Hairspray: Can't Stop the Beat London West End Cast BBC Children in Need 2008

[TheCaitlindotcom]

i hate this trcy she doesn't sound right

[BeccaWei25331]

oh man, I don't think I can watch the les mis 10th anniversary concert with a straight face anymore

[HairsprayPotterGirl]

That Tracy isn't big enough.

[justmakesomenoise1]

wearing a dress and I still love Michael Ball!<3

[gosenskat]

New favourite live version. This cast rocks.

[FreddyParkin1]

i'm disapointed with that tracy :(

[06s091]

@FreddyParkin1 This was the understudy Charlotte Rigby. Leanne Jones was the pricipal Tracy.

[ROBYNX1995]

Anyone else think that Amber's hair looks like a hairy turkey on her head?

[simzism]

@ROBYNX1995  defanutly lol

[Lovejoyfanatic]

Can Someone explain me why the Pennys always are hot? Broadway,Hairpray 1988 and then the one in the remake and now this one xD

[jottamartins]

I believe is completely impossible to perform this song without your voice flinching. The speed, the breathing, the dancing.... everything is very demanding

[Esorassen]

@jottamartins especially when the leading lady is normally obese

[majorbonnie]

They should have a teenager play tracy, then they could play her for a longer time. i know that i would love to do what they are. playing tracy is one of my dreams cos' one of the only teen roles that needs someone who's bigger (which i am ) x :)

[7ED25]

@majorbonnie Even though the character is 16 there is no way any of the portrayals of he role make her seem close. The thing about her being able to play the role for a long time isn't relevent as A. Marissa Jaret Winokur,the original Broadway Tracy is now late 30s early 40s and played the role at the hollywood bowl this year and on broadway again in 09. B. Casting directors and producers like to keep the show fresh by changing things round every now and then. C. Nobody who's 16 has the training

[WickedMusicalBuffalo]

Tracy has a great voice but she's way too old for the part.

[HappyWeirdo3]

being married to Cosette must of did something to Maruis... cos now look whats hes doing... XD

[SuperJb4eva]

@HappyWeirdo3 I know and he is a good dancer in must say :D and now he has to kiss a 38 year old woman.

[sunstalker101]

@HappyWeirdo3 The guy whos playing link in this hairspray production isn't Nick jonas. lol

[HappyWeirdo3]

@sunstalker101 i know, i was talking about Michael Ball, cos he was the original Marius. :)

[KawaiiMooMoo]

Riby has an amazing voice, but she does not look like she's in high school. She doesn't look OLD, but she doesn't look 17 either

[dancergirl1228]

I gotta do this song 4 an audition tomorrow! This key is perfect! Any1 know what it is just from hearing it? I know it's not the same as the original

[ryanb3als]

Americans do it better.

[Dirschbag]

Marius?...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[keithjas]

I don't like this Tracy! :(

[simzism]

@keithjas i dont like her atall in this

[12stuart23]

i went to see them in edinburgh playhouse this year :D

[angelste75]

I went to see hairspray with brian connelly in october last year.. he was gr8..

best birthday present ever..

[Moppa824]

ehhh her voice is kinda... :/

[suzirida1]

i love michale ball in this but from the other clip that ive seen on youtube of the broadway show this isnt as gd.

[xSJJACKSONx]

Leanne was better x

[angelfishlover]

For some reason I prefer London's West End one than Broadway's...hahah

[Broadwaybuff411]

I saw the show on Broadway, and this is just.... not good.

[123malichi]

@Broadwaybuff411 this aint Broadway but a TV studio so u cant compare!The London West End production was an award winner!

[Broadwaybuff411]

@123malichi I agree with the fact that it's a tv studio and it would sound different there. So I'm sure that the cast is talented but the Broadway show did also win Best Musical and a bunch of another awards.

[Platinum400]

@Broadwaybuff411 Vocally, this is much stronger than the original Broadway cast's recording.

[MrMikesok]

tracys too skinny!!!

[josedance85]

aire para tracy!!!!

[ptilleyxox]

also it looks like they copied the OBC moves and costumes way too much..

[pilsburydoughboy555]

@ptilleyxox

That's because it's the west end...

and this is a replica production....

[mackie584]

@ptilleyxox this was a direct transfer of the broadway production. it's very common. there is no need to change anything, unless they revive it.

[ptilleyxox]

i prefere the austrlian " you cant stop the beat "

[123malichi]

@ptilleyxox Sounds biased!

