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If you enjoyed the musical movie Hairspray, you will surely enjoy the play. Just to set the record straight --- the musical play came first.  And while the stories are basically the same, there are definite differences ... in sequence and execution of scenes and the play has one more song than the movie did. Also, as I told my daughter last night, the movie version was "Disneyfied". Hairspray (the play) has many lewd and suggestive actions that actually make sense and fit in the story which are missing (or glazed over) in the movie. In my opinion, while this is a fun play, it should have a PG rating.
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to watch the technical rehearsal of Hairspray last night (12 Nov. 2008 at 8pm) at the Star Theater (adjacent to Star City at the CCP Complex). I like watching technical rehearsals because it shows me the level of prepareness the company has before the actual performance.
I really enjoyed the show. I found all the actors were great! The cast was definitely well assembled. Vocally, though, I personally found Madel (Tracy) and Tim (Link) lacked the training that was apparent in the other actors (and this includes the ensemble). I chalk it up to not enough experience in musicals where one is required to sing, dance, and act at the same time. Despite the lack of conviction in singing, though, I found their earnestness and embodiment of their role quite endearing. Their characterization was believable, and therefore, while they didn't quite have the singing chops, I found it forgiveable.They made a really cute couple onstage and Madel, in particular, played the role of schoolgirl with a crush (in other words, "kilig na kilig") perfectly! You could almost hear her saying, "Oh Link! I can just eat you up! Ngrawr! Slurp!" 
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Michael de Mesa as Edna Turnblad |
Michael de Mesa as Edna Turnblad was wonderful --- as I expected. He was the main reason I wanted to watch the show. The last play I saw him in was Rent in the role of Tom Collins but I have seen him in various movies and TV shows before and after that and he has proven to be a well seasoned actor who can do just about anything! In the song "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now" I found it amusing that he was the most feminine of all the actors on stage, where every one else WAS female. I don't know if anyone else will agree with me but ... I actually preferred his performance to that of John Travolta's.  Unlike in the original Broadway soundtrack Michael was even able to sound like a woman who sounds like a man, rather than a man pretending to be a woman.
Click HERE to read the interview of Female Network with Michael de Mesa on playing a woman.
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo is, as always, phenomenal onstage. I last saw her as The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods and I find it incredible that the full-bodied voice comes out of that slim body. As Velma Von Tussle she is very classy and snotty and fit the role to a T.
Dulce is a singing legend and no one can doubt that she has the singing chops to play Motormouth Maybelle. Her acting left me cold, though. She knew her lines, no doubt about that. She had the correct inflection and gesticulation. But somehow, it didn't feel like she connected with the audience. At times it felt like she was so focused on her lines that she was looking inward. In the company production number of "You Can't Stop The Beat" she had a lot of words to say and she had to say it to the audience but she did not make eye contact with anyone. Perhaps it is just nerves. I'm sure she will do better during the actual run.
I knew Nyoy Volante could sing. I suspected that he could act. But I was surprised that he could dance!. As Seaweed Stubbs he had to do some moves that the other "kids" didn't do. So, he moonwalked, did a little strut, etc.
Gabe Mercado (formerly of Da Pulis) and Enchang Kaimo (former ABS-CBN newsman, Mari's better half, and accomplished thespian) were great in their multiple roles. I found myself waiting in anticipation for what character either would come out as next and laughing out loud every time they did.
The rest of the ensemble blew me away, especially the ladies who played the roles of The Dynamites. Whoooeee! Those ladies can blow!
Productions like these are judged not just for the actors on the stage for they are but one aspect of the show. We also have to take into account the stage design, lighting, sounds, costumes, choreography, and directing. The people in charge of the sound system need to step up their act. After all the rehearsals, and this close to the actual run, you'd THINK they would know their cues already. So why weren't the lapel mics turned on when they were supposed to --- like when actors entered the stage. I can be forgiving for when the sound disappears in the middle of an actor's performance --- snafu's happen. But not mics that are off during entrances. I couldn't help but think that either a) the guy on the sound board is not paying attention and therefore, keeps missing the cues or b) the guy has no idea of the cues at all and is just winging it.
