Hairpsray
As most of you are aware, I went to see Hairspray today. No. Not on Broadway. If only my life could be such a dream. In fact, I saw it at the community theatre... performed by children. Yes. Children. "How does that work?" you ask? Not very well...
It was the single most horrible/adorably awesome thing I have ever seen.
So here is my random thoughts:
I say this, but on the other hand, how would I feel if they actually segregated the kids (assuming there was minorities aside from the one exceedingly bored Indian girl in the chorus). Would I find the more or less racist?
Additionally, I know Binghamton has black people. This isn't Colorado where they are so absent they're almost a myth. So they're conspicuous absence from a play about them really makes the whole enterprise... well... conspicuous.
2. There is a whole list of things that I don't really expect to hear kids say. Such as the following:
3.) Trying to determine whether Edna was played by a man or a woman was exceedingly difficult. Tradition has it that Edna is ALWAYS played by a man, but this is Binghamton, I'm not really sure how accepting of gender ambiguity they are out here. Unfortunately, the program was little help seeing as it listed the performer's name as Drew. Holy androgynous name, Batman! The weird thing was that if it was a boy playing it, I found it hilarious and brilliant. If it was a girl playing it, it was just okay. Weird. Guess it's time to look into my own preconceptions of gender.
4.) Spastic adolescent boys who don't know the beat are ADORABLE, and yet incredibly irritating to watch. I wondered if he got the part because he was willing to be spastic at all times, or because there was literally no one better than him
5.) I don't care if you are at some dumb kid's play, you don't talk through a performance. Yeah, that's right, I'm passively aggressively talking to you, rude guy behind me. And you certainly don't start snoring in the second act! Some supporting parent or whatever you are!
6.) I'm judgemental of even children. I made a note of a every single flat or sharp note, and poorly acted line. They're 10! says you. Standards! says I.
It was the single most horrible/adorably awesome thing I have ever seen.
So here is my random thoughts:
- 1. a.) Hairspray without black people is confusing. Seriously confusing.
- b.) Is a black Jerry-curl wig considered blackface? If so, there was a whole lot of blackface.
I say this, but on the other hand, how would I feel if they actually segregated the kids (assuming there was minorities aside from the one exceedingly bored Indian girl in the chorus). Would I find the more or less racist?
Additionally, I know Binghamton has black people. This isn't Colorado where they are so absent they're almost a myth. So they're conspicuous absence from a play about them really makes the whole enterprise... well... conspicuous.
2. There is a whole list of things that I don't really expect to hear kids say. Such as the following:
- a.) Hey baby, looks like you could use a stiff one.
- b.) We'll kiss inside his car, won't go all the way, but I'll go pretty far.
3.) Trying to determine whether Edna was played by a man or a woman was exceedingly difficult. Tradition has it that Edna is ALWAYS played by a man, but this is Binghamton, I'm not really sure how accepting of gender ambiguity they are out here. Unfortunately, the program was little help seeing as it listed the performer's name as Drew. Holy androgynous name, Batman! The weird thing was that if it was a boy playing it, I found it hilarious and brilliant. If it was a girl playing it, it was just okay. Weird. Guess it's time to look into my own preconceptions of gender.
4.) Spastic adolescent boys who don't know the beat are ADORABLE, and yet incredibly irritating to watch. I wondered if he got the part because he was willing to be spastic at all times, or because there was literally no one better than him
5.) I don't care if you are at some dumb kid's play, you don't talk through a performance. Yeah, that's right, I'm passively aggressively talking to you, rude guy behind me. And you certainly don't start snoring in the second act! Some supporting parent or whatever you are!
6.) I'm judgemental of even children. I made a note of a every single flat or sharp note, and poorly acted line. They're 10! says you. Standards! says I.