Shows



The show tonight was Hairspray, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Unlike some of the other musicals we've seen, everything came together in it: script, performances, direction, production. For some reason (Philip is looking at me strangely) it reminded me of Little Shop of Horrors — not in story, but in presentation and in the fact that the leading character is an underdog. In parts, too, it's a little like Grease (Philip said this, so he doesn't have a problem with this comparison): it's about teenagers in an era of change — changes in popular music, changes in social mores, in everything.

For those who don't know, it's based on the John Waters film that starred, among other people, Ricki Lake. It's about a fat girl in Baltimore of the early 1960s who wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a TV programme that's a little like a local Baltimore American Bandstand. Of course there's opposition — she's fat, so why should she be allowed to dance on TV? Of course there's a villainess — two, a blonde bimbo and her mother, an older blonde bimbo, the former Miss Baltimore Crabs. But the theme of being allowed to dance on TV has a deeper, more serious, implication. It's not only fat people who are not accepted on TV; it's also black people. The story draws an explicit connection between Tracy Turnblad and the so-called Negro students at her school; she's always in detention with them (because she's always daydreaming), and it's from them that she learns the steps that get her onto the Corny Collins Show. Throw in the fact that it's Baltimore, and that it's 1962, and that the Civil Rights Movement is in full swing, and you'll get an idea about the rest of the show.

The show was tight and well put together. There was no downtime — we were involved from beginning to end. No numbers stood out as being tedious. What was really interesting about the show too was that the whole cast has recently undergone a change — we saw very few of the original cast. There was no way anyone could tell; the whole thing was fresh and new.

One of the highlights of the show is the relation between Tracy and her mother, Edna Turnblad, who starts out in the show as a frumpy, VERY overweight housewife, who brings in extra money by taking in laundry. Turns out she wanted to be a designer; turns out she used to make her own clothes until she outgrew the McCalls patterns. The story is as much a story about her personal journey as about Tracy's. But what's even more fun is that this character is played by a man. In the original movie, Edna was played by the late great Divine; and onstage, the role has been occupied by Harvey Fierstein, Michael McKean (Lenny of Lenny and Squiggy fame from Laverne and Shirley). The person we saw in the role was Bruce Vilanch. All of the stage Ednas have worn fat suits, but I don't think that Divine did in the movie. It's a great role, and he makes the best of it. Altogether it was a thoroughly enjoyable night.

After the show we went to the Olive Garden for dinner, just catching the kitchen in time to get food. I was still fairly stuffed from the sandwich (and sobered by the sight of my body in fitting room mirrors) and so I ordered an appetizer — bruschetta and salad. Good thing too! The bruschetta came with almost a whole loaf of Italian toast and at least two or three tomatoes chopped with garlic and basil. Philip ordered a mix of grilled meat and vegetables.

Then we came back to the hotel, back to our new room, and slept.

Posted: Thu - October 7, 2004 at 11:24 PM        

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