[KaptinKrunck]

SO.... Seaweed sang like an E6.... Great Seaweed choice

[alanchilestone]

Comments about Tracey, i think you'll find this was an understudy, at the time TB was played by Leanne Jones who certainly looked the part.

[hairspraydude1]

@alanchilestone Yes, Charlotte Riby was the stand-by.

[DCXtremists]

Best Maybelle ive seen

[anchorman87]

best rendition i have heard!

[mrthundercrack]

Tracy has a wonderful voice. She could be fatter, but they can handle this in the costume department. I love this penny also. Great cast and fantistic choreography.

[scifitheatre]

You can clearly hear Tracy's accent when singing she over powers the Baltimore accent. Link is do a fantastic job though.

[MarkoSclub]

2 questions! Why is Tracy not fat!? and why is penny a bigger drag queen then Edna, just sayin"

[megamerryn]

the tracy girl cant sing.......in my opinion, plz dont fil my inbox wiv h8 mail but i dont think she can sing

[THEtinyemo]

@megamerryn hey, at least she's not as bad as the broadway tracy, who can't sing for toffee!!!!

[megamerryn]

@THEtinyemo lol

[AnonRymal]

Aren't they supposed to be teens? 

[HairsprayUK]

@AnonRymal Yes alot of them are, but they are normally played by people from 20-26.

[david88441]

Ok, that Tracy sounds too old to sing her role. She's also overexaggerating a Southern Accent.

[HairsprayUK]

@david88441 Shes amazing! Best ive heard it.

[Lionkingonstage]

its coming bac to london after the christmas of 2011

[NeeliAankhen]

Oh please go rent the original 1988 version and watch it - this Tracy is truly not fat enough, and she doesn't have the moves of the girls of the 50s, either.

[HairsprayUK]

@NeeliAankhen That may be because no.1 Charlottle Riby isnt fat and if you make the fat suit to padded its to heavey for the actors and they get very hot and sticky . No.2 Its 60s and Tracy dances more in the style of the Black kids rather than the Corny Collins show kids.

[bonenavond]

LIKE MOTORMOUTH, SANDRA IS AMAZING!!

[abiandmegan]

ben ellis is hot and amazing as Link!!!

[TopGearFanForever]

Michael Ball = legend.

[fantasylover42]

personally i don't like the way this tracy sings :P

[razberrry101]

penny is great!

[silvershields]

she's shouting rather than singing, hmm

[riftintimeandspace]

penny looks a bit old..?

[loveboyinahouse]

original tracey was not feeling to great so her understudy feeled in this performance. But i think the understudy wasnt very good unfortunely, just didnt feel she was right for the part...

[bonenavond]

This isn't the original London Tracy? Is it?

I thought the original Tracy did stopped in 2009.

But how is it possible if she stopped in 2009, that Tracy is here someone else?????

[sweetdreams1405]

this was for children in need 2008. This was Leanne's Understudy at the time.

[amazinglywicked]

charlotte is an understudy so the original one was still in the show just not at this performance

[bonenavond]

How many years did Michael played Edna?

[Lionkingonstage]

@bonenavond 2007-2009

[mlamont1989]

@bonenavond F.Y.I He's still playing her.

[anchorman87]

this is the best rendition of this song I have seen!

[iLikeMuffins100]

Eponine: You can so have him Cosette!

hahahaha. Just the thought of the stereotypical lovesick tenor playing Edna makes me laugh. But he's damn good!

Is it true he's doing Sweeney Todd later tihs year?

[hizgurl11]

i love this song.we are doing it in my chior and we are all outta breath wen it is over,but its a fun song though!!we do dance moves like theirs,but we arent half as good as they are

[FuzzehPeach]

Penny's voice sounds... idk... doesn't sound pennylike :L

[friendsMJD]

Harvey Fierstein is da best Edna

[TheDan412]

phil jupitus is way better haha

[broadjaychaz]

the voices' especially tracey are not the best.

but great energy. Ball is great!

[DustyCarnage]

Charlotte is such an amazing person fair do's... we met her during our workshop literally hours before she was meant to go on stage and i respect this lot so much. so amazing. We went to michael ball's last performance i think. it was amazing.

[kualitee88]

man i luv this song! theres so much energy and excitement in it, i get out of breath just watchin it!!!!

[booty2k6]

why does seaweed dance like a demented chicken, he looks out of place when he does the dance with everyone else

[aeon23]

Tracy isn't very fat.

