Jenn and I had been talking about going to check out the Toronto production of Hairspray for months, but it wasn’t until they announced a (surprisingly early) closing date that we finally got in gear and decided to go. By that time, they were offering $26 rush seats on any tickets remaining unsold three hours before the show, so we ended up with pretty decent seats for a very reasonable price.
Since I had enjoyed the New York production quite a lot, I was really looking forward to seeing the show here. Unfortunately, right off the bat, it just seemed to be missing something. I can’t really put my finger on what it is – simply that magical “something” that makes a show really gel and pulls you into it. The cast was trying really hard, but it just seemed like work most of the time rather than that effortless buoyancy that makes a show like this such a joy to watch. Anyway, there were certainly high points, and we didn’t regret going, but we were both just as happy that we hadn’t paid any more than we did for tickets!
Vanessa Olivarez (of American Idol fame) was probably the main draw for this production, and she does a pretty good job. She has a very distinctive voice that is well suited for the score. Her acting was a little bit below the level of her singing, especially when she was not the focus of a scene. Michael Torontow as Link had a lot of energy and a nice voice. Jennifer Stewart was a good Penny, and I really enjoyed Sean Matthews as Seaweed. I must also mention Nicolas Dromard, as the understudy for Corny Collins, who was very good! The best parts though, were with Edna and Wilbur, as both Jay Brazeau and Tom Rooney did a wonderful job. Simpler moments like “You’re Timeless to Me” worked better than the big production numbers, all of which – even “You Can’t Stop the Beat” – never reached the energetic high that the show had in New York.
Perhaps the show had a bit more of that energy and magic when it first opened, but at this point, a few weeks before closing, it wasn’t all that hard to see why it wasn’t pulling in the crowds to keep it open.
The cast: (in order of appearance)
Tracy Turnblad |
VANESSA OLIVAREZ |
Corny Collins |
NICOLAS DROMARD |
Amber Von Tussle |
TARA MACRI |
Brad |
ADAM BOLTON |
Tammy |
CAISSIE LEVY |
Fender |
DARREN VOROS |
Brenda |
CHRISTINE ROSSI |
Sketch |
SHELDON SMITH |
Shelley |
LINDSAY THOMAS |
IQ |
JESSE WEAFER |
Lou Ann |
BREANNE ARRIGO |
Link Larkin |
MICHAEL TORONTOW |
Prudy Pingleton |
CHARLOTTE MOORE |
Edna Turnblad |
JAY BRAZEAU |
Penny Pingleton |
JENNIFER STEWART |
Velma Von Tussle |
SUSAN HENLEY |
Harriman F. Spritzer |
KEVIN MEANEY |
Wilbur Turnblad |
TOM ROONEY |
Principal |
KEVIN MEANEY |
Seaweed J. Stubbs |
SEAN MATTHEWS |
Duane |
DEREK WIENS |
Gilbert |
STEVEN CUTTS |
Lorraine |
AMANDA DEFREITAS |
Thad |
RYAL WILSON |
The Dynamites |
LISA BELL KAREN BURTHWRIGHT STARR DOMINGUE |
Mr. Pinky |
KEVIN MEANEY |
Gym Teacher |
CHARLOTTE MOORE |
Little Inez |
SHENNEL CAMPBELL |
Motormouth Maybelle |
FELICIA DINWIDDIE |
Matron |
CHARLOTTE MOORE |
Guard |
KEVIN MEANEY |
Denizens of Baltimore |
BREANNE ARRIGO LISA BELL ADAM BOLTON KAREN BURTHWRIGHT STEVEN CUTTS AMANDA DEFREITAS STARR DOMINGUE CAISSIE LEVY CHRISTINE ROSSI SHELDON SMITH LINDSAY THOMAS DARREN VOROS JESSE WEAFER DEREK WIENS RYAN WILSON |