REVIEW: Relive those ‘Hairspray’ memories at ‘Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!’
Photo: Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! stars, from left, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Photo courtesy of Russ Rowland / Provided by JT PR with permission.
NEW YORK — The new cabaret-style revue Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! is having a tragically short off-Broadway run at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan. The show, starring Laura Bell Bundy, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Kerry Butler, is a trip down memory lane, explaining how the three actors met one another on the landmark musical Hairspray and how they have remained friends ever since. They sing their hearts out on a number of songs from the many shows they have appeared in throughout the years, making Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! one of the most exhilarating evenings of theater in New York City this holiday season.
The show has a definite cabaret feel, with the three actors joined on stage by three backup singers and three musicians. They sometimes hold microphones, and often they head to their individual makeup mirrors to grab some props to better tell these stories in a comedic light. Throughout the 80-minute melee, they are heartfelt when it’s needed, and they are comedy heaven when the script calls for lighthearted moments.
Bundy, Winokur and Butler cover everything from how they broke into show business, how they landed the Hairspray gigs, how their friendship evolved over the years and how they became mothers. They sing some of the songs that put them on the map faithfully and with great force. Other times, they offer audience members a medley of tunes, almost like a montage in a movie. There’s an anecdote about Liza Minnelli, a tale about Britney Spears and a behind-the-scenes story of Alan Menken.
At the particular performance this reviewer attended, original Hairspray director Jack O’Brien was in the crowd, and he received a shoutout. Also, James Carpinello, now appearing in off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors, was called up on stage. These additions seemed perfectly fitting for a show that uses fun as fuel.
The songs in Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! are nicely chosen, showcasing the vocal talents of the central trio. All of the beloved numbers from Hairspray are present and accounted for, plus choice selections from Legally Blonde, Gypsy, Beetlejuice, Xanadu and more. When considering the number of shows that Bundy, Winokur and Butler have appeared in — Butler alone has acted in 12 Broadway shows — there is a wealth of material to choose from.
When they’re not earning rapturous laughs from the comedy, the three actors are taking a few moments to hit the pause button and offer some insights about their lives and careers. The most poignant scene involves each performer explaining how they became a mother. This part serves as the capstone to a wild journey into how Bundy, Winokur and Butler became best friends and continue to support one another.
Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!, which closes its extended run Saturday, Dec. 21, is a special treat for New York theatergoers who have watched these three actors build their careers on stage and in film and TV. They are such busy performers that it’s probably rare for the stars to align and have them in one place at any given time. One can only hope their schedules mesh well in the future for a return engagement.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!, starring Laura Bell Bundy, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Kerry Butler, continues through Saturday, Dec. 21, at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan. The actors are also the writers and directors of the show. Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission. Click here for more information and tickets.
