Mercury’s ‘Hairspray’ proves that you can’t stop the beat

 

Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics

 

The musical “Hairspray” recently surfaced as a heavily promoted, overproduced and underperforming $10 million live broadcast on NBC. 

 

Last year’s TV extravaganza employed 13 digital cameras, a cast and crew of 700, the sprawling California soundstages of Universal Studios, and former “Glee” star Darren Criss breaking the fourth wall before every commercial break to interview harried performers during hurried costume changes.

 

It was, in short, the artistic antithesis of the under-produced yet absolutely delightful Mercury Theatre Company rendition currently on stage. 

 

For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/.