BWW Reviews: Fierstein, Winokur Bring Fun 'HAIRSPRAY' to the Hollywood Bowl

The 17,000-seat Hollywood Bowl's gigantic, often star-studded outdoor summer musical has through the years been one of the most anticipated annual concert events in Southern California. And this year, with their rousing revival of HAIRSPRAY, the hype actually delivered on its promise—for the most part. Genuinely the most charming, energetic staged musical the Hollywood Bowl has mounted in the past few years, HAIRSPRAY—which continues with just two more performances on August 6 and 7—was a lively, entertaining treat, highlighted by the thrilling presence of a pair of familiar faces (and voices) in the lead roles.

Reuniting to play their Tony-winnning roles for the first time in L.A., Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur are once again playing Edna and Tracy Turnblad, respectively. Blessed with impeccable comic skills and truly unique, distinctive voices, both are in fine, superb form as a loving mother-and-daughter team. Despite the passage of time, both winning actors prove that these parts really fit them snuggly. Their characters, and their choices in playing them, quickly endear them to the audience. Winokur is sounding even better than her celebrated return to the role at the Pantages Theater some years back, while Fierstein handily rules the roost. To watch him reprise Edna Turnblad—with that unmistakable rasp of amazingness—is like seeing a master class in comic timing. It's so joyful to watch them both that even the few awkward notes and technical gaffes here and there couldn't dampen their spirited, wonderful performances.

Based on John Waters' cult film classic which was turned into a hit, Tony-winnning Broadway musical in 2002, HAIRSPRAY features the story of a plucky, pleasantly-plump high schooler who dreams of nothing more than to be featured in her favorite weekday afternoon TV dance program The Corny Collins Show. Of course, if she ends up interacting with the show's resident hottie Link Larkin, then that's just icing on a very delicious cake. Encouraged by her supportive father and ditzy best friend, she defies the odds (and her mother's initial objections) and ends up landing a spot as a dancer in the TV show. As a champion of the outsider, she eventually becomes quite the high-haired heroine and role model, helping to usher the dance show to finally be racially-integrated.

Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, this slightly shortened but forcibly amplified-for-the-Bowl concert version is infectiously giddy right from the get-go. The fun even starts earlier with a surprisingly jazzed-up version of the national anthem delivered wonderfully by the show's cheery vocal ensemble.

The show itself, like the other musicals presented at this world-famous venue every summer, has been truncated a bit to fit the Bowl's late start time and the venue's available accommodations. Mostly, the trims are unnoticeable; and those that are tend to be for the better (goodbye, "Miss Baltimore Crabs!") It's a tighter, zippier version, no doubt, providing the appropriate energy to burst through even to the seats that feel like they're a mile away from the stage.

One of the best things about HAIRSPRAY, aside from the full-throttle awesomeness of its Mitchell-conceived dance numbers and its occasionally witty book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan are the show's outstanding songs written by theater treasures Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The tunes are marvelous to begin with, and here—backed by the Bowl's exceptional on-stage orchestra—they ring out and soar (that is, when the cast's microphones are working properly). The sheer size of the Bowl's enormous stage had the cast members running like admirably nimble athletes from one end to other, without losing any steam. While the hard-working ensemble doesn't usurp the star wattage away from the Big Name Celebrities, they certainly do their damn-dest to sing with great gusto and to keep up and provide unwavering support to the seasoned vets surrounding them.

And, yes, it wouldn't be a Hollywood Bowl summer musical without the presence of some huge, marquee-level stars filling in some of the lead roles. While these Bowl extravaganzas tend to be a mixed bag of stunt casting and unorthodox surprises, the results are often hit-or-miss. Joining the fabulous one-two punch of original cast stars Winokur and Fierstein, this year's crop of big names produced its own share of pleasant and eyebrow-raising results as well.

Perhaps the most news-gathering casting choice of all in the show—at least for teens and many pop culture-savvy adults—is the presence of teen pop icon Nick Jonas as Link Larkin, Tracy's would-be paramour and the breakout star of The Corny Collins Show. Though Jonas has amassed a few Broadway credits in the past, he's mostly known for being one-third of the popular band he formed with two of his brothers. So, understandably, the affable, charismatic 18-year-old elicited the evening's loudest, most piercing screams from the audience's young demographic... even for just saying a line or merely walking a few feet forward.

