God bless Edna
Dan Rodricks
Baltimore Sun
Bruce Vilanch is a big smile in the role of Edna Turnblad in the production of Hairspray at the Mechanic. Crossed-up in frumpy housedress, then ostrich-feather boas, and making no effort to feminize his voice, he’s your huge, hairy Highlandtown hon. All dolled up at the show’s spectacular finish, Vilanch asked the 9/11 audience to join him in singing “God Bless America” because of the occasion and “because at this very moment I look just like Kate Smith.”