[THEtinyemo]

@aeon23 keep in mind, nearly all of the dancers have to practice this routine nearly every week before the show, they have a hard time keeping tracy fat, I know they could give her the entire snack bar, but she needs to be able to stand up... -.- Michael Ball doesn't have an entirely tough time keeping himself fat, he doesn't have to do much, so therefore, tracy can't help being a little slim.

[angelfishlover]

@aeon23 Tracy after dieting...

[hairspraydude1]

@aeon23 That's because it was Leanne's (full-time Tracy) standby. Leanne was in New York, on vacation, when this was filmed.

[MsPhox]

actresses who play Traci DO have a problem with weight when they do this show because of all the dancing -- they lose too much weight, but i agree that Traci looks TOO thin and old for this performance.

[Konahoki]

@aeon23 yeah, she's kinda old too

[minimarioman]

has anyone ever wondered how hard it must be for the person who plays tracy to actually stay fat. Dancing like that everyday would loose alot of weight, do you thiink she has to purposly eat loads to maintain the tracy turnblad look?

[booty2k6]

by eating an american diet most likely, loads of Hamburgers, Weenies and Doughnuts, hehe

[rachclarko]

its a fat suit charlotte riby isnt fat in real life

[lister91]

IMO Michael Ball is the only on who pulls off his part..

[houcas96]

what does velma and amber said when they sing together?

[darreyl102]

"so we're gonna shake and shimmy it and have some fun today!" =)

[mrjselby]

us vontusal girls allways try and be with a man , or somethink like that :)

[KatMusic2009]

@mrjselby Von tussle girls are always tryin to please someone

[mrjselby]

yeah thats it :D im obsessed with this song

[TheIzakk]

''Ever since we first saw the sun, it seems von Tussle girls are always tryin' to please someone. And so we're gonna shake and shimmy it and have some fun today!''

[Doctor1137]

is Michael Ball going to be in the UK tour

[jayysssssssss]

yes but not all tour stops

[booty2k6]

Michael Ball is amazing as edna

[LuciF9]

LOL at Michael Ball

[MrMoviemaverick]

i saw hairspray last night in the west end

[misswarchan]

Well, I've seen better. But I've also seen worse. A 2 out of 5...and that's beening nice about it.

[houcas96]

Amazing sound!

[16therithcrew]

who plays Wilbur in this clip?

Happy YouTubing!

[frymahhide1982]

Ian Talbot is Wilbur (in this clip)

[MarrzyDouglas]

How on earth did Ben James Ellis manage to get awards/nominations for his role in Hairspray and Adrian Hansel not?!

Sorry to be rude, but I think Adrian has been overlooked.... and nobody can say Seaweed isn't an award worthy role because Corey Reynolds was nominated for a Tony Award when he played Seaweed on Broadway.

tut tut.

[LuvlyUnknown]

Totally agree...Adrian Hansel was fantastic...that voice is too amazing, and his acting as well...

[G1692]

charlotte riby is wicked love her voice and she a better dancer than leanne. charlotte is such a nice person love her

[PebblesDave]

I've worked with Charlotte Riby at the Pineapple Studios in London. She's an amazing singer!!!

[18150690]

i love this penny

[n1i9c7k7]

This is horrible compared to the comic relief version!

Terrible!

[standup22]

I saw Charlotte Riby as Tracy in one of Michael's last shows. She was AMAAAZING.

[dancenowandallways]

She tought me part of the dance at a workshop yesterday at pineapple stufios was amazing !!

[patayfosho1999]

I don't like this Tracy. :(...she's just not Leanne Jones (best Tracy EVER).

[exonian1]

Not only is Tracy not heavy enough, she is wearing padding. Penny and the rest of the cast look like college graduates not high-school kids!

[futurstarsinger]

the tracy's not fat enough!!!!!

[girlwhocouldntfly]

That's because she's in a fat suit ;)

[davidtennantfan92]

I just went to see this on friday night - it was absolutely amazing - one of the best days of my life :D

and I got to meet michael ball and ben afterwards who areb two of the nicest guys you could hope to meet :)

[donnymad22]

I love Micheal Ball he is amazing!!!

[YT0Vits]

Please forgive me,but I'm gon'na dare to say that I prefer this Michael Ball ratter than John Travolta.And B.T.W.,what's with the guy who plays SEAWEED?The part he sings is like Tracie Thoms in SEASONS OF LOVE in RENT(that's a bad thing).