While such a fanatic reaction to his every move seems a bit over-the-top (but, hey, we were all teens once, right?) he more than backed it up with his overall admirable performance. A truly enjoyable surprise, Jonas danced as boisterously as his more seasoned castmates, and managed to be quite swoon-worthy as he sang. Man, it's hard to find fault in a guy that did such a fine, upstanding job. Even the huge age gap between him and Winokur somehow eventually faded as the two shared a pleasant chemistry throughout the show.

Sharing the teen heartthrob spotlight with Mr. Jonas is fellow Disney-bred singer/actor Corbin Bleu (the High School Musical films), whose smoldering charm as Seaweed J. Stubbs is truly winning. A terrific overall performer, Bleu (along with his turn in IN THE HEIGHTS) can sing and dance with the best of them.

As his love interest (and Tracy's BFF) Penny Pingleton, the amazing, scene-stealing Diana DeGarmo—who earned my highest praise when I reviewed her recent performance in the national tour of 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL—mines every possible comedy gold every time she sets foot on the stage. And just when I thought I couldn't love her any more than I already do, she then sings. Brilliant. (She played the role on Broadway before, soon after finishing as the first runner up on the third season of American Idol.)

As Edna's jokeshop-owning husband Wilbur, an even-more svelte Drew Carey (the improv-loving host of The Price Is Right) is super-adorable in the role, especially in scenes with Fierstein. Though there isn't much of a real distinction between his acting and his real-life persona here, Carey's easy rapport with both Winokur and Fierstein is smile-inducing. Even better, his second act duet with Fierstein in "You're Timeless To Me" is probably my most favorite coupling ever for the song.

Aside from Fierstein, Winokur and DeGarmo, the magnificent Darlene Love (who plays "Negro Day" host Motormouth Maybelle) is also a returning veteran from HAIRSPRAY's Broadway production. Fiercely bawdy in "Big Blonde and Beautiful" and deeply moving while belting the heck out of "I Know Where I've Been" the music legend is a soulful, stirring marvel.

Blessed with undeniable beauty and a voice to match, Tara Macri, another vet from the Broadway and national tour production, is amusingly wicked as Amber Von Tussle. And what a wonderful, welcome presence it is to see comedians Michael McDonald and Mo Gaffney join the party. The droll pair play multiple peripheral roles in the production and prove to be delightful additions that amp up the show's physical comedy.

Possibly the production's biggest surprise is who didn't quite make a good impression. An accomplished actor and musician with a string of Broadway credits to his name, John Stamos was sort of a let-down in his smaller role as Corny Collins (a casting choice that excited me quite a lot when initially announced). Though as dashing and as handsome as ever, he seemed a bit mentally removed with each subsequent appearance, garbling many of his lines. And during his solo in "It's Hairspray" he was quite pitchy, perhaps because the song's key was noticeably switched. And reprising the same role she played in the intermission-less Las Vegas sit-down production of HAIRSPRAY, Susan Anton appears as Amber's subtly racist mother Velma. Still gorgeous and statuesque, Anton makes little impact out of the shrill, rather miniscule character.

Overall, while not as near-perfect as it's original, smaller-scaled iterations on Broadway and on subsequent national tours, the Bowl's thoroughly fantastic staging—with its huge yet simple, immovable set, counterbalanced by all the eye-popping, lavish costumes—manages to encapsulate the show's intended spirit. Don't come expecting the show to be faithful to the original Broadway version or even the superb film version from 2007. Just take it in as a fun, slightly naughty, retro dance party with some pretty great stars acting like silly goofballs, and you'll be in for a great, entertaining time.

Follow this reviewer on Twitter: @cre8ivemlq

Photos from the Opening Night Performance of HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl by Vincent Montero.

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Performances of HAIRSPRAY continue at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 6 (at 8:30 pm) and Sunday, August 7 (at 7:30 pm).

Tickets are still available, and may be purchased online at HollywoodBowl.com, by phone at 323-850-2000, in person at the Hollywood Bowl box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

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