All it takes is once, and you'll never forget the voice of Harvey Fierstein. Blessed with one of the most distinctive voices in entertainment, Fierstein returns to the boards as Edna Turnblad, the unstoppable stage mother to end all stage mothers in Hairspray. (Oh come on, let's just say it: She's the white trash stage mother of all time!)
The story, set in Baltimore circa 1960, centers around Tracy Turnblad, a "big-boned" beauty with even more impressive hair. She wins the most coveted place in any teen's heart: a chance to dance on a local TV program. (For those of you of a certain vintage: Think "American Bandstand.") Along the way, she not only becomes a teen idol but a force in ending local racial discrimination.
While Hairspray swept the 2003 Tony Awards in all four musical performance categories (Leading Actress and Actor, as well as Featured Actress and Actor), Fierstein remains the best known of the lot, possibly because of his work in Torch Song Trilogy or as Robin Williams' brother in Mrs. Doubtfire. If you looked closely, you might've caught him -- again in drag -- as Mrs. Claus in the 2003 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"But I've never, ever, ever been to Las Vegas," he told us. "To me, this is my excuse to learn all about it. All I know is there a lot of electric lights, one long street of hotels and a lot of buffets. Oh, and breasticals, a lot of breasticals. But hey, I'm there to entertain, not to be entertained!" Vegas, Fierstein readily admitted, could well be the perfect match for Hairspray.
"You certainly know how to have a good time here, and Hairspray is a party." When pressed to describe the allure of the show, Fierstein responded quickly, "The honest truth is it's a good time. That's its pedigree. It has a story and message, so it's not an empty vessel, but most importantly, it's a good-time girl. Miss Hairspray is a good date."
The Vegas version also has been trimmed to 90 minutes, which means some of the songs had to go. "We lost the big jailhouse number," he explained. "I'll miss getting to tap dance in high heels, but I'll survive. If anything, after having (just) played Tevye (in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway), I look forward to a smaller role."
Rejoining him is Dick Latessa, as Edna's husband, Wilbur. "When I heard Dick would do it again, I said, 'Yes.' I've found a soul mate -- that's the kind of relationship we have onstage."
Still, it's the voice that lingers. And Fierstein admitted that people go to great lengths to amuse themselves in describing it. "Lauren Bacall after a long night of scotch drinking," is a personal favorite of his.
"In a biz where there's two billion people for every role, the one thing you want is to be inimitable. To be singular is not a terrible thing."
Harvey Fierstein: You are one singular sensation.