default, the Hairspray lottery was one of our only choices. Not to mention it was my mom’s first time in the city, and I thought taking her to the current Tony winner for Best Musical would be fun! And, of course, the fact that I just really wanted to see the show myself. 🙂 Still, I hadn’t anticipated there would be so many people at the lottery draw! I don’t think I exaggerate when I say there were more than 60. And they only draw 12 names…as they started drawing, and getting closer and closer to the end, I was ready to give up hope. But finally, the last name drawn was mine! So we were able to go after all!
The show opens in Tracy’s bedroom as she wakes up for school. The sets are pretty simple, but perfectly adept at conveying the atmosphere and sense of a specific time that they are going for. “Good Morning Baltimore” is a fun song, and a great introduction to the character of Tracy. After school that day she rushes home to watch the Corny Collins show on TV in her living room, which happens simultaneously to the kids on the show performing their number in the TV studio. When it’s announced that one of the female “council members” on the show is leaving, and auditions will be held, Tracy wants to try out, despite her mother’s objections.
“Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now” is one of my favourite songs on the recording, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the staging – the choreography was a bit repetitive. But it was still cute! When Tracy and Penny arrive at the TV station the next day, Tracy bumps (literally) into the show’s heartthrob, Link, and falls instantly in love – the part of “I Can Hear the Bells” where she goes through their entire future together is too funny! Unfortunately, the council and the producer aren’t interested in an overweight dancer, so she’s turned away without even getting to audition.
In detention the next day, she meets Seaweed, a black boy who shows her some new dance moves that she’s sure will impress Corny – if she can only find a way to show him. Her chance comes at a high school dance that Corny hosts, and she makes such an impression that he invites her to be on the show. Her mother is shocked to say the least – “Oh, honey, if I’d known you were going to make it on that show, I’d never have told you that you couldn’t!” 🙂 Tracy is an overnight sensation, and Corny has Link sing a song to her, which Tracy takes a little too literally, to Amber’s dismay.
The phone is ringing off the hook at the Turnblad’s house, and one of the callers wants Tracy to be the new spokesperson for a line of full-figured clothing. She convinces her mother to act as her manager and they go to model some of the clothes and celebrate Tracy’s success.
Not everybody is so excited about Tracy’s fame. During a game of dodgeball in gym, Amber manages to hit Tracy and knock her out. Link is appalled at Amber’s behaviour and stays behind with Penny to get help for her. As he looks down on Tracy’s unconscious form, bells start to peal. 🙂 Penny returns with Seaweed, who invites Tracy to the black neighborhood for a party. Penny and Link go along as well, much to the chagrin of Penny’s mother and Amber and her mother. Tracy and Motormouth hit upon a plan to try to integrate the Corny Collins show, but Link won’t take part, worried that it will mess up the recording contract he’s been trying to get.
When they try to carry out their plan, Tracy, Edna, Penny, Motormouth, Amber, Velma, and more are thrown in jail as a result of the ensuing turmoil. The von Tussles are released first, and then Wilbur turns up to post bail for everyone else – except for Tracy, who’s being held without bail thanks to Velma. Edna is terribly worried about her daughter, but Wilbur is able to calm her, and remind her of the reasons he loves her.
Link realizes he was wrong to leave Tracy, and goes to the jail to break her out. Meanwhile, Seaweed finds Penny tied to her bed by her mother, and releases her as well. They all congregate back at Motormouth’s shop, where they plan to crash the Miss Hairspray competition the next day, despite the fact that Tracy is still wanted by the police.
 My mom at her first show in New York! |
When they show up and Tracy does her new dance along with her new black friends, the ratings go through the roof, and it is decided that the show will be integrated from that point on, and Tracy is crowned Miss Teenage Hairspray, although she’s much more concerned about getting that long-awaited kiss from Link instead.
I was disappointed to have missed Marissa Jaret Winokur and Kerry Butler, but there was nothing wrong with any of the cast. I was a little turned off by all the hype over Harvey Fierstein, but he proved to be worth it – very, very funny! Dick Latessa, Matthew Morrison, Clarke Thorell, and Chester Gregory, the new Seaweed, were also all very good.
The show is just fun, it’s the best word to describe it. Obviously there are a few messages to get across as well, with the segregation issue, and how we should be happy with who we are, but it rarely stays serious for more than a moment. Tracy is such a likeable character, and though you know everything will turn out well for her, it still makes you happy when it does. I don’t know if a single person left the theatre without “You Can’t Stop the Beat” in their head!
The Quotes:
“Excuse me…I’ll just step over these cans of Pringles that you were eating during my big prison number.”
Jackie Hoffman, as she came through the front row before the final number
The cast: (in order of appearance)
Tracy Turnblad |
KATHY BRIER |
Corny Collins |
CLARKE THORELL |
Amber Von Tussle |
TRACY JAI EDWARDS |
Brad |
PETER MATTHEW SMITH |
Tammy |
HOLLIE HOWARD |
Fender |
JOHN JEFFREY MARTIN |
Brenda |
MICHELLE KITTRELL |
Sketch |
ADAM FLEMING |
IQ |
TODD MICHEL SMITH |
Shelley |
SHOSHANA BEAN |
Lou Ann |
KATHARINE LEONARD |
Link Larkin |
MATTHEW MORRISON |
Prudy Pingleton |
JACKIE HOFFMAN |
Edna Turnblad |
HARVEY FIERSTEIN |
Penny Pingleton |
JENNIFER GAMBATESE |
Velma Von Tussle |
BARBARA WALSH |
Harriman F. Spritzer |
JOEL VIG |
Wilbur Turnblad |
DICK LATESSA |
Principal |
JOEL VIG |
Seaweed J. Stubbs |
CHESTER GREGORY II |
Duane |
ERIC ANTHONY |
Gilbert |
ERIC DYSART |
Lorraine |
DANIELLE LEE GREAVES |
Thad |
RASHAD NAYLOR |
The Dynamites |
TRACEE BEAZER JUDINE RICHARD SHAYNA STEELE |
Mr. Pinky |
JOEL VIG |
Gym Teacher |
JACKIE HOFFMAN |
Little Inez |
AJA MARIA |
Motormouth Maybelle |
MARY BOND DAVIS |
Matron |
JACKIE HOFFMAN |
Guard |
JOEL VIG |
Denizens of Baltimore |
ERIC ANTHONY SHOSHANA BEAN TRACEE BEAZER ERIC DYSART ADAM FLEMING DANIELLE LEE GREAVES JACKIE HOFFMAN HOLLIE HOWARD MICHELLE KITTRELL KATHARINE LEONARD JOHN JEFFREY MARTIN RASHAD NAYLOR JUDINE RICHARD PETER MATTHEW SMITH TODD MICHEL SMITH SHAYNE SEELE JOEL VIG |