The opening night performance of Hairspray was as fresh, sharp and high-spirited as a show could be. Paper Mill could not ask for a stronger season-opener. There was just so much to savor in this well-cast, cohesive production. When Lee Roy Reams (a perfect Wilbur Turnblad) sang/ danced “Timeless to Me” with his wife, Edna (Christopher Sieber in drag), it was sheer magic; I didn’t want it to end. There was such good chemistry between these veteran pros and such great stagecraft. There was good chemistry, too, between Christine Danelson (as Tracy Turnblad) and Constantine Rousouli (as a most endearing Link Larkin). Natasha Yvette Williams nailed the role of Motormouth Maybelle. And newcomer Caliaf St. Aubyn danced with great flair as Seaweed. These key roles were imbued with humanity and likeability. And Kevin Meaney made the most, as he did on Broadway, of assorted roles. Based on the film by John Waters, this musical comedy boasts a witty book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and catchy exuberant songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. They’ve caught just the right tone here—playful—but letting some serious points on race relations shine through. Matt Lenz has re-created Jack O’Brien’s original Broadway staging, and Michele Lynch has re-created Jerry Mitchell’s choreography. I missed, at first, the unique talents and commanding stage presence of Harvey Fierstein (who headed the original Broadway cast). But Sieber was fine in his own way. And the whole thing came together naturally. On balance, I enjoyed this every bit as much as on Broadway.
(Pictured: Christopher Sieber, Christine Danelson; Photo by Kevin Sprague)
Chip Deffaa
Cabaret Scenes
September 26, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org
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