Hairspray

[LISA]

Has anyone seen the movie yet? I remember watching it when I was younger and liking it a lot...I finally watched the movie the other day with John Travolta and thought it was SUPER cheesy but kinda cute. I just can't really love musicals that I see on TV because I grew up watching musicals in the theatre so it is WAY different. I hear Hairspray is coming to Calgary and might actually want to go and watch it in the theatre~!

[Amethyst]

I saw the John Travolta one and really liked it.  Then my friend loaned me a copy of the original movie.  I liked that one as well, but every though everyone says it was better, it didn't compare to the Travolta one to me.  I think because I knew so many people in the Travolta one and saw it first.

I would love to see it done as a real show though.

~Michelle

[Sharon]

There are actually a few reviews here: http://www.letstawk.com/index.php/topic,2184.0.html

I had seen the original movie with Ricki Lake when it first came out a long time ago, and I found that Ricki Lake was just as good in the cameo apperance she made in the John Travolta version, which I found to be far more colorful and entertaining.

When the musical comes to town, I might go and see it...because for sure a live show version of this would definitely be worth checking out  .

[LISA]

I don't really remember the original anymore...what do you all find is the difference between the original and the latest version?

[Steph]

If you guys haven't heard - Broadway across Canada is bringing Hairspray in next season I believe! I can't wait as it's one of the shows I haven't seen!

[LISA]

I may want to watch it but I dunno...if it has that cheese factor like the movies, I may not like it in the end! lol And of course-nobody can do a mean John Travolta act! haha

[Sharon]

I don't really remember the original anymore...what do you all find is the difference between the original and the latest version?

The original was more centered on the sixties, and while there was a focus on social issues (such as being different in size, color, etc.), the focus is more evident in the John Travolta version. In the sixties segregation was a big issue, and that issue is portrayed on a much larger scale in the John Travolta version than in the Ricki Lake version. Same for being different in physical form, the acceptance of one carrying extra weight on his/her body is stressed far more in the John Travolta version than in the Ricki Lake version...a bit like the way society nowadays tries to accept models of different measurements in the fashion world, and not just the skinny ones like Kate Moss...That's how I see it, the newer version of "Hairspray" stresses more the acceptance of social differences than the older version of the movie.

Also, it's more colorful in decor, costume and performances, it's far more entertaining.