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From left to right: Nyoy Volante (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Tim Espinosa (Link Larkin), Monica Reynoso (Penny Pingleton), Madel Ching (Tracy Turnblad), Dulce (Motormouth Maybelle, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Velma Van Tussle) |
Cast of Atlantis Productions' Hairspray
- Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad
- Tim Espinosa as Link Larkin
- Michael de Mesa as Edna Turnblad
- Leo Rialp as Wilbur Turnblad
- Christine Allado sa Amber Von Tussle
- Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Velma Von Tussle
- Nyoy Volante as Seaweed J. Stubbs
- Dulce as Motormouth Maybelle
- Monica Reynoso as Penny Pingleton
- Noel Rayos as Corny Collins
- Gabe Mercado as the male authority figure
- Enchang Kaimo as the female authority figure
- The ensemble is composed of the following actors: Jordan Aguilar, Emy Alcid, Caisa Borromeo, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd, Erika Cedilla, Red Concepcion, Gerlin Francisco, Bea Garcia, Crienna House, Yanah Laurel, Cheeno Macaraig, Michael Odoemene, Anthony Ong, Myrene Santos, Mark Tayag, Lee Villoria
Hairspray is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Cecile Martinez, sets and costumes by Gino Gonzales, lighting design by Shoko Matsumoto and Musical Director Archie Castillo conducts FILharmoniKA. It runs from 14 November to 07 December 2008 at the Star Theatre, CCP Complex.
For those who are still looking to purchase tickets, here is Hairspray's show buyer directory:
| Day/Time |
Show Buyer |
Contact No. |
Email |
| Opening Night |
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| 14 Nov. 2008 (Friday, 8pm) |
Timothy Liong |
+639178735405 |
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| 15 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 2pm) |
Allan Marasigan |
+639174382299 |
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| 15 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 8pm) |
Fritzie Villacorta |
+639178337489 |
fsioson@yahoo.com
apvillacorta@globetel.com.ph |
| 16 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 3pm) |
Michelle Chan |
+639175393369 |
masychan@gmail.com |
| 16 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 8pm) |
Rosanne Unson |
+639178300312 |
rkrodriguez@gmail.com |
| 21 Nov. 2008 (Friday, 8pm) |
Atlantis Productions
Ticketworld |
+6328927078
+632840118
+6328919999 |
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| 22 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 2pm) |
Camille Bautista
Anton |
+639178908905
+639175683627 |
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| 22 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 8pm) |
Shirley Alinea |
+639178903564 |
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| 23 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 3pm) |
Jill Pena |
+639193608974 |
jill_mari@yahoo.com |
| 23 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 8pm) |
Timothy Liong |
+639178735405 |
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| 28 Nov. 2008 (Friday, 8pm) |
Andrea Go |
+639178867968 |
andreanicoleuygo@gmail.com |
| 29 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 2pm) |
Theody Demaisip |
+639209326067 |
tdemaisip@fastmail.fm |
| 29 Nov. 2008 (Saturday, 8pm) |
Joelle Orca
Anton |
+639209010863
+639175683627 |
jhorca@gmail.com |
| 30 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 3pm) |
Jill Pena |
+639193608974 |
jill_mari@yahoo.com |
| 30 Nov. 2008 (Sunday, 8pm) |
Janna Chua
Roan Isberto |
+639285024066
+639189133793 |
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| 05 Dec. 2008 (Friday, 8pm) |
Ticketworld |
+6328919999 |
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| 06 Dec. 2008 (Saturday, 2pm) |
Lorna Lopez |
+639179256505
+639223875729 |
thebachelorgirl@gmail.com |
| 07 Dec. 2008 (Sunday, 3pm) |
Theody Demaisip |
+639209326067 |
tdemaisip@fastmail.fm |
| Closing Night |
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| 07 Dec. 2008 (Sunday, 8pm) |
Mae Castro |
+639063414559 |
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I would definitely recommend this musical to my family and friends. Guaranteed fun for everyone!   | It could be that this is Madel's first professional theater production, though she had played the hip-hopping brainiac Martha Cox in Blue Repertory's production of High School Musical.
Nyoy naman, he's been in musical theater before he reached the peak of his musical career. He was in a couple of Atlantis shows (Rocky Horror Show and Dreamgirls) before his music career rose. I had the pleasure of working with him, both in musical theater and in some of his gigs.
Glad you enjoyed the DTR! =) |
 | Michael de mesa's Edna is much closer to the original edna back in late 80's. The 2007 movie is well purified. Kung baga, plantsado yung version sa big screen since marami kang puwedeng gawin sa big screen compared sa isang live performance.
