Shampooing the Black Kids from Hairspray

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

In Hairspray, race is central to the story.

That's true.

(I have intentionally never seen seen Hairspray. LOL.)

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

My knowledge of Hairspray is limited to the Divine/Travolta character, so I was not aware that AA characters played a significant role in the production. I have acknowledged that they probably needed to pick a different production, though.

Oh, I know you have. But yeah, a central part of the plot is about integrating a teen dance show in early 1960s Baltimore.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

(I have intentionally never seen seen Hairspray. LOL.)

The musical has some good songs (and the movie version of the musical is actually better than the stage version, I think), but I prefer the John Waters original.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Oh, I know you have. But yeah, a central part of the plot is about integrating a teen dance show in early 1960s Baltimore.

Interesting.

I used to live in the Baltimore area, so I've been a fan of Waters for a while. Everything that I've heard about the story has been 1) "coming of age" for the "big girl" and 2) LGBT related, due to the Edna character.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Interesting.

I used to live in the Baltimore area, so I've been a fan of Waters for a while. Everything that I've heard about the story has been 1) "coming of age" for the "big girl" and 2) LGBT related, due to the Edna character.

IDK about Edna. It was probably chosen for her to be a man in drag so she wouldn't be considered attractive. I didn't write the play so I don't know if that is the case or not. But yeah racism plays a huge part in the story.

[LXA SE285]

The musical has some good songs (and the movie version of the musical is actually better than the stage version, I think), but I prefer the John Waters original.

Me too. I've never seen the musical, but it strikes me as sanitized of JW's trademark twistedness.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LXA SE285

Me too. I've never seen the musical, but it strikes me as sanitized of JW's trademark twistedness.

Not completely. There's the song Tracy sings to open the show, with lyrics like these:

The rats on the street
All dance round my feet.
They seem to say
"Tracy, it's up to you."
So, oh, oh,
Don't hold me back,
'Cause today all my dreams will come true.

Good morning Baltimore!
There's the flasher who lives next door,
There's the bum on his bar room stool,
They wish me luck on my way to school.

In the movie of the musical, "the flasher who lives next door" is a cameo by John Waters.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

IDK about Edna. It was probably chosen for her to be a man in drag so she wouldn't be considered attractive. I didn't write the play so I don't know if that is the case or not. But yeah racism plays a huge part in the story.

I think having Edna played by a man is more so a homage to Divine than anything else. I think if Divine was still alive he probably would(and should) have revisited Edna's role in the remake.

Originally Posted by LXA SE285

Me too. I've never seen the musical, but it strikes me as sanitized of JW's trademark twistedness.

I saw the movie adaptation of the musical and yes, it was disappointingly mild.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I think having Edna played by a man is more so a homage to Divine than anything else.

This.