'Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!' review — you can’t stop the beat of this 'Hairspray' reunion
Read our review of Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! off Broadway, starring original Hairspray cast members Marissa Jaret Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, and Kerry Butler.
A trio of Hairspray divas are shaking up New World Stages. Marissa Jaret Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, and Kerry Butler, three original cast members of that Tony Award-winning musical, join forces for the Off-Broadway revue Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now! Like affectionate moms, they flip you through their photo albums with silliness, love, nostalgia, and melodic goodies.
Playing with DIY props like kids in a sandbox, the three are irresistible comedians who share stories from childhood to Hairspray, where they forged their friendship, to motherhood. Although Winokur’s sunny Tracy Turnbald and Butler’s lovable Penny feuded with Bundy’s arrogant Amber in the show, their casting in the Broadway musical led to a lifelong bond.
Their pre-Hairspray admiration for each other was already weaving the threads of their proverbial friendship bracelet. Winokur, for example, had seen Bundy star in Ruthless! — and we learn Britney Spears was Bundy’s understudy. A hilarious “Oops!... I Did It Again” parody follows.
The actresses' tales collide in other clever ways. When Bundy and Butler reenact their childhood glory days as models and pageant queens, an envious Winokur was not as blessed with performance opportunities. (Winokur eventually ended up the only Tony winner among them.) Other mentions of less pleasant incidents from their lives, such as Liza Minnelli making an insensitive comment on Winokur’s body, open a critique of the theatre industry’s fatphobia, but this show feels such topics are meant for another time. At Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now!, we simply bask in the women's glitter.
Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! summary
Original Hairspray stars Marissa Jaret Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, and Kerry Butler assemble for a celebratory concert made of their life stories — from childhood, Hairspray, dating and marriage, and the high and lows of motherhood — strung together by fan-favorite songs from Hairspray and other musicals from their repertoires, with the occasional parody.
What to expect at Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!
Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now! utilizes a projected backdrop that reveals photos of their life and career, often for humorous effect (including one great gag that involves fellow original Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein). Expect a room of hoots, whistles, and cheers over the greatest hits among the trio as they guide you through their memories.
At my performance, a random audience member was pulled on stage, where Winokur instructed him to stand in for Link Larkin, Tracy’s love interest in Hairspray, as she sang “I Can Hear the Bells.” As a reward, he got a merch item of his choice.
What audiences are saying about Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!
As of publication, the audience review aggregator Show-Score has two member reviews of Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!, but audience members have also weighed in on other platforms.
- "Absolutely amazing." - Show-Score user Gianna Mongelli
- “It's an amazing inside look at their lives, but also a little bit at how Broadway and the whole industry works.” - Show-Score reviewer Yvana
- “an absolute nostalgia bomb” - Mezzanine user Rachel
- “Such incredible talent. Kerry Butler is so amazing she leaves me speechless.” - Mezzanine user Bettie Gebara
- “I really liked the show. I had a lot of fun, and it was the perfect distraction for that [election] week. I loved learning a bit more about the performers' careers and lives. I especially loved hearing Laura Bell Bundy sing a Legally Blonde medley!” - My +1 at the show
Read more audience reviews of Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! on Show-Score.
Who should see Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now!
- Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! is for Hairspray superfans who want to celebrate these melodic leads, especially Winokur, who survived cervical cancer during the run of Hairspray.
- Even those who didn't see the original production of Hairspray may be drawn to the Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now! on account of the trio’s other credits. Butler performs a number from Beetlejuice, and Bundy from Legally Blonde. Winokur’s television work includes Stacked, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Dharma & Greg.
- If you don't know about their careers, this is a fun gateway into both well-known shows and under-the-radar musicals like Ruthless!
- Disney lovers will drink in Kerry Butler’s Disney medley.
Learn more about Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! off Broadway
Marissa Jaret Winokur, Laura Bell Bundy, and Kerry Butler are three powerhouses who prove time can’t stop the beat of their talent and friendship. They will shower you with showstopper after showstopper.
Photo credit: Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now! off Broadway. (Photos by Russ Rowland)
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