Thursday, January 8, 2009

R.I.P. Hairspray


This is a picture from The New York Times of Hairspray which closed on Broadway on Sunday night. Did you see Hairspray on Broadway? That was really a fun show. I was struck by this picture because it captures exactly what it felt like to be there. At the end you were on your feet cheering and the cast was cheering back. It was a very joyful night at the theater.

We went a couple of years ago at Christmastime when my sister and her partner Barb were visiting New York. We got house seats through our friend Tom Meehan who wrote the book for Hairspray, as well as Annie, The Producers and Young Frankenstein. And you know that I love house seats. First we had dinner at Bricco, a little Italian place we like, and then walked down to the theater. The musical itself was a fantastic delight with one good funny song after the other. Exuberant choreography, hysterical costumes, Harvey Fierstein growling his way through the Edna Turnblatt part. And a message of racial equality! What's not to like? Afterwards we had drinks at the Jane Street Tavern. It was one of those great New York nights.

And, p.s., the Hairspray movie is wonderful too. It goes from one high moment to the next. Hats off to John Travolta in a fat suit for pulling off the Edna Turnblatt part with heart. Now that's entertainment.

1 comment:

Pigtown*Design said...

I like the original version of the hairspray movie... so baltimore, hon!

it's always fun to run into john waters in the grocery store.