[PARAWHORExHERE]

Adrian Hansell is possibly the best Seaweed ever to set on a Hairspray stage.

[YT0Vits]

I didn't say he was bad,I just didn't like that part in particular.

[WeCanNeverMeetAgain]

Why is it a bad thing?

[YT0Vits]

It isn't.I'm kiddin'.

[pilsburydoughboy555]

how come tracy sounds like she's overpronouncing words

example:

you cyant styop the byeat!

ever syince we first....

[YT0Vits]

It's way of singin'.

[18150690]

luv the song

[wickedissocool]

charlotte riby is amazing! i saw her when i went!

[krazykittymatt]

Michael Ball has really gotten soooo much better! I remember when I first watched him it was like watching that sad attempt of Edna that John Travolta did, but he is really awesome in this vid!!!

[hairsprayman111]

now he makes her more "his own" he puts his own spin on it

[ohughes01]

Charlotte Riby is amazing, simple as!

[stva4ever]

The bordway version is really great.

It kinda bugs me when adults try and act like children, and I kinda liked the movie better.

[DodyHansen]

These costumes ROCK!

[ddbjg]

i love this song

[BleakleyCutler]

erugh who is that tracy? Leanne Jones is WAAAY much better!

[marvelgreatfan]

Racheal has gone oh my god she was so fit and her voice outpowerd everyone else they got rid of her the vshows gonna go down

[standup22]

i LOVE michael ball, sandra marvin and ian talbot.

[kchibelushi]

TRACY ISNT FAT.  :(

[tyobfarty]

lol you say that like its bad!

[ShoshanaBeanFan]

Nice Video! I don't really care for the Tracy or Penny in this. They sound too old. I actually did a show w/ Amber Rees, if u look up the site for the national tour, you'll find she plays Penny. She's my favorite! Shes young too!

[GeorgeHasTalent]

Tracy Isn't fat there! Isn't she meant to be?

[nathanharrod]

i think shes the understudy as leanne was ill :)

[bethany95h]

you mentioned all the main cast but you missed rachael wooding playing amber!

[girlwhocouldntfly]

This is Zoe Rainey as Amber

[popsterrox]

I think it's Rachael Wooding... Don't quote me on that though! :P

[lizzybobzehorse]

Nope this is Zoe Rainey.

[mjkeaton]

the women that play tracy and penny sound way too old........

[sheelz321]

I saw this last week at the Shaftesbury - divine - Leanne was Tracy, Michael was Edna and Nigel Planer was Wilbur

[MEE051677]

I'm not crazy about the Tracy or Penny

[saint973]

where's leanne

[pheebster1405]

I think she was in new york meeting Marissa Perry and Harvey Fierstien from broadway.

[ohughes01]

wasn't she ill at the time?

[LarkinProductions]

Awesome performance. The American accents are perfect

[TheNextGlinda]

Isn't she too thin?

[bananatramp]

i prefer leanne jones by a mile

[SGbubbles855]

i think leanne jones is better but she's still good

[lolliepop13]

I like Leanne Jones better as Tracy but this was a good performance.

[Lilystar98]

This is very good

[lozalorryloo]

i think leanne jones is much better!

[actressunleashed]

If you had to sing a high song and do all that dance rountine at the same time, you would be tired too don't ya rekon? I certainly would! XD

[Jamiekennywicked]

tracey sounds very tired Just my opinion she is god though

[buzzmorrison]

amazing loved every moment wonderful close to the new york show but not better but it was great

[hannah980x]

I saw this in London on thursday and it was much better than it looks on here! Me and a few others got a dance class before with Tammy (blue dress and cool hair) and learned this dance! We went cos my teacher wanted us to no how to perform for rock challenge and i highly recomend it! Zara was really nice and every1 was dancing at the end of the performance!

[lukeage]

Love Charlotte as tracy, she is tracy..GO RIBY!

Rest of the cast are as tight as ever, will be sad when Ian and Ellie leave at the end of this month. And Liked how Sandra got a chance to shine as motormouth, go understudies!

[jenard20]

who is motormouth

[darreyl102]

Sandra Marvin

[Lovelyluckylollypop]

i went to london in 2008 to see this and their gd there they were brill at london g8 singing

[SWall95]

i went n saw hairspray at shaftesbury theatre yesterday and there was a different tracy and she was better in my opinion :) i love seaweed x

[theemaestro576]

I think Charlotte was/is an understudy

[darreyl102]

she is