I've got to disagree with you, JohnMouse.
I saw Hairspray in previews last summer and just knew it would be this year's The Producers. I saw it again right after Thanksgiving.
I liked Flower Drum Song, but...
Lea Salonga was beautiful and she is a wonderful singer. I've liked her since Miss Saigon.
the sets were wonderful. the costumes were wonderful. my kids loved the Chop Suey number.
but I remember the movie from years ago.
the score was not Rodgers & Hammerstein's best work, and it's a bit dated. the book, as rewritten, didn't fit the score. and I didn't buy that the father could go from being such a traditionalist to becoming Sammy Fong. (in the original, they were two different characters.)
it was a pleasant evening of theater, but not Broadway's best.
I saw Frog and Toad last night. it's a cute show, but it is unquestionably children's theater. not a full-scale Broadway musical.
I think Harvey deserves the Tony. Antonio Banderas may steal it from him only because Nine just opened and hairspray's been running since August. Brian Stokes Mitchell would have stood a better chance if he'd brought Sweeny Todd to NY instead of doing La Mancha. he's terrific as Don Quixote, but the show is not well done.