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Hairspray (review)

2003; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 55; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/tj.2003.0148

1086-332X

David Bateman,

Theater, Performance, and Music History

When the lights come up on Marissa Jaret Winokur in the opening number of the musical version of John Waters' film Hairspray, one is immediately engaged by the combination of classic [End Page 719] [Begin Page 721] set design (a vertical bed) and a fresh Broadway voice that punches out the all important first number with the distinction of an Ethel Merman or a Carol Channing. Winokur's sharp, infectious vocals strikingly intone the "Oh, Oh, Oh" of Hello Baltimore and begin to create a powerful persona for the Tracy Turnblad character first interpreted by Rickie Lake in the 1980s film. Winokur's resemblance to Lake paves the way for the much-anticipated entrance of Harvey Fierstein in the role of Tracy's mother, originated on screen by drag queen extraordinary Divine. Fierstein's costume and wig, identical to Divine's in the film, inspires immediate applause and helps to establish the nostalgic, citational tone of the overall mise-en-scène.