Mamaya pa ako susulat, tulog muna ako :D |
 | Hmm, are you sure the play came first though? Based on what I could find, the 2007 film was based on the theatrical version which has been around since 2002, which in turn is based on the original 1988 film (which seems to be even less politically correct compared to the 2002 stage version). Otherwise the local version should be a riot to watch. XD |
 | i hope they do a good job .. i had reservations about john travolta playing the mommy in the movie, i thought someone else could have done a better funnier job. i have the similar reservations about michel de mesa. |
 | i'll probably catch this on sunday, separate from you guys. :( late night rehearsals suck... T____T |
 |  Yup, the original was the 1988 movie, which inspired the 2002 musical, which then percolated into the most recent 2007 movie musical. Either way, methinks all incarnations of Hairspray were good. My personal rating: Four Snaps and Five Coffee Fountains :D |
| j4ever wrote on Nov 13, '08, edited on Nov 13, '08 The 1988 movie is not musical. Although may mga sayawan, i is not a musical. THen naging broadway noong 2002. So basically, the musical version of Hairspray started on broadway :D |
 | I want to watch. I'm a Hairspray-virgin. HAHA! I have never watched the movie yet! |
 | slvrdlphn wrote on Nov 14, '08, edited on Nov 15, '08 I do believe I was referring to the musical. I didn't realize it wasn't obvious from the succeeding text. Hence, my editing it to include the word musical.  |
 | poamark wrote on Nov 14, '08, edited on Nov 14, '08 I give it four stars. It wasn't perfect: I found the technical aspects a bit uneven, particularly mic sounds at times didn't help me understand some of the lyrics. The dancing and choreography, I thought was superb, particularly the large ensemble ones. I haven't seen the movie, but I enjoyed it. :D
I agree with most of your observations on the actors, though I thought the guy who played Link actually seemed to enjoy his role that I didn't mind the uneven singing. Kudos really to the girl who played Penny (not you, slvrdlphn :P) as I found myself laughing much at her "geeky, awkward" acting/dancing. I thought it weird they went with the "remove her glasses and fix her hair and suddenly she is pretty, hot, and graceful," but hey, it's a musical.
Line of the night for me from the show: "Excuse me?" (by Edna to Velma)
Line of the night from me: "Si Dulce pala yun?" |
| zshali wrote on Nov 14, '08, edited on Nov 14, '08  Blagag! *fell off chair* May virgin musical ka pa pala?  Oo naman no! Hahaha! Pati RENT sana mapanood ko.
Pen, sa January may Zsazsa na ulit! Dapat nandun ka! |
 | the mic system sucks. but i loved almost everything else. haha.
i wasn't really expecting anything, so i honestly enjoyed their performances. tracy and link were so obviously new to this compared to menchu, but that's menchu, so.. LOL i think part of the problem was that they weren't using their "real" voices, so to speak, coz they were trying to sound like the broadway and movie versions, and that's always tricky, at best.
michael de mesa was loads better than john travolta. haha and i cried when dulce sang "i know where i've been!" such a scene-stealer. lol. i thought it was nice that she didn't try to do an american accent, hence, my friends and i dubbed her, "ghetto bisaya." LOL =p
menchu got tied up by two of the black ensemble, on whose orders i don't remember, maybe dulce's. nica reynoso as penny was really funny, yeah. she was so good at being awkward that i forgot she had such a powerful voice when she finally let it loose in "without love." Ü the dynamites were faaaaaaaaaantastic! lol =p
it REALLY isn't a kids show so i cringed every time they did something suggestive, coz there were LOTS of kids there. and it was so sad that i was the only one laughing at all the sixties references. hello, eddie fisher and debbie reynolds. LOL
oh, and did you guys notice michael de mesa's momma rose moment? "for meeeeee!!!!" i laughed so hard at that. does anybody know if that was in the original broadway version? =p |
 | Hello Ms. Penny. I think we met each other that night with Lorna? I had my daughter with me, who held the poster for our group photo. I enjoyed reading your review. |
| I remember you! We were also sitting near each other and I remember watching your daughter to see how she reacted to the play. How have you been? I'd love to read your review, too. |
| Oh, by the way, do you have a copy of our group picture we took after the show? |
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